State officials encourage people to be careful in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Debby

State officials urged people not to let their guard down in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Debby.
Gov. Henry McMaster held a media briefing on Thursday afternoon with state emergency management officials to provide an update on the storm’s impact.
McMaster noted no storm-related fatalities as Debby entered its third phase with river flooding.
“Even though it is not raining and the wind’s not blowing, there is still a lot of danger from this moving water,” he said.
John Quagliariello of the National Weather Service said Debby is now located about 55 miles east-southeast of Charlotte and has 40 miles per hour wind speeds.
He emphasized that the next phase of the storm would be the considerable rises on area rivers, with many across the eastern part of the state expected to reach a moderate flood stage and a few possibly major flood stage.
“Fortunately, we are not expecting rivers to reach the levels that we saw during Hurricane Matthew or Florence, but there’s particular concern for major flooding on the Pee Dee River at Cheraw, Pee Dee River at Pee Dee, Little Pee Dee River near Gallivants Ferry, the Edisto River near Givhans Ferry, and the French Quarter Creek near Huger,” he said.
Frank Strait, severe weather liaison in the state climatology office, said significant flooding is forecasted along the Pee Dee and Little Pee Dee Rivers, and moderate (nearly major) flooding is expected along the Edisto River.
“If you are in Chesterfield County, the Pee Dee will rise fast over the next 24-36 hours,” said Strait in an update. “Keep in mind that the rivers along our Coastal Plain are slow to fall when they flood, so moderate to major flooding will last several days along those rivers.”
McMaster reminded citizens to be careful.
“We’ve passed some dangers, but there’s still plenty, so don’t let your guard down yet.”