If you were visiting Edisto Island this weekend or perhaps marooned on the island- then you might be wondering what is going on with all this flooding. Well, here are the details.
After a particularly high tide, slight storm surge from Hurricane Joaquin, and 10 inches of rainfall in a short period of time, most low-lying areas and roadways became flooded in the town of the beach and the island itself. As of now, many roadways are still closed as they are impassable due to high water.
The South Carolina Emergency Management Division reported Saturday, Oct. 3 that the seawall at the beach had been breached, which cause significant flooding. Because of this breach, a state of emergency was declared for the town.
As of now, the water remains high and residents and visitors are being asked to stay off of the roadways if travel is unnecessary. It is also important to remember that flooded areas should be avoided as this water contains not only harmful debris that could cause injury, but flood waters can possess strong currents that could be dangerous.
In addition, flood water in the area of Wyndham Ocean Ridge, specifically Gun Bluff, Battery Park, and Cloud Circle contains sewer overflow due to the heavy rains. According to a notice from the Town of Edisto Beach, the towns pump station is continuously operating to help alleviate this runoff. The town will monitor the situation to let residents know of any possible contamination.
If you have a trip scheduled to Edisto Beach, be sure to call your rental agency to make sure that the roads to your rental home are passable.
According to the National Weather Service, heavy rain will continue to fall throughout the first part of the week. This rain will add to the flooding, and flash flood warnings are in effect for the beach and the island. Remember to be careful when driving as the water on many of the roadways is dangerously high.
It is also important to stay out of the ocean at this time as in times of flood bacteria and harmful debris could make swimming dangerous. The strong currents and rip tide in effect can also lead to treacherous situations.
We will keep you posted about any other flood-related activity happening on the island. Remember to stay safe and avoid unnecessary risk.
