COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – As Hurricane Helene heads towards South Carolina, various officials from across the Midlands have announced road closures due to flooding.

City of Columbia

As of around noon Thursday, the City of Columbia announced portions of Whaley Street and Main Street have closed due to having accumulated a significant amount of rain.

Whaley Street is closed from Assembly Street to Sumter Street, and Main Street is closed from Catawba Street to Whaley Street.

The Columbia-Richland Fire Department also reported that the intersection of Main Street and Whaley Street is flooded.

WIS News 10 crews have also picked up on a large amount of rainwater at the intersection of Blossom Street and Huger Street, seen below.

As of around 12:45 p.m., The Columbia Police Department (CPD) said they are redirecting traffic at this intersection due to severe flooding. Westbound traffic on Blossom, who are headed towards Cayce, will be routed to Gervais Street.

At around 1:30 p.m., officials with the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) said the Blossom Street bridge has closed due to flooding. Crews are working to reopen the road, but SCDOT said drivers should expect delays.

The intersection of Key Road and Market Street, adjacent to Williams-Brice Stadium has also experienced flooding Thursday. The Columbia-Richland Fire Department said a driver had to be rescued from his vehicle after it stalled out in flood waters on Key Road.

The city said they are sending crews to monitor the closures and eventually reopen the roads.

The following intersections are prone to flooding:

• Main and Whaley
• Gervais and Laurens
• Blossom and Henderson
• Blossom and Saluda
• Harden and Santee
• Monroe and Maple
• Two Notch and Read
• Wheat and Amherst
• Adger and Devine
• Wheat and Sumter
• Wheat and Pickens
• Heyward and Ravenel
• Pickens between Wheat and Green
• Barnwell and Pendleton
• Harden and Read
• Harden and Calhoun
• Franklin and Marion
• Franklin and Sumter
• Columbia College and N. Main
• Bull and Laurel

Columbia officials encourage residents to avoid these areas during and immediately after weather events involving heavy rain.

This story is developing. Check back here for updates.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – South Carolina remains one of 10 states that have opted to not expand Medicaid since it became an option about a decade ago.

A newly formed coalition of dozens of nonprofits and organizations are now calling on lawmakers to change that, but they face substantial opposition.

Medicaid expansion has long been something of a third rail at the South Carolina State House.

But supporters point to another state with a Republican-dominated legislature to show how it can get done: North Carolina.

“It wasn’t easy. It took us 10 years to get there,” North Carolina Republican state representative Donny Lambeth said during a news conference Tuesday in Columbia.

Since last December, the state of North Carolina reports more than half a million people have signed up for coverage under its newly expanded Medicaid eligibility.

A report the group Cover SC recently commissioned found around 340,000 South Carolinians could benefit from Medicaid expansion.

“Most are workers who don’t qualify for Medicaid but make too little to afford private insurance,” Teresa Arnold, the group’s co-chair, said.

When states expand Medicaid eligibility, the federal government covers 90% of the cost, while states are on the hook for the other 10%.

South Carolina’s share for the first year is around $270 million, but by year 10, it is estimated to grow to more than $380 million dollars.

But North Carolina crafted a deal in which hospitals pick up that 10% through an annual tax.

“We’ve constructed this in a way that’s not costing the state of North Carolina a single penny,” North Carolina Republican state senator Kevin Corbin said.

Earlier this year, Governor Henry McMaster vetoed an effort to take a closer look at South Carolina’s healthcare market, including Medicaid expansion.

The Republican governor remains firmly opposed to the option.

“This is our state,” McMaster told reporters Tuesday. “We have to do the right thing in our state, and to be taking taxpayer dollars from our citizens and be giving them to able-bodied, childless adults, childless, able-bodied adults, is not a wise expenditure of that money.”

But South Carolinian Cliff Arnold said people like him would benefit.

He said he was working until two years ago when his kidneys started failing.

Arnold, who uses a wheelchair, said his disability check is too much to qualify for Medicaid but is eaten up by his medical expenses each month.

“I’m just sweating to see if I can make it to the next check,” he said. “Having healthcare would really make a huge difference in how much we actually would be able to — it would actually put food in our refrigerator.”

While both Carolinas are home to legislatures dominated by Republicans, a key difference between them is who leads the executive branch.

While McMaster is a Republican, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is a Democrat and made Medicaid expansion a key priority.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – On Wednesday, Governor McMaster declared a state of emergency in preparation for the landing of Hurricane Helene.

The governor’s order activates the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan. This declaration directs the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) to coordinate with state agencies to prepare for assistance requests from local officials and county emergency management leaders.

“Although South Carolina will likely avoid the brunt of Hurricane Helene’s impacts, the storm is still expected to bring dangerous flooding, high winds, and isolated tornadoes to many parts of the state,” said Governor McMaster.

“This State of Emergency ensures that Team South Carolina has the necessary resources in place to respond to these potential impacts. South Carolinians in potentially affected areas should start to take precautions now and monitor local weather forecasts over the next several days.”

Hurricane Helene formed Tuesday and is rapidly strengthening in the Gulf of Mexico. Before making landfall in the Big Bend of Florida Thursday evening, Helene is likely to be a Major Hurricane, with sustained winds around 125 MPH.

The storm is expected to impact South Carolina and other southeastern states with strong winds, significant rainfall, flash flooding, and an enhanced risk of isolated tornadoes.

Watch WIS Thursday and Friday for First Alert Weather coverage as the hurricane makes its way through the Midlands.

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