Record rainfall leaves flooded roads, homes
By PRENTISS FINDLAY
Thomas W. Kopp
The yards of homes in the Bridge Pointe section of Shadowmoss were flooded in Friday's heavy rain.
Some West Ashley residents were driven from their homes Saturday by flood damage from record-setting rain that flooded streets and stalled cars around the area the night before.
Impassable roads and stranded motorists were reported as up to 8 inches of rain fell in the tri-county area until just past midnight Friday.
"We had a huge flood (Friday) night. It looks like Hugo. That's what it feels like," said Donald Bartlett, president of the Bridge Pointe Homeowners Association.
Bartlett said there was 6 inches of standing water in the development of 32 townhomes in Shadowmoss. The Bridge Pointe flooding started around 9 p.m. Friday.
"It was almost like a huge wave came this way," Bartlett said. He blamed what he called an improperly installed drainage pipe that has been a point of contention between Bridge Pointe homeowners and the city of Charleston.
Charleston International Airport recorded 6.57 inches of rain, eclipsing the old record for the date of 2.38 inches. Slightly more than 8 inches of rain was reported in Mount Pleasant and McClellanville, said Steve Rowley, meteorologist for the National Weather Service.
"It annihilated the old record," Rowley said.
Low-lying areas in downtown Charleston were hip-deep in some places early Saturday morning when the rain finally ended, stranding dozens of motorists.
Later in the day, tow trucks cruised through the neighborhoods around the Medical University of South Carolina, dragging cars stalled in the middle of streets.
One driver said he assisted 65 people. Some cars still had not been reclaimed.
Up to 3 feet of flooding reported around Summerville caused stalled cars and blocked roads, according to the Weather Service. The Weather Channel reported water inside Northwoods Mall on Friday and several cars floating in the parking lot.
Mall security and North Charleston police said Saturday that they could not confirm that information. No one in mall management was available for comment.
Heavy flooding was reported on U.S. Highway 17 at I-526. Some residents in Shadowmoss said numerous homes around the neighborhood golf course's 15th fairway had water in their kitchens and garages. On James Island, some residents broke out their kayaks for transportation.
The Weather Service received reports of flooding in Charleston that made sections of Morrison, East Bay, Bee and Calhoun streets as well as parts of Ashley and Rutledge avenues and other streets impassable.
Tony Bartelme contributed to this report.Reach Prentiss Findlay at 937-5711 or pfindlay@postandcourier.com.
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burton (anonymous) says...
I live in N. Charleston and there was a section of my street that was flooded with about 4 feet of water. I stood on my porch and watched in amazement the number of people that still drove the water! They would come to the edge of the water, ponder whether to go, and then drive through.
I watched seven cars flood out because of this. People, you do not know how deep that water is on the road! Don't be stupid!! Back up and find an alternate route! It's not worth flooding out your car or more importantly, putting your life in danger! Geez!
October 26, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Pluffmuddy (anonymous) says...
These same kinds of people will take a chance on another unknown... namely Hussein Obama!
October 26, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
armymom (anonymous) says...
From flooding to the election! LOL
October 26, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
Looks like this area is effected by Big Bear Swamp.
October 26, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
512c (anonymous) says...
It's only the beginning folks. Weather around the world is starting to go into a standing wave of hurrican size nodes. In other words, the merry go round will have hurricanes as cars, and they will create deserts from farms, and floods in the desert (depending on where these standing waves pause).
October 26, 2008 at 1:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
512c
Yes Al
October 26, 2008 at 1:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
crj3279 (anonymous) says...
Come on now, 512c. All the latest scientific research says there isn't going to be any global climate catastrophe. There has been no warming for 10 years and most meteorologists say there will be a 30-year cooling period. All you global warming freaks, stop wetting the bed. It's going to be ok.
October 26, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
retired96 (anonymous) says...
"For people who recently purchased a home in the area, did the agent, seller, inspector or closing attorney disclose that your property was flood prone?
Do you think the law requires them to do so?"
-----------
MORTGAGE PROCESSING REQUIRED FLOOD ELEVATION CERTIFICATES OR FLOOD CODE BEFORE CLOSING ON ALL THAT I HAVE DONE. SOME FRAUD PRONE MORTGAGES COULD HAVE OVERLOOKED THIS JUST AS THEY DID ABOUT VERIFYING CREDIT AND EMPLOYMENT (INCOME)!
October 26, 2008 at 7:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
retired96 (anonymous) says...
SHADOWMOSS HAS PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED CHARLESTON CITY/COUNTY REMEDIATION OF FLOODING WHILE SOME OTHERS CANNOT GET SUCH HELP ON SHARED ROADWAYS. THIS IS NOT RIGHT.
THE SECTION THAT PREV REC'D THIS WORK HAD HOMES WITH 12" OF MILDEW INSIDE BOTTOM FLOOR ROOMS AND HAD CARPET PULLED OUT. WHEN I SHOWED THE HOMES IN THAT AREA IT TOOK A LOT OF WORK TO FIND OUT THAT PROPERTY OWNERS WOULD HAVE TO INDIVIDUALLY INSTALL FRENCH DRAINS THEMSELVES. INSTEAD THE CITY/COUNTY FIXED IT FOR THEM. MY CLIENTS DID NOT BUY IN THERE.
THE CITY/COUNTY SHOULD NOT GIVE PREFERENCE TO THEM JUST BECAUSE IT'S SHADOWMOSS AS THEY TRY TO KEEP THEIR PUBLIC IMAGE IMPECCABLE. WHEN THEY SHOWED ON TV FOLKS HAVING TO PARK CARS ON BEES FERRY AND WALK IN KNEE HIGH WATER TO THEIR HOMES, THE SITUATIION WAS IMMEDIATELY "SQUASHED" TO KEEP HOME VALUES UP.
October 26, 2008 at 7:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coahtrtaylor (anonymous) says...
FYI-It's not called the Low Country because it is high land. Flood insurance is available for all areas of Charleston City as well as outer lying areas. If you are not in mandated flood zone you CAN purchase Preferred Rated flood insurance for very little. If we were to have a storm such as the one Friday that lingered over our area longer than the 14 or so hours it did, the ground cannot saturate the large amount of water, the water WILL start to rise. Your HO, Condo, Renters or MH policies DO NOT cover rising water. Buy Flood insurance even if your property has never flooded, or your new neighbors say it didn't flood during Hugo. (Which is the craziest thing I have ever heard, what one storm does is not the same as what another storm will do) It's crazy not to protect one of the most valuable assets you own. You would sleep easier knowing you were covered.
Just a point of view. BTW- I am not a Flood Insurance sales person, just general knowledge from research performed before purchasing my home.
October 27, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iceman1978 (anonymous) says...
I was out on Folly Beach when it happened and we lost power. We're walking down Center St and have lanterns to get over to Berts for some beer. Everyone was spilling out of the bars and into the streets. It was quite an adventure.
October 27, 2008 at 12:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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