Remnants of Storm Erika Dumps 162 mm Rain on Charleston, South Carolina

by in Americas, News, USA

Remnants of Tropical Storm Erika bought heavy rainfall and flooding to parts of Florida and South Carolina yesterday, 31 August 2015.

As much a 6.4 inches (162.5 mm) of rain had fallen in Charleston, South Carolina by early yesterday.  According to National Weather Service records, this is the fifth-wettest day since records began in 1938. September 1998 saw the wettest day, when 10.52 inches (267.2 mm) of rain fell.

Flooding was reported in downtown areas of Charleston, and surrounding areas including Mount Pleasant, Goose Creek, Hanahan and Magnolia Gardens. Some reports say that flood water was waist-high in some streets. Some flood rescues and evacuations were carried out in the Shadowmoss area. No fatalities or injuries have been reported.

Evacuations

Around 125 families were forced out of their homes at Charlestowne Mobile Home Park in North Charleston after extreme flooding on Monday, 31 August, 2015.

North Charleston Officials, including those from the Fire and Police departments, helped evacuate the residents. As a safety precaution, electricity to the mobile home park was shut off. The Red Cross provided the families a place to stay for the night.

Mobile homes are particularly vulnerable in times of flooding. Three members of the same family died when floods struck their mobile home in Brown County, Ohio in July this year. Earlier that month at least 3 people died when flash floods hit a mobile home park in mobile home park in Johnson County, Kentucky.

Rainfall amounts - Image credit: NWS Charleston, SC Verified account
Rainfall amounts – Image credit: NWS Charleston, SC

The flood situation could be complicated further by the approaching high tide in Charleston.

Florida

Parts of southern Florida were already preparing for Storm Erika by Friday last week, when the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD ) said it was actively monitoring Tropical Storm Erika and preparing the regional flood control system to move water from the storm as needed, including lowering canal levels and readying pumps..

Further heavy rainfall brought by storm Erika on already saturated ground was feared to result in yet more flooding. Dixie, Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, and Taylor Counties experienced flooding from late July and Florida Governor, Rick Scott,  declared a state of emergency for the 5 counties on 07 August.

So far, only minor flooding has been reported in Florida, with Gainesville and St. Augustine the worst affected.

Dominica and Caribbean

The worst of Storm Erika was felt in Dominica where it struck on 27 August 2015.

The storm dumped huge amounts of rainfall in a short space of time, resulting in landslides and floods which have affected over 20,000 people on the island. Over 600 are currently staying in shelters.

Local authorities say that 11 have been confirmed dead, and 9 presumed dead. A further 35 people are still missing.

Storm Erika also caused flooding in Gonaïves in northern and Ganthier in western Haiti. Four people have been reported killed in flood-related incidents.

Cuba also saw heavy rainfall, and winds from Storm Erika knocked out power supplies for around 20,000 in Puerto Rico.

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