Colleton County Fire Rescue evacuating some residents along Edisto River due to flooding

COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – Emergency crews in Colleton County are currently evacuating residents who live near the Edisto River due to flooding.

Specifically, residents near Whetstone Crossroads are being moved to higher ground.

“Residents have informed Fire-Rescue the water level is higher now than it was after TS Debby,” said officials with Colleton County Sheriff’s Office. “Please heed the warnings and prepare to leave before it is too late.”

An evacuation shelter opens at 6 p.m. at the Colleton County Recreation Center (208 Recreation Lane in Walterboro).

Colleton County Fire Rescue previously warned residents that the Edisto River was expected to reach moderate flood stage in the coming days and said residents should prepare.

The National Weather Service in Charleston said the Edisto River near Givhans Ferry and below Canadys continues to rise and added that a flood warning is active until further notice.

Much of the rising water is associated with heavy rain and flooding that occurred in Orangeburg County this past week moving south.