A powerful coastal storm drenched parts of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic over the weekend, flooding roads, swamping neighborhoods and triggering emergency declarations as it pushed north.
South Carolina: Roads Underwater, Rescues in Georgetown and Charleston
Flooding hit hard along the South Carolina coast, especially in Georgetown County, where rising water trapped several drivers in their vehicles. Emergency Services Director Brandon Ellis confirmed multiple rescues after some areas were hit with as much as 7 inches of rain.
Further south in Charleston, several downtown streets were shut down as stormwater backed up at high tide. Residents spent the weekend trying to protect their homes and belongings.
Homeowner David Graubner told WCIV-TV that he worked nonstop to keep water out after nearly a foot of tidal flooding filled his garage on Friday — right where his new Corvette was parked.
Even a few inches of runoff “makes a difference,” he said, pointing to tools and other valuables he stores in the space.
In Myrtle Beach, heavy rainfall overwhelmed the city’s drainage system, forcing numerous road closures. Local authorities urged people on Facebook to stay off the streets:
“Please be safe and stay home, if possible.”
Emergency Orders in New York and New Jersey
The storm gained strength as it moved up the coast.
New Jersey has been under a statewide emergency declaration since Saturday night, giving officials the ability to mobilize emergency crews quickly. The order is expected to stay in place into Monday.
In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for eight southern counties Sunday evening and urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and monitor local alerts.
Parts of the state are bracing for:
Up to 5 inches of rain
Moderate to major coastal flooding
Flash floods inland
Wind gusts up to 60 mph
High surf and possible beach erosion
Volunteers in some coastal areas spent Sunday placing sandbags along vulnerable shorelines.
The National Weather Service issued a coastal flood warning and wind advisory for New York City, Long Island and southern Westchester County through at least Monday afternoon. Forecasters said some Long Island neighborhoods could see up to 3 inches of rainfall combined with strong gusts.
Wind readings of 30 mph or higher were already being recorded by Sunday morning across the region.
Flight Disruptions and Utility Preparations
Airports from Washington, D.C., to Boston reported delays and a handful of cancellations as the storm moved up the Eastern Seaboard.
Electric utilities across the Northeast brought in more than 1,600 additional workers to handle downed lines, power outages and flooding-related damage.
When Will It Clear?
Forecasters expect the system to pull away from the coast by Monday night, though some areas may still see travel delays and residual flooding through early Tuesday.
Reporting contributed by AP journalists in Los Angeles, Dallas, New York City, and Albany, New York.