Residents cut off from their homes by Ogeechee River floodwaters

EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) -Many people are still seeing some of the worst impacts of Debby days after the strongest rainfall hit our area. Several roads in Effingham County underwater after historic Ogeechee River water levels.

Residents on Rose Road were forced to evacuate their homes Thursday. The entrance to that road now looks more like a river.

Water in that neighborhood is now several feet high likely leading to flooding inside. The water is so high it’s almost taller than some of the fences.

One man took his boat through the area earlier Friday to get out of his house and evaluate the damage. He didn’t want to be on camera, but told WTOC he had about 4 inches of water inside his home, ruining almost everything inside and parts of the outside too.

This all comes as the Ogeechee River hit record level flooding. According to city officials, the river is set to crest later Friday night, but surrounding areas will remain in a major flood stage until Tuesday.

One man WTOC spoke with says the water levels rose extremely quickly yesterday.

“We took a little drive just a mile down the road to the Ogeechee River and Dashers Landing down there. We were driving on the road. Today there is no road,” said Sam McQueen, resident near flooded area. “We’ve definitely had some good amounts of rain but never seen the rain come across the pond. That pond is usually about 7 feet deep and I would imagine right now it’s probably 12 or 13 feet. I’ve never seen it coming up across the road Water’s never been this close to my house.”

Sam McQueen’s house now has tarps covering his garage door and front door with bags of sand. The water has not hit his house or anyone in the neighborhood yet, but since WTOC has been there those levels have continued to rise up into his driveway.

He says he’s going to keep a watchful eye on everything throughout the night.

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