More than 100 people rescued from homes in Summerton

More than 100 residents were rescued from the West Summerton and downtown Summerton area this morning due to heavy flooding, estimated up to four feet, according to Clarendon County Sheriff Randy Garrett. Although most of the rescue efforts have been in Summerton, residents have been rescued all over the county, Garrett said, including Gable, Turbeville and Manning areas.

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and S.C. National Guard were called in to assist with the rescue efforts, which included people being stuck in homes and stranded motorists in various parts of the county, said Garrett.

Clarendon County is under a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew through Wednesday morning, said Garrett. The City of Manning is also following the county’s curfew, said Manning Mayor Julia A. Nelson. “We don’t want anyone out on the roads tonight, it could be very dangerous from everything we’ve witnessed,” Nelson said. Garret said the sheriff’s office is using all manpower available to assist people all over the county.

“If you’re out on the roads to take photos of flooding, or to observe or for other nonessential reasons, and you call us because you’re stuck, you’re wasting our resources,” he said. “Starting at 7 p.m., if you call us for assistance because you get stuck on a road for a nonemergency reason, you will spend the night at the sheriff’s office. Movie and popcorn will be provided.” Garrett said due to the floods, the sheriff’s office response time has been affected.

“I’ve mandated my deputies to not exceed speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, when responding to a call,” Garrett said. “This is vital for us to get safely to a call.”

Garrett said nearly every major road in the county, as well as I-95, has been affected by the heavy rains and flooding. I-95 from Exit 122 to 132, including both southbound and northbound lanes, was closed off early this morning, Garrett said. Motorists were stranded on roads all over the county and the interstate, he said.

“Every road in Clarendon County has been affected in some way,” he said. “The situation is extremely bad right now and expected to get worse.”

Emergency shelters have been set up in Manning, Summerton and Turbeville. Shelters include:Manning High School, 2155 Paxville Highway in Manning; Scott’s Branch Middle-High School, 9253 Alex Harvin Highway in Summerton; and East Clarendon Middle-High School, 1170 Pope Street in Turbeville.

About 180 people are at the shelter in Summerton; 80 in Manning and 40 to 50 in Turbeville, according to Clarendon County Council Chairman Dwight Stewart. Stewart said the shelters are being run by the American Red Cross.

Law enforcement throughout the county is assisting those who cannot physically get to the shelters.

Law enforcement agencies and fire departments throughout Clarendon County have been working since early this morning rescuing residents from rising flood waters in the area.

In Manning, between 30 to 50 people were rescued, according to Manning Police Chief Blair Shaffer. These included areas such as Lincoln Park (Chitwood Trailer Park), West Huggins Street and others. Additionally, the department has had to assist numerous motorists stranded in vehicles, Shaffer said.

Nearly every street in neighborhoods in between West Huggins Street and U.S. 301 in Manning has seen flooding with up to four feet of water, he said. On Alfred Henry Road in Manning, flood waters caused manhole covers to be lifted up, said Shaffer.

If you have an emergency call 911. For non-emergencies, call Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 435-4414 or Manning Police Department at (803) 435-8859.