Rain pounds area

The bridge over Cannons Creek in Pomaria was destroyed and washed away by mid-afternoon Sunday. The bridge, built in 1949, buckled in the middle before falling all the way in. Pomaria-Garmany Elementary School is on the other side of the bridge.

https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_cannonscreek1685.jpgThe bridge over Cannons Creek in Pomaria was destroyed and washed away by mid-afternoon Sunday. The bridge, built in 1949, buckled in the middle before falling all the way in. Pomaria-Garmany Elementary School is on the other side of the bridge. Patricia M. Edwards | The Newberry Observer

This manhole at the intersection of Lyles Street and Poplar Street was close to being popped off Sunday from all the water rushing through the area.

https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_drayton1628.jpgThis manhole at the intersection of Lyles Street and Poplar Street was close to being popped off Sunday from all the water rushing through the area. Patricia M. Edwards | The Newberry Observer

Wells Japanese Garden on Lindsay Street in the city of Newberry was flooded from all the water coming from upstream into this creek, which jumped its banks at some point on Sunday. If you look closely at the concrete pilings, you can see where trash was deposited on the top and the grass on the bank was washed down from the rising water.

https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_japanese1655.jpgWells Japanese Garden on Lindsay Street in the city of Newberry was flooded from all the water coming from upstream into this creek, which jumped its banks at some point on Sunday. If you look closely at the concrete pilings, you can see where trash was deposited on the top and the grass on the bank was washed down from the rising water. Patricia M. Edwards | The Newberry Observer

This house on S.C. 34 in Newberry County near Hellers Creek had been flooded by the middle of Sunday afternoon.

https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_sc341695.jpgThis house on S.C. 34 in Newberry County near Hellers Creek had been flooded by the middle of Sunday afternoon. Patricia M. Edwards | The Newberry Observer

Willowbrook Park was completely flooded Sunday afternoon.

https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_willowbrook1629.jpgWillowbrook Park was completely flooded Sunday afternoon. Patricia M. Edwards | The Newberry Observer

Water churns underneath this area of Amelia Street in the city of Newberry.

https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_amelia1624.jpgWater churns underneath this area of Amelia Street in the city of Newberry. Patricia M. Edwards | The Newberry Observer

A creek went out of its banks at the bottom of Clarkson Street and flooded the back yard of this house.

https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_clarkson1616.jpgA creek went out of its banks at the bottom of Clarkson Street and flooded the back yard of this house. Patricia M. Edwards | The Newberry Observer

This is a view of Willowbrook Park from the bridge on Drayton Street in the city of Newberry. The water is churning so fast that it’s whitecapping.

https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_willowbrook1646.jpgThis is a view of Willowbrook Park from the bridge on Drayton Street in the city of Newberry. The water is churning so fast that it’s whitecapping. Patricia M. Edwards | The Newberry Observer

Clarkson Avenue was one of several roads in the city that were overtopped with water on Sunday.

https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_clarkson1618.jpgClarkson Avenue was one of several roads in the city that were overtopped with water on Sunday. Patricia M. Edwards | The Newberry Observer

The bridge over Mud Creek on New Hope Road was blocked to thru traffic after a portion of the pavement was torn away. Josh Rowe, assistant geodetic technician for the S.C. Department of Transportation’s Newberry office, said the remainder of the bridge was also compromised. The bridge was built in 1959.

https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_dotguy1672.jpgThe bridge over Mud Creek on New Hope Road was blocked to thru traffic after a portion of the pavement was torn away. Josh Rowe, assistant geodetic technician for the S.C. Department of Transportation’s Newberry office, said the remainder of the bridge was also compromised. The bridge was built in 1959. Patricia M. Edwards | The Newberry Observer

Water churns from a culvert at Wiilowbrook Park.

https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_willowbrook1652.jpgWater churns from a culvert at Wiilowbrook Park. Patricia M. Edwards | The Newberry Observer

Wells Japanese Garden was immersed in water Sunday. A bridge (upper left) and a bench (lower middle) that are normally visible were under water.

https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_japanese1661.jpgWells Japanese Garden was immersed in water Sunday. A bridge (upper left) and a bench (lower middle) that are normally visible were under water. Patricia M. Edwards | The Newberry Observer

NEWBERRY COUNTY — The effects of Hurricane Joaquin could be felt in Newberry County this weekend as Newberry County agencies staffed the Emergency Operations Center to ensure the safety of county residents.

