Gov. Haley surveys damage by air, stops in Conway to address river flooding
Gov. Nikki Haley conducted an aerial tour of Horry County on Wednesday and afterwards warned locals to be prepared for a second onslaught of floodwaters when the Waccamaw River crests.
“When we flew over, I could see it coming,” Haley said during a news conference at the county’s emergency operations center in Conway.
“You could just see the water rising, moving in (this) direction. We’re watching a lot of water come through the Midlands – a lot of what we had in the Midlands is now coming down your way,” Haley said.
“We just want everybody to be prepared. There is another wave of water coming,” Haley said.
This should not be normal day-to-day routines yet. You need to get all your important things in one spot, and if you can, stay with a friend or family member.”
Gov. Nikki Haley
Crest predictions have changed throughout the week, but a National Weather Service official surveying the damage here said the river will hit 16.1 feet late Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
It could take a week before the floodwaters retreat, added Steven R. Pfaff, warning coordination meteorologist.
Haley and Horry County Council Chairman Mark Lazarus advised that residents in the Conway area should also expect to see more road closures as the river crests.
It’s not just the flood-covered roads that are the problem, officials are also seeing wet soil cause a multitude of issues including shoulders separating from the roads and compromised bridges.
“As the water flows down, we are doing assessments of what’s safe, and what we have said is, when in doubt, close it,” Haley said. “So it’s going to be a little bit of an inconvenience for a while, but it won’t last long. I’d rather know that those roads are safe.”
At least 15 fatalities have been reported statewide, some from motorists attempting to drive through roads that were blocked for safety reasons.
“I know this seems inconvenient, but the cones and barriers are there for a reason, we really need people to respect it,” Haley said. “We don’t want to take any chances of roads sinking.”
I know this seems inconvenient, but the cones and barriers are there for a reason, we really need people to respect it. We don’t want to take any chances of roads sinking.”
Gov. Nikki Haley
“We want you to be diligent, and we want you to be smart, and we want you to understand that we’ve got another wave coming and we just need to be careful,” Haley said.
Nearly 5,000 National Guardsmen are being deployed around the state, many of which can already be seen guarding roadways into flooded areas around Conway.
Swift-water rescue teams are prepositioned in Horry County, along with law enforcement officials from the Department of Natural Resource and SLED.
Evacuations are still voluntary, but worsening conditions could warrant a mandatory order in some low-lying areas along the river.
“This should not be normal day-to-day routines yet,” Haley warned. “You need to get all your important things in one spot, and if you can, stay with a friend or family member.”
Lazarus said emergency officials are stationed at more than a dozen posts where roads have been closed. Only residents who live in the flooded areas are being allowed in to check on their property, or ride out the flood.
“It is a serious situation but a livable situation, and we will make it through,” Lazarus said. “This is a strong community and a strong state, and we will be better for it in the end.”
This story was originally published October 7, 2015 at 6:38 PM with the headline "Gov. Haley surveys damage by air, stops in Conway to address river flooding."