Congaree River continues to rise issuing a voluntary evacuation

Hurricane Helene came through South Carolina last week, producing high winds and downpours of rain across the region.

On Sept. 29, residents of the Riverland Park neighborhood were informed by Cayce police officers that a voluntary evacuation was issued due to rising water levels.

Rivers, such as the Congaree River began to rise, creating flooding in surrounding areas.

The Columbia Fire Department encouraged citizens to stay out of the Congaree and Broad rivers and to take precautions.

The Southeast River Forecast Center has reported that at 1 p.m. on Sept. 30, the Congaree River had reached 30 feet and 49 inches. This is close to the historic flooding that occurred in 2015 in the Columbia area. 

According to a press release, 235 households in Cayce are still without power as of noon Sept. 30.

Lost Creek Drive is closed from Pond Oak Lane to Lake Front due to flooding as of Sept. 30.

The Cayce Riverwalk and Timmerman Trail remain closed for the safety of citizens.

Cayce staff are working hard to ensure the safety of their citizens and are not anticipating any additional evacuations at this time.

“Our Cayce staff: including but not limited to, our police and fire department, public works, wastewater and water treatment plants, and our parks department are all working around the clock to ensure the safety and well-being of our citizens," according to a press release.