Tropical Storm Debby dumps rain across the CSRA

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Ahead of Tropical Storm Debby, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster both declared a state of emergency and mobilized National Guard troops.

Although the storm has been less severe than many feared, Kemp on Tuesday told Georgians to remain vigilant and stay off roads.

“Do not let this storm lull you to sleep,” he said.

McMaster agreed.

“This is a storm that we have not seen before. There’s parts of it that have not been as bad as we’ve thought, although they’ve been bad, but there are some parts coming that likely will be worse than what we have seen before and in some different areas,” he said.

South Carolina Transportation Secretary Justin Powell said 48 state roads were closed due to flooding. Exits 22 and 23 were closed on Interstate 95.

From Millen to Aiken, thousands of people lost power for at least a time across the CSRA.

Georgia Power said it had restored service by midday Tuesday to more than 100,000 customers and was working on restoring service to 11,000 more.

Ahead of the storm, the utility said it had mobilized and pre-positioned restoration workers, equipment and supplies where they’d be needed. It also deployed a mobile command center that’s used during major weather events.

In the CSRA, power outages Tuesday included:

• 231 customers were without power off of Walton Way and West Lake Forest Drive in Augusta.
• 78 customers in Millen were without power on Statesboro Road.
• 14 customers were without power in Swainsboro near South Main Street.
• 226 customers were without power near Twin City in Emanuel County.
• 34 customers in Aiken County between Vaucluse Road and Hayne Avenue Southwest.

WHAT’S AHEAD?

• Slow-moving Debby has weakened over land because tropical cyclones get their energy from warm water. The storm’s center is expected to move out over the water off the coast, then move back inland, so it could restrengthen. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said it could bring anywhere from 4 inches to 9 inches of additional rain.

Fallen trees posed travel problems on CSRA roadways. Many problems there were cleared quickly in places like Burke County, including on Porter Carswell Road and nearby Herndon Road, Highway 56 at Burton Street, Bethlehem Church Road at Millhaven, Steiner Place at Highway 56, Murray Hill Road near Highway 24, Tobias Road at Fitzgerald in Sardis, Highway 25 at Wilson Drake Road, Highway 56 at Webb Hand Road and Story Mill Road at Spread Oak Road.

In addition to the Highway 24 closure in Burke County, notable road problems included:

• Trout Road had to be shut down at Ivey Lane and North Railroad Street in Midville due to high water.
• Murray Hill Road was closed near Highway 24 South in Burke County, with 18-wheelers being rerouted.
• Cemetery Street was closed from Burton Street to Jones Street in Midville due to flooding.
• Union Church, Halcyondale, Black Creek, Poor Robin, Robbins Branch and Stoopto roads were closed in Screven County.
• Jenkins County saw several road closures due to flooding.
• Water was even pooling at Fifth and Reynolds streets in Augusta, which got less rain than many other places.

Flooding is the main concern as the storm moves through the CSRA at a glacial pace.

Southern and eastern counties could see the most rain, while Clarks Hill Lake might get far less.

And Augusta should be right in the middle.

Sandbags – which are available for pickup at 2316 Tobacco Road – may help if flooding is minor, but Augusta city leaders say if the water gets high around your home, consider moving belongings above ground level.

There were still plenty of sandbags left on Tuesday.

S.C. HOTLINE:

• Residents in South Carolina who have questions about Tropical Storm Debby can now call the state’s toll-free hotline, 866-246-0133.

Areas closer to the coast saw the most rainfall, as expected.

“Hunker down,” Savannah Mayor Van Johnson told residents.

Some of them had no choice, with floodwaters trapping residents of the Tremont Park neighborhood inside their homes Tuesday afternoon.

“My whole house is surrounded with water. I actually couldn’t get out until it subsided just a little bit so that I could kind of ride around and see what the neighborhood looked like,” Katina Mukoro said. “It’s bad. I would tell anybody: If you don’t have to be out, don’t be out.”

Savannah first responders went door to door making sure people had enough food and water.

Savannah’s Liberty City area saw some of the city’s worst flooding. Historically a pinch point in Savannah, the intersection of Second and Comet streets was fully underwater.

“This is the worst that I’ve seen so far,” Savannah Fire Chief Elzie Kitchen said. “And fortunately everyone is safe.”

Meanwhile, tornadoes toppled trees and damaged a few homes on Kiawah Island and Edisto Island between Savannah and Charleston. A Walmart, an Applebee’s and other businesses were damaged, and several vehicles flipped in Moncks Corner, about 30 miles inland from Charleston.

South Carolina officials are still concerned about rising river levels – particularly in the Pee Dee Basin and the entire coastal plain – which could see moderate to major flooding. McMaster noted that flooding from rising waterways can happen well after rain stops falling.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said federal disaster assistance is available to supplement response efforts in both South Carolina and Georgia.

Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance and reimbursement for mass care, will be provided at 75% federal funding for Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Edgefield, McCormick, Orangeburg and Saluda counties.

Local counties in Georgia eligible for the assistance include Burke, Emanuel, Jefferson, Jenkins, Richmond and Screven counties.

Among the steps taken by Georgia and South Carolina state officials before and during the storm:

• The Georgia Department of Transportation is working through Tropical Storm Debby. Crews worked overnight Monday and continued Tuesday to respond to downed trees, flooding and blocked roads. Crews were working with local first responders and utility companies to clear debris and downed power lines from roadways. Crews continue to ride routes throughout the affected areas checking road and bridge conditions.
• The South Carolina Department of Transportation is prepared for flash flooding. Crews worked throughout the weekend clearing storm drains and preparing for anticipated heavy rainfall. They also prepared supplies and staged equipment. The agency reminds the public never to drive through floodwaters. A foot of running water can carry away most vehicles.
• The Georgia Department of Economic Development activated a website to help travelers and evacuees find hotel and lodging availability, locations and operating hours of the state’s nine visitor information centers, and links to emergency resources. Visit the site at exploregeorgia.org/debby.
• South Carolina’s price-gouging law is now in effect. Price gougers can be charged with a misdemeanor offense punishable by a $1,000 fine and/or 30 days in jail. Normal fluctuations in price are to be expected and are not necessarily price gouging, but if you feel like you are the victim of price gouging, report it by visiting https://www.scag.gov/price-gouging or calling 803-737-3953 to leave a message.

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