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TODAY: RAIN; FLOOD WARNINGS HI 67 LO 56YESTERDAY: HI 71 LO 64 PRECIP. (as of 5 p.m.) 7.49”FORECAST, 12C

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Classifieds 9CComics 7CGo Columbia 12CObituaries 4COpinion 3C

A slow-moving storm produced historic floods Sunday afterdumping more than a foot of rain in parts of Columbia.The rainfall submerged low-lying traffic intersections,

washed away roads and flooded homes. Dozens of peopleneeded to be rescued by police and firefighters or were ferried to safety byneighbors in boats. A mother and child were plucked off a rooftop in Rich-land County by an S.C. National Guard helicopter, state Adjutant GeneralRobert Livingston said.

The deluge also caused several watermains to break in the Columbia watersystem, forcing many residents to loseservice, according to a news release fromthe city. The worst-hit areas were down-town Columbia and southeast RichlandCounty. Residents may be without servicefor three to four days, the city said. Mean-while, water customers with service inColumbia, West Columbia and Blythe-wood were advised to vigorously boil thewater for at least a minute before drink-ing it.Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said

Sunday that city and county law enforce-ment, as well as the Columbia Fire De-partment, pulled hundreds of people outof situations where they were endangeredby rising waters.“And there likely have been thousands

of houses and homes and cars that havehad water damage,” Lott said.While as much as 16.6 inches fell in

some areas around Columbia on Sunday,officially more than 10 inches of rain was

counted at Columbia Metropolitan Air-port on Saturday and Sunday, accordingto the National Weather Service. That setthe 128-year-old record for two days (7.7inches) and three days (8.4 inches). Asingle-day record was set on Sunday atalmost seven inches.Some areas around Columbia received

as much rain Sunday as the region ab-sorbed in the past three months com-bined, according to National WeatherService data. Another inch or two of rainwas expected overnight.The effects of the storm will linger

Monday as rivers and creeks remain swol-len and streets flooded after the recordrainfall.“It’s not over,” Gov. Nikki Haley said.

“We’re still in the middle of it.”On Monday, schools and colleges, in-

cluding the University of South Carolina,canceled classes. Government offices inRichland and Lexington counties as well

Historic floodravages MidlandsStorm drenched Columbia areawith more rain than previousthree months combined

Rain will linger Mondayas crews try to assessdamage from flooding

Surges of water closed roads,swelled rivers and creeks andled to one death in Columbia

MATT WALSH mwalsh@thestate.com

Department of Natural Resources workers make a rescue in Forest Acres during Sunday morning's flood.

BY ANDREW SHAINashain@thestate.com

GILLS CREEK(Devine Street near RosewoodDrive)

5.1 FEETSunday midnight

14 FEETMajor flood stage

17.1 FEETSunday 7 a.m.

9.4 FEETPrevious record from 1997

CONGAREE RIVERIN COLUMBIA(Near Gervais Street bridge)

13.6 FEETSunday midnight

22.8 FEETSunday 7 a.m.

30 FEETMajor flood stage:

31.7 FEETSunday 6 p.m.

33.3 FEETRecord from 1936SEE FLOOD, 10A

UPDATES ONLINEFor updated news, including closings, goto thestate.com.

Also, while storm conditions and safetyconsiderations may delay Mondaydelivery of The State in some areas, youcan read the news online atthestate.com and you can view a replicaof the print edition by connecting tothestate.com/e-edition.

INSIDEYour house is flooded?Now, what do you do? Some tips. 6ALexington CountyResidents advised to evacuate fromriverbanks as utility opens Lake Murrayspillways, 7AClosuresMost Midlands schools, governments willbe closed Monday, 7ARichland CountyRecord rainfall turned normally quietGills Creek into a roaring river, 8AForest AcresColumbia suburb hit hard for secondtime in a week, this time by rising water,9ASouth CarolinaRecord floods Sunday shut downhundreds of roads statewide, forcingthousands to flee their homes orvehicles, 10A