Ivan Brings Flooding, Destruction
by The Associated Press
Friday, September 17, 2004

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - More rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ivan.

The storm spun off tornadoes and high winds in the Upstate yesterday. Oconee County officials estimate ten tornadoes brought down trees and power lines. One person suffered a minor injury after tree fell on a mobile home.

About 50 people near the Tugalo River had to be ferried out today after rising water washed over a road which was the only way to get to their homes.

Several families are still trapped in their homes along Cooper River Road near the South Carolina - Georgia border. Right now, it's not a life threatening situation. Rescuers say the sift waters around the homes may make it dangerous, but they are also watching the water that is draining from the mountains to make sure it will not put the families at risk.

"Those trees, there was aluminum tops and everything was just flying around all down through here," storm victim Franklin Brandon told us. When asked how long it lasted, "Not even five minutes.  It just whooped right through right quick and it did a lot of damage through here."

Near Hendersonville, Laurel Park Highway is closed because of a huge tree that has fallen across the roadway. People in the Laurel Park community can't get out because the highway is blocked.

Duke Power spokesman Tom Williams says at least 23-thousand people are without power.

A flash flood watch is in effect through 6 a-m Sunday for the Upstate.

Two tractor trailer rigs flipped on their sides in Chester County this morning.

A tornado watch is in effect for nine counties in the northeastern corner of the state until 5 o'clock this afternoon.

Flood warnings have been issued for mountain counties in North Carolina as remnants of Hurricane Ivan march inland.

More than 164,000 people in the region are without power after the storm dropped as much as eight inches of rain in some places and winds knocked trees onto power lines. Officials say the numbers will rise during the day before rains subside and winds wind down.

Major Chris Simpson of the North Carolina National Guard says rescuers are also bracing for flash floods. They've already had to use helicopters in some cases to aid swift water rescues.

The flooding struck many areas that were also flooded last week by remnants of Hurricane Frances.

The storms hit northeast Georgia hard.

A six-year-old girl swept away from a mobile home park in floodwaters from Hurricane Ivan has been found dead.

The Emergency Management Agency Director for White County, William Wright, says the girl was found about 9:30 p.m. yesterday in a ditch. He says the child apparently got too close to the ditch.

Authorities have not released the girl's name. Wright said the girl was in front of the mobile home where she lived and her parents were nearby when she slipped into the ditch about 8:30 p.m.

Two other deaths also are being blamed on the storm.

In Franklin County, a woman died when a tree fell on her car.

A utility worker was electrocuted to death while repairing storm damage in Towns County.


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