On the state level, Gov. Nikki Haley and the heads of her state departments urged all South Carolina residents to stay at home and not travel, going so far as to urge employers to assess their area and make an informed decision about opening today.

Newberry County schools were closed but city and county offices were expected to be open. Buddy Livingston, chairman of Newberry County Council, declared a state of emergency in Newberry County shortly after noon Sunday.

Dusk to dawn curfews were enacted in several South Carolina counties. Newberry County did not put a curfew in place.

SCDOT Acting Secretary Christy A. Hall said the S.C. Department of Transportation was in contact with the DOT offices across the state and were assessing bridges and roads in the areas hardest hit. Several bridges across the state had been compromised by Sunday morning and they were expecting more to be damaged.

Hall warned that flooding would continue even when the rain subsides.

“The flood-swollen rivers in the Midlands are tributaries that feed into the rivers that move down into the southern portion of the state. The threat of more flooding is still very real,” said Hall.

In Newberry County, the DOT was reporting 10 roads and bridges were closed due to flooding or being washed out.

The bridge over Cannons Creek in Pomaria was destroyed and washed away by mid-afternoon Sunday. The bridge, built in 1949, buckled in the middle before falling all the way in. Pomaria-Garmany Elementary School was on the other side of the bridge.

The bridge on New Hope Road in Pomaria was also close to collapse early in the afternoon. Josh Rowe, assistant geodetic technician for the SCDOT in Newberry, was manning the bridge that spans Mud Creek.

Part of the bridge on the southern side had given way and the rest had been compromised. Mud Creek is a offshoot of Cannons Creek.

Other closures included Indian Creek Road from Riser Road to Bonds Road, Quaker Road, a portion of U.S. 176, Hope Station Road, St. Phillips Church Road from Jolly Street to S.C. 219, S.C. 121, and U.S. 176 from S.C. 773 to S.C. 202.

“I have seen localized flooding in the past, but nothing this widespread. The whole county was affected, but mostly Pomaria,” said Sheriff Lee Foster.

The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office sent out Nixle alerts all weekend warning residents of hazardous roadways and providing storm updates using information from the Law Enforcement Officers’ Association, fire and rescue, S.C. Department of Transportation and other professional resources.

Newberry High School was designated as a shelter for Newberry County residents and anyone from Columbia who might have needed a place to stay. No one used the shelter and it was closed at 5 p.m. Sunday.

Newberry City Fire Chief Keith Minick said most of their time was spent Saturday night and Sunday running in and out with calls due to rain or downed trees.

“We’ve been monitoring the situation,” Minick said.

Minick said the last time he recalled this much rain in the Newberry area was during a flood in 1986.

The fire department’s normal Sunday routine added a few extra helping hands should emergencies arise with rising water, Minick said Sunday morning.

Tommy Long, emergency services coordinator for Newberry County, said they encouraged residents to stay where they were and not get out on the roads.

Interim Police Chief Roy McClurkin said the city saw a lot of water across the streets over the weekend.

In particular, McClurkin said Wheeler Street and the area around it were at capacity for water. By 8 a.m. Sunday, Scott’s Creek was beginning to come out of the banks.

McClurkin said there were no major power outages within the city of Newberry.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol released a statement around 10:30 a.m. Sunday that from S.C. 121 in Newberry County and from I-26 to the town of Whitmire was closed due to flooding and trees across the roadway.

Michael Thomas, fire chief of Whitmire Fire Department, said they had been out since 7 a.m. Sunday morning with numerous trees down and several roads blocked off due to water across the roadway.