Polk County devastated by flooding from Friday’s rainstorm

Published 3:20 pm Saturday, May 19, 2018

UPDATE: The Red Cross has closed the emergency shelter at Polk County High School. Volunteers remain on standby should needs change, officials said.

POLK COUNTY — Polk County emergency personnel and citizens are dealing with the fallout caused by the massive rainfall that occurred Friday evening, which brought up to 6 inches of rain into the area, according to the National Weather Service.

Officials have closed U.S. 176 near Harmon Field Road in Tryon due to the substantial damage along the roadway, including flooding, washouts and mudslides, officials said in an alert to the public. At least one person has died due to the flooding, according to other media outlets.

Sign up for our daily email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

In addition, Tryon officials placed the area of Vineyard Road to the top of Meadowlark Drive under a boil water notice due to a water main break. Residents living in the affected area are asked to boil any tap water intended for human consumption (drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation) for one minute in order to kill any harmful organisms.

Polk County and the Red Cross have reopened an emergency shelter for those impacted by the flooding at Polk County High School, 1681 Highway 108 E., Columbus. The shelter was also activated Friday night, with nearly 30 people coming there before it was closed around 9 a.m. Saturday.

The National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg office has placed Polk County and portions of surrounding counties under a flood warning until 8:15 p.m. Saturday, and under a flash flood watch until midnight.

Interstate 26 was also closed Friday night between mile markers 54 and 67 due to high flooding and downed trees, though the road was reopened as of 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

This is a developing story. More info will be posted as it becomes available.