CHARLESTON, S.C. — A historic rainfall flooded areas of Charleston, South Carolina, on Saturday, leading to emergency responders aiding some individuals in getting out of the high waters.
The National Weather Service in Charleston reported that downtown Charleston experienced 3.63 inches of rain on Saturday, surpassing the one-day record of 1.43 inches set in 1948. Additionally, the Charleston International Airport recorded 1.95 inches of rainfall, breaking the 1998 record of 1.13 inches.
The heavy rain in the coastal city coincided with a morning high tide.
The Charleston Fire Department addressed 12 incidents involving sinking vehicles and assisted in relocating 13 people from vehicles or flooded areas.
Strong winds caused multiple windows at a tire business to break and tore off roofing sheet metal at that location and at two adjacent businesses, as well as snapping off the top of a power pole, according to the National Weather Service. In North Charleston, a church's ceiling collapsed under the heavy rainfall, the weather service added.
The vice president of the tire company, Bill Sekula of Hay Tire Pros, reported to WCSC-TV that part of the ceiling also caved in.
“I suppose it was like a sudden, powerful burst of wind or something similar, but apparently the rain was heavier than usual and then the windows began to buckle and snapped. These windows on the side simply separated and were dislodged from the building,” Sekula told the news station.
Authorities in Charleston did not immediately report any injuries caused by the storms and flooding.
