Warning Issued as Rising Water Levels Threaten To Sweep Children Away
4 hours ago
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National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists at the Greenville-Spartanburg office in South Carolina urged parents to keep children away from storm drains, culverts, creeks and streams on Tuesday as flash floods swept through the region.
Why It Matters
The flash flood warning comes amid a period of repeated flash flooding events across the United States this summer, including recent catastrophic flooding in Texas that resulted in over 100 fatalities and highlighted the dangers posed by fast-rising waters.
The significance of the warning for York County in South Carolina centers on timely public awareness and action, especially as water rises quickly with ongoing heavy rainfall. Immediate risks include swift inundation of streamside areas, placing children and other vulnerable community members in harm’s way.
What to Know
The NWS strongly recommended that residents avoid all storm drains, culverts, creeks, and streams, warning that water could rise suddenly and sweep children and adults away. River banks and culverts may become unstable, and low water crossings pose extreme hazard. Drivers were warned never to attempt to cross a flooded roadway and to seek alternate routes immediately.
A stock photo shows the waters of the flooded Catawba River encroach on the Rock Hill community in South Carolina after Hurricane Helene. A stock photo shows the waters of the flooded Catawba River encroach on the Rock Hill community in South Carolina after Hurricane Helene. Mark Castiglia/Getty
According to the NWS bulletin released at 11:04 a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, radar and automated gauges indicated that storm-total rainfall over the prior six to eight hours surpassed 3 to 5 inches in parts of western York County, particularly near Sharon, Hickory Grove, and Bullock Creek.
As rain continued, streams began overtopping their banks and nuisance flooding escalated, with forecasts predicting significant worsening within the next one to three hours and additional rainfall anticipated throughout the day.
The warning detailed a hazard of flash flooding caused by thunderstorms. The impacts expected included significant flooding of small creeks, streams, urban areas, highways, underpasses, parking lots, and low-lying roads. The NWS listed multiple locations of greatest concern, with possible several-feet-deep inundation in rural and urban areas:
Bullock Creek and feeder drainages near Wilson Chapel Road, Hickory Grove Road (SC 211), Ramsey Road (Berry Branch), and Hopewell Road (SC 97)
Turkey Creek and Little Turkey Creek near Shannon Street (SC 41), Hord Road, and Burris Road
Fishing Creek near SC 5, Park Place Road, Gordon Road, Russell Road, and Holland Road
Rock Hill metro area headwater streams, including Manchester Creek near John Ross Parkway and Big Dutchman Creek near India Hook Road
Wildcat Creek from Olde Creek Road to SC 5 (Main Street) to Ogden Road
Steele Creek near Carowinds and Pleasant Road (SC 22)
Communities identified as at risk included Rock Hill, York, Southwest Charlotte, Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Clover, Newport, Lesslie, Sharon, Hickory Grove, McConnells, Smyrna, Lake Wylie, Carowinds, Catawba, and Bullock Creek.
What People Are Saying
NWS meteorologist in charge Steve Wilkinson told Newsweek: “Normal rainfall up to this point [in August] is .62 inches, so … several inches of rain is well above what you would call an average or normal situation.”
Wilkinson added: “This is heavy rainfall well-above normal, but when you get into the July, August, September timeframe, it’s not abnormal to get pockets of heavy rainfall.”
The NWS office in Greenville-Spartanburg posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday: “Most flood fatalities occur in vehicles, and it only takes 12 inches of water to sweep a car away. Sometimes, the difference between life and death is small decisions.”
What Happens Next
The flash flood warning for York County was in effect until 4:45 p.m. Eastern time. The heaviest rain is easing up in western York County and should end this afternoon, Wilkinson said. Some lighter rain is expected into Tuesday night and Wednesday.
Residents are urged to follow any evacuation orders or emergency notifications, remain vigilant for updated NWS alerts, and review family emergency plans, especially with children or vulnerable individuals present.
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