Like a scene out of a horror movie, residents of North and South Carolina were running for their lives as breached dams and swollen rivers spewed tens of thousands of gallons of water into neighborhoods following several days of heavy rains. More than 20 inches of precipitation fell across the area, causing the collapse of 18 dams and taking at least 13 lives.

More than 16 inches of rain fell in Columbia, S.C. on Sunday alone, and the National Weather Service says that another one to two inches could still fall through Tuesday. Officials are watching one dam in Columbia where a breach could cause the water to rise two feet per minute through surrounding neighborhoods.

Want to continue reading?
Become a Free PropertyCasualty360 Digital Reader

  • All PropertyCasualty360.com news coverage, best practices, and in-depth analysis.
  • Educational webcasts, resources from industry leaders, and informative newsletters.
  • Other award-winning websites including BenefitsPRO.com and ThinkAdvisor.com.
NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Catastrophe & Restoration
Commercial Lines
Corporate Risk
E&S/Specialty
Loss Control
Personal Lines
Public Sector Risk
Weather Risk