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More Flooding, Evacuations Loom for South Carolina

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South Carolina's governor is warning residents more flooding and evacuations are likely. At least a dozen have died during this week's historic rainstorm in the Carolinas.

Although the forecast calls for sunny weather Tuesday, state officials are concerned about a mass of rainwater working its way toward the low-lying coast.

Too Late for 911

It took a Coast Guard chopper to rescue one mother and her 15-month-old. The baby's father, Ian Walts, said even though their home is built on eight-foot stilts, the water rose quickly.

"It was one of those things that it was so chaotic, so fast," Walts said.

It was already too late to call 9-1-1.

"They said there's nothing we can do for you right now," Walts recalled.

Their terrifying ordeal is the story of South Carolina this week.

CBN's Operation Blessing has deployed to South Carolina to help the victims of the massive flooding. Deputy Director Raymond McGregor, with the advance team in Columbia, South Carolina, spoke about the situation via Skype.

One man was trapped in his two-ton truck, swirling in quick-moving water before a bystander helped to rescue him.

Two feet of water has been dumped on the state in two days. One creek near Columbia rose 16 inches on Sunday. It was the rainiest day in one single spot in the United States in more than 15 years.

More Flooding Ahead

Now South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is warning her state to prepare for more flooding and evacuations as rainwater moves to the low-lying coast.

"Just because the rain stops does not mean that we are out of the woods," Haley said.

There's great concern about the potential for even more washed out roads and bridges, thanks to poor and deficient infrastructure in many places.

Some 40,000 people are also without drinking water – and there's no quick way to get them any.

CBN's Operation Blessing has a convoy on the ground in Columbia. The goal is to help families wiped out by the flooding.

"We're going to be mobilizing volunteers, debris clean-up, feed hot meals," Operation Blessing U.S. Disaster Relief Director Daniel Moore said.

From ongoing flooding concerns to cleanup in the aftermath, South Carolina faces a big job going forward. More than 500 roads and bridges are closed across the state and 1,000 people are staying in shelters.

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About The Author

Efrem Graham
Efrem
Graham

Efrem Graham is an award-winning journalist who came to CBN News from the ABC-owned and operated station in Toledo, Ohio. His most recent honor came as co-anchor of the newscast that earned the station’s morning news program its first Emmy Award. Efrem was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, but his formal television and journalism career was born across the Hudson River in New York City. He began as an NBC Page and quickly landed opportunities to work behind-the-scenes in local news, network news, entertainment, and the network’s Corporate Communications Department. His work earned him the NBC