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[h=4]South Carolina floods: Death toll rises to 9 in unrelenting storm[/h]Millions of South Carolinians remained homebound because of historic rainfall.
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South Carolinians are struggling to cope with historic floods caused by the heaviest rain ever recorded in parts of the state. USA TODAY
A vehicle and a home are swamped with floodwater from nearby Black Creek in Florence, S.C., on Oct. 5, 2015.(Photo: Gerry Broome, AP)
The death toll rose to nine and millions of South Carolinians remained homebound Monday as state emergency officials grappled with massive flooding following days of historic rains.
Rain was forecast to continue on and off across much of the state until late Monday. Rainfall totaling 2 feet in some areas since a state of emergency was declared Thursday has forced hundreds of water rescues. Gov. Nikki Haley said 550 roads and bridges were closed. About 40,000 residences were without water, but many more were dealing with a boil order. About 26,000 had no power, she said.
"We are stronger today than we were yesterday," Haley said at a news conference Monday. "Our angels in South Carolina continue to be our first responders."
The National Weather Service said rainfall totaling 6.87 inches Sunday in Columbia smashed a record set in 1959. The two-day rainfall total of 10.44 inches also set a record. The Charleston area set records as well; one suburb had more than 2 feet of rain since Thursday.
In Columbia, Mayor Steve Benjamin said water service was returning to some areas of the city but that a boil alert remained in effect.
Steve Bowen, a meteorologist with the global insurance firm Aon Benfield, said economic losses to the state should "easily surpass $1 billion given the enormity of the damage."
"The cost to infrastructure alone could be that much," Bowen said in an e-mail to USA TODAY. "Unfortunately, as is the case with flood events, much of the damage will not be covered by insurance since only a small percentage of homeowners in South Carolina are current National Flood Insurance Program policyholders."
Gov. Nikki Haley said Sunday that this type of rain event can be expected once in 1,000 years.
S.C. STRUGGLES WITH HISTORIC FLOODINGCaskets, cars carried away in South Carolina floods | 02:55South Carolinians are struggling to cope with historic floods caused by the heaviest rain ever recorded in parts of the state. USA TODAY
S.C. STRUGGLES WITH HISTORIC FLOODINGRaw: SC Hit Hard By Driving Rains And Flooding | 01:22Hundreds have been rescued from fast-moving floodwaters in South Carolina as days of driving rain reach a dangerous crescendo. (Oct. 4) AP
S.C. STRUGGLES WITH HISTORIC FLOODINGCoast Guard chopper rescues mom, toddler from flooded home | 00:46The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a mother and her 15-month-old child from a flooded house in Huger, South Carolina. The family's neighborhood was severely flooded. U.S. Coast Guard
S.C. STRUGGLES WITH HISTORIC FLOODINGBoats used to rescue stranded flood victims | 02:16As historic rain continues to pound South Carolina, people were forced to evacuate their homes. Boats helped rescue those who were stranded.
S.C. STRUGGLES WITH HISTORIC FLOODINGSC Governor: Haven't seen this much rain in 1,000 years | 01:07South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley says that parts of her state haven't had this much rain in 1,000 years. So far, three people have died from weather-related incidents in South Carolina. VPC
S.C. STRUGGLES WITH HISTORIC FLOODINGRaw: S.C. Residents Rescued Amid Heavy Flooding | 01:44Torrential rains soak residents across South Carolina, washing out roads and forcing locals to be rescued by fire department officials in boat. (Oct. 4) AP
S.C. STRUGGLES WITH HISTORIC FLOODINGThis couple didn't let a little rain spoil their big day | 01:15Rain or shine, John and Judy Joye were determined to get married on the beach. The couple made the most of their soaked ceremony, even jumping in the ocean right after their vows. VPC
S.C. STRUGGLES WITH HISTORIC FLOODINGDozens rescued in flooded South Carolina | 01:46After historic rainfall drenched parts of South Carolina, flash flooding stranded hundreds, forcing several rescue attempts. (Oct. 4) AP
S.C. STRUGGLES WITH HISTORIC FLOODINGSC resident: A dumpster was floating down flooded river | 02:45As South Carolina continues to be hit by historic rainfall, curious residents can't help but take a look outside. One witness describes seeing a dumpster floating down a nearby flooded river. VPC
S.C. STRUGGLES WITH HISTORIC FLOODINGSouth Carolina floods 'worse than you think' | 01:10Flood waters have swallowed cars, destroyed homes and devastated businesses in Columbia, South Carolina. Some stranded residents have had to be rescued by boat. VPC
S.C. STRUGGLES WITH HISTORIC FLOODINGHeavy rain causes flooding up and down East Coast | 01:08Cities up and down the East Coast are flooded from heavy rain. The torrential rain comes as Hurricane Joaquin continues to move away from the U.S. VPC
S.C. STRUGGLES WITH HISTORIC FLOODINGDangerous floods turn South Carolina roads into rivers | 00:59Heavy flooding across South Carolina trapped some people in their homes and forced others to abandon their cars in the high water. VPC
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Hundreds of rescues included a mother and her 15-month-old daughter, plucked from the roof of their flooded home Sunday by a Coast Guard air crew in Huger, about 25 miles north of Charleston. A helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Savannah, Ga., evacuated the pair to Mt. Pleasant Regional Airport.
Haley said 1,300 National Guard personnel were working Monday, and thousands more were on alert. She said President Obama, who previously had issued a state of emergency to provide federal assistance, called her Monday and was "extremely gracious and kind" and offered additional assistance.
Much of the East has been saturated by rains that have lingered since Thursday. Coastal areas of North Carolina and Virginia saw flooding, and flood warnings and watches were in effect along much of the East Coast. But the hovering storm saved its worst abuse for South Carolina.
USA TODAY
Weather: The weird, wild and wonderful
"If you're safe where you are, stay there," the state Emergency Management Division tweeted Monday. "Flooding expected to continue in more than half the state."
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dan Pydynowski called the weather event the worst in the state since Hurricane Hugo, which made landfall near Charleston as a Category 4 storm in 1989, killing 27 people in the state.
Pydynowski blamed the historic rains and flooding on a low pressure system that has stalled over the state since Thursday, combined with the outer edges of Hurricane Joaquin. The Category 2 hurricane, with sustained top winds of 105 mph, avoided a direct hit to the U.S. but did add fuel to rains and high wind along the coast
In Mount Pleasant, a suburb of Charleston, Sarah Shinners said her home was above the waterline — but the only road out of her neighborhood was impassable.
"Everything around us is completely flooded. It's terrible," Shinners told USA TODAY. "We are just hunkering down."
Chris Morris is one of the lucky ones in his Charleston neighborhood. He said many neighbors have evacuated, but his family's home is on a raised slab and hasn't been breached. He lives on a golf course, but you would not know that by looking at it.
"We woke up this morning to about 10 inches of water surrounding the house," Morris told USA TODAY. "And the golf course is completely under water."
Contributing: Doyle Rice, Greg Toppo
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