COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said the state is monitoring rivers as response to Tropical Storm Debby enters the next phase.
McMaster said at a news conference Thursday that as the storm's rainfall ends, state emergency officials be looking at several rivers that are at risk for flooding, mainly in the Pee Dee region and near Charleston. Those areas saw heavy rain but will also be dealing with water moving down from rivers in North Carolina that received flooding.
Debby made landfall in Bulls Bay, SC in Charleston County just before 2 a.m. It spent the previous two days slowly moving off the South Carolina coast. Now that it's ashore, Debby has picked up some forward speed and has moved out of the state.
While the storm didn't quite deliver as much rain as some computer model forecasts had projected, it still soaked much of the state. The highest reported total was 16.55 inches in Green Pond, a community in Colleton County. Beaufort and Summerville both got about a foot of rainfall.
In the Midlands, some areas received about 6 to 8 inches of rain. Those totals didn't much higher Thursday morning because some dry air moved into the state, weakening the bands of rain around the center of the storm, all but ending the flash flood threat for the state.
While there has been reported damage in parts of the state, there have been no reported deaths. Unfortunately the storm had led to seven total deaths in Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina.
South Carolina Emergency Management Director Kim Stenson said the state is now at Operating Condition 1, which is their highest level of readiness and response. Residents in South Carolina who have questions about Tropical Storm Debby can now call the state’s toll-free hotline. Operators with the State’s Public Information Phone System are available 24 hours a day for as long as needed. If you have questions about Tropical Storm Debby, such as about the state’s response or safety precautions you should take, call this hotline: 1-866-246-0133