AlHijjah 21, 1436, October 05, 2015, SPA -- Schools and state and local government could be closed Monday across South Carolina as the already flood-ravaged state could see rain continue for another day, according to dpa. The airport in coastal Charleston, the state's most populous metropolitan area, recorded 40 centimetres of rain over the weekend, and some locations in the state had rainfall up to 60 centimetres. Governor Nikki Haley called it "historic rainfall like we've never seen before." The Santee River was at its highest flood stage since 1936, she said. Two dams on small lakes failed in the area around Columbia, the state capital, worsening flood conditions. Neighbouring Georgia and North Carolina were suffering heavy rain and flash flooding from the same system. A low pressure system was stalled offshore in the wake of Hurricane Juaquin, siphoning up tropical moisture thrown off by the once-category 4 storm and funneling rain into the south-eastern United States. Forecasts through Monday afternoon warned of another 5 to 15 centimetres of rain across the state. Some coastal areas, especially approaching the North Carolina state line, could still see 25 centimetres or more of additional rain. "We are at a 1,000-year level of rain in some parts of the low country," Haley said. "We're not out of this yet." In Georgetown, on Winyah Bay near the state's northern coast, Fire chief Joey Tanner issued a statement declaring the city "predominantly under water." The weather was not expected to clear until Tuesday. Haley urged people living in low-lying areas to move to emergency shelters if necessary. She said she would urge most or all county governments and school districts to stay closed Monday to encourage all residents to stay off roads. The University of South Carolina in Columbia cancelled Monday classes. Many roads are closed, including major interstate highways, and rescue and transportation workers are in full deployment. Authorities said there were five deaths in South Carolina, including some motorists who failed to heed warnings not to drive into deep water on flooded roads. One worker from the state transportation department was missing, with a search underway. Major General Robert Livingston of the South Carolina Army National Guard said residents were being rescued with high-water vehicles and boats and in some cases by helicopter. In one case, a mother and child were stranded, an emergency worker who tried to rescue them become stranded himself, before the three were airlifted to safety, Livingston said. At one apartment complex, 300 people were taken through swift-moving waters to higher ground.
