COLUMBIA, S.C. — Orangeburg is beginning cleanup efforts after heavy rainfall Wednesday night flooded streets, parks, businesses, and residential areas, forcing evacuations and temporary closures.
In less than 12 hours, the storm turned local streets into rivers, damaging roads and submerging properties, including local stores. The storm has left some residents in shock, recalling the severity of the flooding.
"Oh, hurricane Hugo was bad. But this, this water here was worse,” said George Randolph, a long-time Orangeburg resident.
Randolph was among those who saw first-hand how severe the flooding was.
"Walmart, it flooded out Walmart. I saw they had to get employees out on a boat. That’s real bad. I’d never seen that—getting them out on a boat in a grocery store? That’s crazy," he said.
For some, the storm's aftermath has been nothing short of surreal. Doris Mack, who has lived in Orangeburg for 64 years, described her harrowing commute to work Thursday morning as rain continued to fall.
"It was rough because I had to go across the bridge and everything; I hit something, I don't know what I hit. It was just awful. Rain was pouring. It was just awful," she said.
Meanwhile, Frances, a long-time resident of Bamberg, was shocked when she learned just hours earlier that parts of Orangeburg had been completely submerged.
"My granddaughter told me that Orangeburg could be flooded, so I was kind of weird about coming today," she said. "But it looks good today," said Frances, who expressed relief she was not in the area during the height of the flooding. "I’m glad I wasn’t here, though, during that."
Despite the water levels beginning to recede, many residents still face challenges with road closures throughout the city. Randolph, who tried to navigate the area after the storm, described the frustration.
"They blocked all the roads off. I tried to get around from one town to the next. Took me going through four different towns to get back into Orangeburg," he said.
While people are relieved the worst is over, many say they were not prepared for the extent of the flooding.
"I don’t think anyone was expecting this," Mack said.
News19 is still awaiting information on whether the Orangeburg County School District will reopen schools on Monday after they were closed Friday due to damaged roads.