COLUMBIA — There may be a pause in the rain from Tropical Storm Debby, but Gov. Henry McMaster reminded South Carolinians the danger is far from over.

As of Wednesday afternoon, there were still no reports of fatalities or injuries from the storm, officials said.

“Things have not been as bad as they could have been, although we’ve had a lot of rain,” McMaster said a public storm briefing at the South Carolina Emergency Operations Center in Columbia.

“One way to look at this is we are in the second act of a three-act play.”

The first act came Tuesday as the storm dumped rain on the Lowcountry as it headed to the Atlantic Ocean. The second act will come as the storm returns ashore Thursday morning between Charleston and Myrtle Beach and moves through the Pee Dee, bringing 3 to 8 more inches of rain to much of the state.

Then as the storm heads north, all the water it dumps in North Carolina will flow downstream to rivers in South Carolina that could already be overflowing. 

“Help your neighbors, look out for your neighbors,” McMaster said. “We know there will be a lot of cleanup to do and we’ve got to be very safe, because this is not nearly over.”

Some rivers may keep rising until the middle of next week. Those of particular concern for flooding include the Little Pee Dee River near Galivants Ferry in Horry County and the Edisto River near Givhans Ferry in Dorchester County, said John Quagliariello, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

At least three suspected tornadoes reported Tuesday have been confirmed, he said.

Those touched down on Edisto Beach, Kiawah Island and Moncks Corner. There are unconfirmed reports of another tornado at Edisto Beach along with Isle of Palms, West Ashley and Lady’s Island, Quagliariello said.

More than 6 homes have been damaged, with one destroyed, mostly in Colleton County. At least six businesses in Colleton, Berkeley and Horry counties also had some level of damage, said Kim Stenson, director of the South Carolina Emergency Management Division.

As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, 83 roads were closed, said Transportation Secretary Justin Powell, who noted that 25 roads that were closed due to the storm have been reopened. 

Two ramps to Interstate 95 at Exit 22 and Exit 33 in Jasper County are open again after being closed by flooding. A ramp off Interstate 526 at Exit 15 in North Charleston also closed Tuesday afternoon, but it was open again by 7 p.m., according to the Department of Transportation. 

As of late afternoon Wednesday, the stretch of coastal South Carolina north of Folly Beach was still expecting a storm surge of up to 3 feet, according to the National Hurricane Center. 

As of 11 a.m., Summerville, outside of Charleston, has experienced the most rain at over 17 inches since Saturday, according to a National Weather Prediction Center report. Edisto Beach, Beaufort, Mount Pleasant and Charleston all had upwards of 13 inches of rain. 

Around 5 p.m. Wednesday, there were roughly 1,500 Dominion Energy customers with power outages, while Santee Cooper had less than five. Duke reported some outages in the counties that it serves. None impacted more than 50 customers with the exception of 67 customers in Greenville.

The City of Charleston ended a curfew Wednesday morning that had begun Monday night.

Several school districts in the Lowcountry had school closures on Wednesday, and a number of districts through the Midlands and Pee Dee had e-learning days, according to the state Department of Education. 

Forecasters are sticking with predictions that Tropical Storm Debby will dump extreme amounts of rain on parts of South Carolina through Friday.

Heavy rain and storm surges continue to deluge Charleston and other coastal areas of the state. More than 10 inches of rain had fallen along the coast over the last two days, the National Weather Service reported.

The storm’s track is expected to move slowly toward the east and north on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center. It will drift off Georgia’s coast early Thursday and then move inland later in the day for a repeat assault on South Carolina.

The hurricane center estimates three to six inches of rain could fall on the Upstate through Friday. Periods of heavy rain will likely result in areas of flash and urban flooding, with river flooding possible.

Here are tips from state officials, area emergency responders, and the Red Cross on staying safe during the storm. 

Flooding in low-lying areas is possible

Officials advise residents to avoid floodwaters that could be contaminated with harmful chemicals, sewage, and debris, which pose serious health risks. Motorists should not attempt to drive through floodwaters.

In heavy rain, watch for trees with loose branches and be sure to secure loose items outside

More: Tropical Storm Debby rainfall totals for South Carolina, Georgia through Tuesday afternoon

Be ready for emergencies

Josh Hawkins, director of Anderson Emergency Services, advises Upstate residents to stock up on three days’ worth of supplies if necessary and have ample water, non-perishable food items, flashlights, batteries, and a battery-powered radio ready to use. He also said it’s wise to prepare a go-kit, especially if evacuation is necessary. “Don’t forget to include essential medication and diapers in your supplies,” he added.

Duke Energy Carolinas Jason Holifield, communications director said planning before a storm land is important.  

• Have a plan for moving your family – especially the elderly or people with special needs
• Make sure cell phones and other electronics are fully charged. Consider investing in portable chargers.

• Get cash in case ATMs are not working or banks are closed.
• Fill your car with gas or fully charge an electric vehicle.
• If you have an alternative power source such as a generator, make sure you know how to operate it safely.
• Have an emergency kit with non-perishable food; a manual can opener, disposable plates, cups, and utensils, a first-aid kit, medications, a flashlight and spare batteries, and a non-electric clock.

In case of evacuations, Mike Leach, director of the Department of Social Services, said it is important to bring documents such as homeowner or rental verification, insurance information, identification, blankets, and sleeping bags.

The Gamecocks Baseball program has been on a tear this summer ever since Paul Mainieri took over as the coach. From transfer portal additions, to players returning from the draft, everything has been trending in the right direction, until today where the Gamecocks received their first decommitment of the 2025 class.

Peter Mershon is a versatile player that projects as a C/INF at the next level. The 6-foot-2 and 195 pounder from Taylors, South Carolina announced via his X account that he was re-opening his recruitment.

South Carolina still has time before the 2025 class is all locked in. Mainieri and his staff will continue to put their stamp on the roster through the high school ranks and the transfer portal before opening day next season.

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