Cayce, SC 01/12/2024 (Paul Kirby) – Low lying areas on the Cayce side of the Congaree River have flooded after the heavy rains fell across the state earlier this week. With more rain expected this afternoon, the situation in areas like the Riverland Park neighborhood could begin to get worse. This may begin to damage properties and cause roads to be closed due to flooding in those area. The extent of any damages will be dependent largely on how much rain falls across the Midlands and areas north of us and how fast that rain falls Friday afternoon and night.
Trusted meteorologists in the area have varied somewhat in their predictions but most agree that we can expect some periods of heavy rains and high winds across our area after 4:00 p.m. today. Because the ground is already saturated with water, more rain and gusting wind will certainly bring trees down across roads, utility lines, and maybe even structures as their root balls lose their grip in the rain saturated dirt.
A member of The Lexington Ledger’s staff began monitoring water levels in the Cayce area Thursday night and then returned to the same sites again Friday morning. The Thursday night photos he took showed parts of Old State Road and the area of the boat landing already closed due to standing water. This is not uncommon for those areas when we receive heavy rains. By Friday morning, those same area’s water levels had risen and some streets in Riverland Park were completely covered by standing water. Water had also covered the road on the 12th Street Extension between I-77 and the Amazon hub. On Thursday night, you could still access Amazon and Nephron from the Old Wire Road direction without driving through standing water. The area just past the apartments on Fort Congaree Trail was completely covered in water extending from the woods and ditch banks on each side of the road.
The Riverwalk in both Cayce and West Columbia are closed because of flooding. The small park in the rear of Riverland Park was also closed as the waters rose. A City of Cayce employee had anchored the dumpster at the boat landing with a rope because it was floating, and he was afraid it might be carried away as has happened before.
If the heavy rains do materialize, expect roads in some common areas that frequently flood to be closed. This would include areas like Charleston Highway under the railroad trestle near the Cayce Farmers’ Market and the intersection of State Street and Knox Abbott Drive. There are also areas in other cities and towns like West Columbia, Lexington, and Chapin that are susceptible to road and low area flooding.
Area law enforcement agencies and emergency planners urge motorists not to drive through standing water. This could cause their vehicle’s engine can stall or be heavily damaged depending on the depth of the water. In neighborhoods, driving through standing water that is completely across the roads can create a “wave” effect that may exacerbate damage to homes and cars on both sides of the streets.
For more information on roads, parks, and other public spaces that are closed, follow your area’s government on social media. You can also continue to follow local news outlets for updates.
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