‘Quite a storm coming’: Gov. McMaster tells SC residents to brace for Debby

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – Residents of South Carolina are bracing for Tropical Storm Debby, which is expected to bring heavy rain and flash flooding to the entire state.

• READ MORE: Debby brings heavy rain, gusty winds to the Carolinas

The eye of the storm is now pushing into Georgia, and will move slowly across land into South Carolina, dumping barrels of rain. The tropical storm was moving at around 50 mph, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center.

“There’s a potential for historic rainfall,” said John Quagliariello with the National Weather Service at a press conference on Monday.

Even though this storm is not classified as a hurricane, Gov. Henry McMaster reminded residents it is still dangerous.

“We have quite a storm coming … We have a lot of water coming,” McMaster said. “We don’t know how much water is coming. We know its going to be a lot,” he added.

He encouraged residents who recently moved to the state to educate themselves about storms in South Carolina, and learn about how the state is impacted by severe flooding.

“Get your information from official sources only,” McMaster reminded residents.

The Midlands experienced what was called the 1,000-years flood in 2015, where at the peak of the flood, more than 500 road and bridges were closed. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control says 51 regulated dams breached or failed.

“It may this is the most water we’ve seen in a long time,” McMaster said, encouraging residents to prepare for the worst.

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