Drone Footage Shows Severe Flooding in South Carolina Days After Florence

New drone footage shows severe flooding in South Carolina several days after Hurricane Florence hit the state.

Florence left a deluge of rain in the Carolinas after striking on Sept. 14, resulting in widespread flooding and multiple rivers cresting at historic or near-historic heights.

Conway, South Carolina, where the drone filmed, was one of the hardest-hit areas in the state.

“This should convey the frightening reality of the predicted crest level for the Waccamaw [River],” wrote Robbie Bischoff, a photographer who captured the footage, on Facebook.

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“Highway 501 bypass (the main route from Conway to Myrtle Beach) has been closed northbound for the last few days as the SCDOT constructs a dam to keep two lanes, one North and South, open during the height of the flooding next week.”

Along with showing the flooding, the footage captures construction crews at work constructing the dam.

People use a road as a boat ramp after Hurricane Florence struck the Carolinas on Sept. 17, 2018, in Conway, S.C. AP Photo/Sean Rayford

Historic Flooding Expected

Portions of the Cape Fear River in North Carolina have already crested at historic heights, while flooding is still building up in other parts as well as across South Carolina.

The steadily rising Waccamaw River was forcing residents to evacuate mid-week.

“We’re trying to move my brother and sister out of their trailer before they lose it all,” Eddie Lightsay told the Myrtle Beach Sun News on Sept. 19 as he and friends helped take items on boats through water from the trailer to the road. He noted his sister had just given birth one week ago.

A number of houses have already been flooded by waters from the river along S.C. 905.

The portion of the Waccamaw outside Conway is expected to reach 20.4 feet, reported the Sun News citing the National Weather Service. The river was expected to fall from its current major flood stage earlier this week before beginning to rise again and start reaching historic levels by the weekend. The following is the forecast for other sections of the Waccamaw: Freeland (up to 23 feet on Sept. 21); Longs (up to 24 feet by Sept. 22 or Sept. 23); and Bucksport (up to 26 or 27 feet by Sept. 28).

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The cresting Waccamaw is expected to bring worse flooding to many areas.

The Lumber River crested on Monday but has remained near the high of 25 feet, while the Intracoastal Waterway in Socastee forecast water levels in the waterway to crest around 24 feet by Sept. 28, reported WMBF.

President Donald Trump greets residents in Conway, South Carolina, on Sept. 19, 2018. NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Trump Visits Conway

President Donald Trump on Wednesday visited some of the areas hit by Florence, including Conway.

Trump toured the flooded areas of Long Avenue and Sherwood Drive before heading to the Horry County Emergency Operations Center on Main Street, reported My Horry News.

“We’ve got the best people and we’re sending a lot of money down for you,” Trump told the crowd.

“We just left North Carolina and they got hit really, really hard,” he said. “All of that water is coming your way. They assume … they look outside and see this beautiful weather, but over the next few days it is going to get rough in South Carolina.”

From NTD.tv

Video Credit: Robbie Bischoff Photography - Drone Services via Storyful