COLUMBIA, S.C., Oct. 8 (UPI) — South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley on Thursday warned residents that the deadly floodwaters that have soaked the state are not gone yet, and that great caution should be used to avoid potential danger that still lies ahead.
During a news conference, Haley said officials are focusing on three regions of the state where it’s believed flooding is the worst, WMBF-TV reported.
“What we need to you know is this is something we have never dealt with before,” she said. “This flooding is going to get bad. and it’s going to sit for a very long time.”
The three regions Haley mentioned are Georgetown, Jamestown and Givhans Ferry. Georgetown, she said, is the top priority. Pawley’s Island was added to the list of places where residents should consider evacuating.
“In the next 12 hours, Georgetown will start to flood,” the governor said. “It will get worse, and it’s going to last up to 12 days.”
More than a dozen people have died flood-related deaths in South Carolina so far, and two in North Carolina, after the region was drenched by days of rains.
More than 250 roads across South Carolina have been closed due to the flooding, including numerous highways.
Haley delivered a word of caution to residents who might be trying to wait out the floodwaters as they move toward the ocean.
“Our No. 1 goal is to convince those people to get out of their homes and to not see this as a hurricane, but to see this as a flood and a flood that doesn’t go away overnight,” she said. “We have got to get them to see the seriousness of the fact that they don’t need to be sitting in flooded areas for 12 days.”
President Barack Obama on Monday declared many areas of South Carolina a disaster area, making them eligible for federal relief aid.
