Personal Injury Attorney in Orangeburg, SC

A plume of moisture from Hurricane “Rafael” moved northward into the Southeastern United States and collided with a stationary front over South Carolina, causing intense rainfall in Orangeburg County on November 6 and 7, 2024. The extreme rainfall, totaling 180 – 380 mm (7 – 15 inches) in 24 hours, overwhelmed local ponds and dams, leading to failures that sent water downstream, damaging bridges and roads near Norway, South Carolina.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Columbia, between 180 – 250 mm (7 – 10 inches) of rain fell in the Orangeburg area on October 6 and 7, with some localized areas receiving up to 380 mm (15 inches).

“Earlier tonight, the North Fork of the Edisto River crested at a record level of 4.67 m (15.34 feet). This led to significant flooding in and around the city of Orangeburg. River levels will begin to fall, although the river will likely remain above flood stage through the weekend,” meteorologists at the NWS office in Columbia reported at 02:21 LT on November 8.

The resulting flood prompted Governor Henry McMaster to declare a state of emergency.

Authorities used boats to rescue stranded people, assisted several trapped in buildings in downtown Orangeburg, and rescued at least one person from a nearly submerged vehicle in Norway.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation closed 35 roads in Orangeburg and Calhoun Counties on November 7 due to flooding and flood-related damage. Drivers were advised to avoid traveling through affected areas, especially after dark, and to refrain from driving through flooded roadways or around barricades.

The city’s public utilities department reported power and water outages linked to the flooding, and the city opened its public gym as an emergency shelter. Orangeburg County Schools were closed on November 7 and 8 due to road closures.

“The flood water is finally starting to recede in Orangeburg after reaching a record flood level late Thursday at 4.67 m (15.34 feet). Over 0.3 m (1 foot) of rain and several small dam failures within the North Fork Edisto Basin pushed the river above both the 1928 record and the 2015 flooding level,” NWS said.

At 08:00 LT on November 9, the NWS reported ongoing flooding along the Edisto River, with flood conditions anticipated to continue through Monday.

While the river is receding at Orangeburg, flooding is expected to persist, and downstream at Branchville, the river levels are still rising. The NWS advised exercising caution around the Edisto River.

Featured image credit: SCDOT

If you only have one day to visit Orangeburg, South Carolina, you’re in for a treat. This charming small town is rich in history, culture, and natural beauty, making it an ideal destination for a quick getaway. The city of Orangeburg was named after William IV, Prince of Orange, who was married to Princess Anne, the daughter of King George II of England. But today, Orangeburg is known for being home to two historically Black colleges, Claflin University, a liberal arts college, and South Carolina State University, a public university.

Beyond visiting these two campuses, here is everything you absolutely can’t miss during your visit.

Start your day at the South Carolina Civil Rights Museum, where you can delve into the town’s vibrant history through fascinating exhibits that showcase local art, artifacts, and stories. Through powerful exhibits, photographs, and artifacts, the museum honors the struggle for equality and justice while educating visitors about South Carolina’s role in the movement.

Next, head to Edisto Memorial Gardens, a stunning escape featuring beautiful azaleas, camellias, and a picturesque view of the Edisto River. The gardens also have walking paths and a lovely gazebo, perfect for a peaceful stroll or reflection. With over 4,800 rose plants within, this is the place to be to see some of the best blooms in town.

After enjoying the gardens, make your way to downtown Orangeburg, where you’ll find a variety of shops and restaurants. Stop for lunch at one of the local eateries, such as Squeaky's Grill, known for its hearty Southern fare. Don't miss trying the fried chicken or a classic Southern BBQ sandwich—both are local favorites. It's comfortable, casual, and just good food.

As the sun begins to set, return to downtown Orangeburg to unwind at a local café or grab a sweet treat Whipped Sweets & Treats on Rodriguez Street. If you really want to indulge in a classic, the banana split is one of the most popular items.

With its blend of history, nature, and Southern charm, Orangeburg offers a delightful experience for any visitor. Make the most of your one-day adventure by exploring these must-see attractions that showcase the best of this underrated gem in South Carolina.

Want to explore Orangeburg, SC soon? Check out these South Carolina hotels and start planning your trip today!

Residents face ongoing road closures and delays as SCDOT continues to repair after floods

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ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. — Orangeburg County is still recovering from the aftermath of last week's historic flooding, which has left many roads impassable. Five days later, emergency services reports that 76 major roads remain closed.

Orangeburg County Director of Emergency Services Billy Staley says recovery might take some time.

“We have some roads that are going to be months to be repaired, and we have some roads that are going to be a week or two," Staley said.

Jordan Dempsey is the assistant chief at the Edisto Fire Department in Cope. He says that several key routes in the district have been severely damaged, making it difficult for them to access parts of their fire district.

