With some coastal communities in South Carolina likely to face days of steady flooding in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Florence, crews with Columbia-Richland Fire have arrived in the Grand Strand to help.
“The area is prone to sinkholes,” said CFD Special Operations Chief Dan McManus, “so that’s obviously a concern with all of this water.”
McManus is part of a 15-member team that the department deployed to Pawleys Island on Sunday. Area rivers there could begin rising late Tuesday as more runoff from Florence flows down along the Waccamaw and Great Pee Dee rivers.
CFD’s team has joined members of the South Carolina National Guard and other agencies in committing resources to the region ahead of any major problems. Equipment supplied by the department includes several rescue boats, a collapse rescue truck and two all-terrain vehicles.
“Everything is coming from the land,” McManus said of the likely flooding that is expected to hit the area.
On Tuesday crews continued to get radios and other equipment ready ahead of the rising waters. Their missions Tuesday night will likely include helping with any needed rescues, assessing any damage to area properties and performing welfare checks.
Responders are preparing for the likelihood that flooding will lead to properties collapsing.
(Photos Courtesy of CFD Special Operations)
