BAMBERG COUNTY, S.C. — Nineteen roads in Bamberg County remain closed due to flooding after Tropical Storm Debby passed through the Midlands.
Alisha Moore is the public information officer for Bamberg County and says the road closures are due to flooding.
"We are currently have about 15 to 19 roads that are still closed due to tropical storm Debby," said Moore. "And many of our residents especially those along the Edisto River still right now substantial flooding in their yards, front yards, back yards, a lot of homes are seeing a lot of water."
Harriet Washington is one of those residents who says her front yard is still flooded.
"When all that rain came it was so much water it went to over my ankles," said Washington. "When I stepped outside in my yard even right there by the front door and I told them they need to get some drainage or something to put so that water can go down in them drainage because when it rains my yard is overflood like somebody can go out there and do swimming and its still messed up and muddy and its messed up."
Thomasina Jones could not leave her house last week due to road closures and flooding.
"I couldn't cause my car is low, and I couldn't go through because I might could get stuck," said Jones. "My children told me you better stay still because you could get stuck and I didn't want to get stuck since the road was flooded out and the ones who had trucks high off the ground cars they could go in and out."
The county is asking residents to be mindful of where they are driving. Moore says safety is a top priority.
"Well, of course safety is our main priority for all of our residents here in Bamberg County," said Moore. "So, if you see barricades along roads please do not bypass the barricades, avoid closed roads, avoid roads that have high amounts of water on them as well. Please avoid dirt roads if you are not a resident in a dirt road neighborhood please do not drive by to look at the roads, avoid those roads as much as you possibly can as we are waiting for that flood water to rescind."
The county does not have a timeline on when the roads will reopen.
Bamberg Mayor Nancy Foster said the city is working with SCDOT to ensure drains and ditches are cleaned and draining well.
The county is trying to secure FEMA relief for those affected and asking residents with property damage to report it here and call the non-emergency line at 803-245-3013.
Closed roads in Bamberg County are:
- Embree Road
- Hope Road
- Squirrel Road
- Needle Road
- Kite Road
- Tobacco Road
- Oak Grove Road (dirt road)
- Whaley Road
- Shots Trail Road
- Sand Drag Road
- Stump Knocker Road
- Sioux Road
- Shad Road
- Gar Road
- Pike Road
- Sweet Pea Road
- Turkey Cut Road
- Sand Drag Road
- Papa Henry Circle