Congaree River and Wateree River exceed major flood stages after Helene

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) – Although the storm has passed, rising water levels continue to be a concern as water from the North Carolina mountains flows into the Midlands’ rivers.

Rivers in the Midlands have exceeded major flood stage on Monday morning. A flood warning is in effect for Calhoun, Kershaw, Lexington and Richland counties due to flooding in the Congaree and Wateree rivers.

Congaree River

The Congaree River in Columbia peaked at 30.58 feet around 10 a.m. Monday, exceeding the major flood stage of 30 feet. This is the ninth highest the river has ever reached, according to National Weather Service records.

Around 3 p.m., the river subsided again and the water level was reported to be at 30.26 feet.

For comparison, flooding occurs at a depth of 13 feet on the Cayce and West Columbia Riverwalk.

The last time we saw the river this high was during the historic flood in 2015 when the Congaree River crested at 31.8 feet.

The City of West Columbia will notify residents at Congaree of the rising water levels so they can be prepared.

Richland County officials said while there are no mandatory evacuations, “County and emergency officials encourage residents to stay safe, remain vigilant and take all necessary precautions now.”

All public access to local rivers is closed, county officials said.

The Congaree at Eastman, downstream from Columbia, is also falling. at 4 p.m. it is at 126.9 feet, which is above the 126-foot flood stage. We expect a reading of 126.2 feet on Tuesday morning.

Wateree River

The Wateree River near Camden reached 37.4 feet at approximately 10 a.m. Monday morning, exceeding its peak flood level of 35 feet. The peak reached an elevation of about 38 feet before sunrise Monday morning.

How do I know if I live in a flood zone?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has a map of all flood zone designations that can be searched through this website.

There are also instructions on how to read the map on the website. The most dangerous flood zones begin with the letters A and V, as shown in the map below.

According to FEMA, just an inch of flooding can cause up to $25,000 in damage to your home.

Boat ramps, road closures

The Columbia-Richland Fire Department, along with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, announced that all boat ramps were closed on the Congaree and Broad rivers will be closed due to rising river levels.

“Citizens are urged to follow this order and stay away from the water,” the fire department said in a statement.

Only local traffic is permitted from Broad River and Hollingshed. Lost Creek Drive is closed from Pond Oak Lane to Lake Front Drive due to flooding, according to a news release from the fire department.

Additionally, all of the city’s greenways are closed, including Riverfront Park North, South and the Saluda Riverwalk.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation said Monday morning that it is closely monitoring conditions but does not currently anticipate major bridge closures across the state.

The department is sending road and bridge inspection teams across the state to investigate conditions.

If you encounter a problem or have questions on a state highway, you can contact SCDOT at 855-467-2368.

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