Georgetown County recorded 12.75 inches of rain from Saturday night into Monday morning -- an amount Georgetown County Emergency Services Director Brandon Ellis called "unprecedented."
It caused flooding throughout the county, especially within the City of Georgetown and in the Town of Pawleys Island, including in areas that don't normally experience flooding. The extent of the deluge caught residents and officials by surprise as it was more than double the maximum amounts that were forecast.
Georgetown County's Damage Assessment Team was activated this morning and is traveling across the county today to gauge the severity of damage. Residents who have damages they would like to report can do so by emailing photos and supporting information, including exact location, to emergencymanagement@gtcounty.org.
Thankfully, much of the water drained off fairly quickly once the rain stopped. All major roadways in the county are now open again, but there are still smaller roads scattered across the county that remain flooded. Residents are reminded not to try to drive through flooded roadways. It is difficult to tell how deep the water is and vehicles can become trapped or even submerged. Emergency responders rescued dozens of people from cars trapped in water throughout the day on Sunday. Three individuals were displaced by flooding.
Damage assessment of beaches is also taking place today, but erosion on Garden City Beach has already been reported. The S.C. Department of Transportation is also working with the Town of Pawleys Island to remove marsh grass that washed onto the causeway and streets.
More information will be provided as it becomes available.