Residents of Hilton Head area see downed trees, washed-out roads and damage from Debby
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Tropical Storm Debby
Tropical Storm Debby made landfall August 5 as Category 1 storm in Florida’s Big Bend region. As it moves up the Southeast Coast, the system could dump historic rainfall in Beaufort County.
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As potentially record-breaking rainfall picked up in Beaufort County overnight, firefighters and law enforcement responded to hundreds of calls related to Tropical Storm Debby. Flooding is widespread in several areas, but no major injuries were reported as of Tuesday morning.
Officials continue to urge residents to stay home if possible — but if you are venturing out, avoid these areas.
To share photos of storm damage or advise our reporters about flooded or dangerous areas, email newsroom@islandpacket.com after reporting conditions to the proper authorities.
Hilton Head
Dunnagans Alley: The roadway parallel to U.S. 278 experienced flooding Monday night but was driveable as of Tuesday morning, according to Joheida Fister, a spokesperson for Hilton Head Fire Rescue.
A large buildup of water atop the BP gas station near the Hilton Head bridges caused the roof to collapse. No one was inside at the time and no injuries were reported, according to Stephen Combs, a spokesperson for the Bluffton Township Fire District.
As of Tuesday morning, officials were not sure what time the roof had collapsed. The minimart was constructed in 1984 and was well-known by travelers as the final landmark before crossing over to the island.
Bluffton
U.S. 278/S.C. 170 interchange: The on-ramp from S.C. 170 (Okatie Highway) to U.S. 278 (Fording Island Road) remained closed as of 10:30 a.m. Tuesday as rainwater continued to pool onto the often-flooded interchange.
The Farm at Buckwalter: The low-lying neighborhood in southern Bluffton has been the epicenter of flood-related calls, according to Combs. Police are asking residents to stay home as multiple portions of the community, especially near its center, are blanketed in water:
- Mill Pond Road
- Old Bridge Drive
- Cattle Run Way
Floodwater had entered several houses in The Farm as of Tuesday morning, Combs said, partly because cars moving through the water were creating waves and pushing it farther up. He urged residents to avoid driving or walking in floodwater for the safety of themselves and others.
Bluffton Park: Avoid Red Cedar Street, 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue. A nearby lagoon has begun to spill over into the street, according to Bluffton police.
Officials in Bluffton were reporting no major injuries as of Tuesday morning, according to Combs. Even when a car hydroplaned into a retention pond in the Hampton Hall community Monday night, the driver escaped safely.
Port Royal
- Castle Rock Road: Authorities had closed portions of the roadway east of its intersection with S.C. 170, a commonly flooded area.
- Abberly Pointe Apartment Homes: Entrance not accessible Tuesday morning due to flooding
Firefighters in Port Royal responded to a dozen storm-related calls overnight, including one fallen tree that brought minor damage to a home but did not displace residents, according to spokesperson Assistant Chief Ross Vezin.
Unincorporated Beaufort County
- Trask Parkway (U.S. 21) at Keans Neck Road: Reduced to one lane northbound and one lane southbound due to flooding
- Trask Parkway near the Marine Corps Air Station: “Likely to flood,” according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office
- Burton Wells Road at Middleton Recreation Drive: Intersection flooded
- Broad River Boulevard near Lamon Drive: Blocked due to downed power lines as of 10 a.m. Tuesday
- Kinlock Road: Portions of the roadway are flooded
- Paige Point Road: Multiple downed trees reported
Jasper County
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office urged drivers to avoid the following areas due to flooding:
- I-95 Exit 22 ramps
- I-95 Exit 33 ramps
- West Frontage Road
- Rice Shire Road between Bees Creek Road and Coosaw Scenic Drive
- Coosaw Scenic Drive north of Salzburg Landing Road
- Bees Creek Road between Rice Shire Road and Kyle Lane
Langfordville Road: Ridgeland resident George Tallmage reported a large washout near the back road’s intersection with Firetower Road, about two miles off of U.S. 278.
In Hardeeville, police are reporting flooding in the following areas:
- Walsh Drive
- The McTeer area
- John Smith Road near Highway 17
- Deerfield Village
- Moorer Avenue/Burke Street
This story was originally published August 6, 2024 at 10:51 AM.
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