DNR News** Archived Article - please check for current information. **
February 11, 2016Online interactive journal outlines 2015 South Carolina historic rain and flooding
The historic heavy rainfall event of Oct. 1-5, 2015 produced record rainfall rates and totals in South Carolina. Finding information about that event is now easier due to a new online interactive journal from the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) State Climatology Office. The S.C. State Climate Office hopes the site will help everyone better understand the State's vulnerability to flood so that we can work together to be more aware and resilient.
To see the online interactive rain and flooding journal, visit https://www.dnr.sc.gov/flood2015. This content is best viewed with Chrome or Firefox web browsers.
Click and zoom to find a chronological summary of the rain and flooding, a synoptic description of what caused the unprecedented rainfall, high res digital reflectivity loop maps, rainfall and hydrologic maps and records, a photo account, and information on DNR's Law Enforcement Division activities during the flooding. You can identify where the rainfall exceeded a 100-yr, 200-yr, 500-yr and even 1,000 year rain event.
By the Numbers.. Examples of Information Found in the Journal
- Highest 96 –Hour Rainfall: Mount Pleasant 6.4 NE SC (COCORAHS) 27.19 inches.
- 16 COOP Stations set new 24-hour Rainfall Records for October
- Charleston received 11.5" of rain on Oct. 3rd setting new 24-hour rainfall record for any station in October
- Georgetown Airport received 26.99" setting new October monthly record for any station across the state
- 4 streamflow gages set new all-time record peaks: Gills Creek at Columbia highest in 50 years, Smith Branch at N. Main at Columbia highest in 38 years, Black River at Kingstree highest in 87 years, Edisto River near Givhans highest in 81 years
- 158 South Carolina DNR Law Enforcement Officers were involved in boating, security and evacuation missions. 930 Rescues/Assists were made in the first nine days of the event.
Important Flood Safety Information
- Over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water.
- Second highest percentage of flood-related deaths is due to walking into or near flood waters.
- People underestimate the force and power of water. 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult. It takes just 2 feet of rushing water to carry away most vehicles. It is NEVER safe to drive or walk into flood waters.
- Homeowners' insurance does not cover flood damage.
- South Carolina has 199,300 National Flood Insurance Program policies which ranks 6th in the nation. If you live in a Special Flood Hazard Area or high-risk area and have a Federally- backed mortgage, your mortgage lender requires you to have flood insurance.
- Anyone can be vulnerable to flooding. Even if you live in a low-risk area you can purchase flood insurance so long as your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). People outside of the high-risk flood areas file 20-percent of all NFIP claims.
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