SC Residents Prepare for Heavy Rain, Winds

BISHOPVILLE, SC — Parts of the midlands of South Carolina could see ten inches of rain from Tropical Storm Florence.

Conditions could worsen over Friday night as strong winds are expected to continue and increase, at times coupled with very heavy rain, particularly in this part of South Carolina where estimates have around 10 inches falling over the next 48 hours.

The storm is a slow mover, which has made it difficult for emergency officials to plan ahead and convince the public to stay put.

“You don’t know how to prepare for it,” said Lee County Emergency Management Director Mike Bedenbaugh. “You plan for certain days and it doesn’t work out the way you want it to. And it back drafts and the public gets restless. They’re ready to go back out. The ones that have (inaudible) for the roadways, they want to go back to where they were. They want to see what’s going on. It does make it tough. You give them a timeline and it doesn’t work out. Mother Nature; you can’t control it no way.”

Local law enforcement and first responders are prepared to move out at the first sign of damage, rescue needs or to clear roadways. A local shelter had about 50 people hunkered down until the storm passes, with room for plenty more.

The Red Cross is ready to mobilize as well.