"Today, we're just surveying the area that was damaged during the rain, making sure we have access to all of our fire response areas, which alternate routes were having to take due to the washouts in the roads so that we are not in the immediate action of trying to get to someone to either rescue them, extinguish a house fire or get to a medical call or any other vehicle accident so that we have a better route to get there as quickly as possible,” said Dempsey.

RELATED: Orangeburg County schools to return to class, but with a schedule change

The South Carolina Department of Transportation does not have a timeline as yet on when repairs will be completed but in a statement to News19, SCDOT said, “SCDOT is expediting these repairs. Crews have been working since last week and will continue to work until we get those roads repaired and reopened. We appreciate the public’s patience as we continue to work to make repairs.”

RELATED: Town of North floods catch residents by surprise, cleanup continues

Staley is urging residents to avoid driving around barricades and roadblocks.

"Please do not move the barricades, the cones, or the barrels and drive around them. We're still in the process of evaluating and repairing roads, and that's super critical," said Staley. "This morning, an 18-wheeler had tried to drive around a barricade and got stuck."

Orangeburg County Office of Emergency Services is asking residents who sustained damage to their properties or businesses due to the flooding to report their losses for possible assistance through FEMA.

Gov. Henry McMaster on Thursday declared a state of emergency for portions of the Midlands and Lowcountry after several inches of rain flooded roads, causing damage.

"Team South Carolina has been responding to the impacts of flooding and subsequent road closures in portions of the state throughout the day," McMaster said in a statement. "The state of emergency will ensure that our response teams have every tool at their disposal to continue their efforts."

Between 7 and 10 inches of rain dropped on parts of South Carolina after a weather front stalled over the Southeast starting Wednesday, resulting in long periods of rainfall.

Some areas of the Midlands reported up to 15 inches of rain, the governor's office said.

The flood water is finally starting to recede in Orangeburg after setting an all time record flood level late Thursday of 15.34'. Over a foot of rain and several small dam failures within the North Fork Edisto Basin pushed the river above the 1928 record and the 2015 flooding. pic.twitter.com/BqcCW6D73p

— NWS Columbia (@NWSColumbia) November 8, 2024

The governor's office said river flooding is likely along portions of the Edisto River into next week, though the state is not set to get significant rainfall over the next few days.

More than 35 roads in Calhoun and Orangeburg counties were damaged because of the heavy rainfall, the S.C. Department of Transportation said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

"As the waters recede, SCDOT crews will assess the damaged areas and prepare to make repairs as quickly as possible," DOT said.

The DOT and law enforcement have urged people not to drive through flooded waters.

This is the reason why we preach DO NOT DRIVE AROUND THE BARRICADES ‼️‼️A diver with Cannan Fire Department ending up having to dive to search for people that drove around the barricade . Luckily they were not hurt in this incident. pic.twitter.com/QMD5LJy05e

— Trooper Brittany SCHP (@SCHP_Troop7) November 8, 2024

The new housing development on Red Bank Road aims to meet growing demand in Orangeburg County.

ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. — Orangeburg County Council is set to have a second reading Monday night for a subdivision on Red Bank Road. With over 300 acres, the development will have 400 single-family homes, pickleball courts, walking trails, dog parks, a pool and more.

Preston McClun, the Planning and Zoning Director for Orangeburg County, says there is a need for more housing.

“Orangeburg needs housing. Everywhere across South Carolina needs housing right now," said McClun. "South Carolina is one of those few states that’s seeing a tremendous amount of growth, and Orangeburg is seeing that due to our proximity to the interstates and the lake that we have.”

In addition to providing housing options to the Orangeburg community, the development is expected to bring retail and service opportunities to the area to support the growing population.

“You’re going to have about 1,200 people come, and with those people, you’re probably going to see more grocery stores, more restaurants," McClun said. "Development comes on the back end that you don’t actually see on the front end with the creation of the subdivision.”

Orangeburg County Council approved the rezoning of the property from forest agriculture to residential single-family. Councilwoman Latisha Walker met with local residents to hear their feedback.

“I met with the neighbors here in the community to inform them as to what was going to take place. I got a lot of input from them," said Walker. "Most neighbors were very excited about the growth. They were looking forward to it, and they’re just fully committed to this project.”

Justine Inebinet lives next to where the development is set to be constructed. She says after 45 years, it would be nice to have a grocery store right down the road.

“I just really think it will bring more people around, more people around," said Inebinet. “I wouldn’t have to bother the children, you know to come and get me, and I can ride in my chair and I can put my stuff in my lap, so I would really like for them to bring a grocery store and a clothes store.”

County Council will have their third and final reading on the project on December 16th.