Rock Hill Emergency Crews Prepare for Heavy Rains, Flash Flooding

ROCK HILL, SC — Rock Hill Fire Department has their gear bags and rescue rafts ready to go, preparing for 6 to 12 inches of rain through the night. They want to be ready to keep themselves and anyone who needs help safe.

“If need be, we also have throw bags we can throw to them and help them get to safe area or get to safe location where we can expedite rescue a little bit easier,” says Capt. Chris Summers of RHFD.

York County Emergency Management says people underestimate getting themselves stuck in swift water and driving when it’s dark and been raining.

“Stay off the roads,” says Chuck Haynes of YCEM.  “The roads are going to change tremendously with all the rains. The roads may wash out trees, may be down there, may be power lines. If you see water, stay away.”

And they say check the road conditions when you wake up, since people don’t know how much damage could happen overnight.

“Tomorrow is biggest concern for us, though, with that much water, doesn’t dissipate as quickly, and if continues to rain, the ground gets so saturated the trees will actually begin to fall and hit power lines. Now we got electrical issues on top of that as well,” says Capt. Summers.

Emergency crews say since there has already been one death in Spartanburg County due to flooding, they want people to take the waters very seriously and know that in the morning, roads could be much worse.

If you get stuck and need help, call 911.