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Obama declares state of emergency in South Carolina

Sunday, 04 October 2015 9:47 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 04 October 2015 9:47 AM ]

Floodwaters rise along Central Avenue in Sea Isle City, New Jersey, on October 2, 2015.

US President Barack Obama has declared a state of emergency in South Carolina as raging torrents tear through the eastern parts of the state.

Obama ordered officials on Saturday to provide federal aid to those affected by the floods and also asked federal agencies to coordinate disaster relief efforts.

In addition, South Carolina authorities issued flash flood emergencies for three counties, with the weather service forecasting "catastrophic flash flooding" overnight into Monday in Berkeley and Charleston Counties.

While the storm is expected to deliver more than 15 inches of rain in some parts, Charleston’s airport alone received over 11 inches on Saturday.

Cars were stuck in rushing flood waters in Charleston overnight with emergency workers pulling motorists out of their vehicles.

"Four additional swift-water rescue teams are coming in from out of state to assist with SC rescues," the South Carolina Emergency Management Division tweeted.

Also, several streets in the city were closed to traffic after roads were submerged under several feet of water.

South Carolina Emergency Management spokesman Eric Rousey said that 83 roads were closed throughout the state early Sunday with 46 of them in Charleston.

"What we're experiencing is an unprecedented event," said Mayor Joseph Riley Jr.

According to the National Weather Service, "bursts of heavy rain are likely" in the Carolinas and parts of northern Georgia that could lead rivers and streams in the region to flood.

The bad weather is claimed to be the cause of deaths of three people on Friday and Saturday in traffic incidents in South Carolina as well as a car passenger who died in North Carolina on Thursday.

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