On the weather maps, the last trace of Hurricane Florence disappeared more than a week ago. But the port city of Georgetown, South Carolina, where five rivers throw themselves into the sea, is preparing for the worst of the day on Wednesday and is preparing to face the floods in the city center.

The port city of 9,000 inhabitants of the colonial era is particularly vulnerable to the junction of the waters of the Intracoastal waterway and the Black, Great Pee Dee, Waccamaw and Sampit rivers. There is so much water flowing downstream that it spills over other rivers that are not even flooded and could split the county in half.

The latest forecasts, however, have offered a glimmer of hope. Georgetown County officials said the river's flow has slowed and the worst of the flood is expected to occur Friday and will likely be between two and four feet instead of 10.

"It's still above the levels of Hurricane Matthew, and it's very important and can cause a lot of damage, but it's certainly an improvement over previous expectations," he said. County officials. said on Twitter. On Friday, Macammay had surpassed Matthew's previous record of 17.9 feet set in 2016.

But officials warned that the forecast could change again and return to the original 10-foot levels.

County officials have urged nearly 8,000 residents of Georgetown County to evacuate before the "record" event, the Associated Press reported. SCE & G's utility has shut down any natural gas service to approximately 200 customers in downtown Georgetown as a precautionary measure. Several shelters have been installed in local hospitals.

"The work has been done," said Georgetown Mayor Brendon Barber. "We just need to pray."

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has released a map showing likely flood areas around Georgetown.

"Residents who live in flood areas along the Intracoastal Waterway, Waccamaw River and Pee Dee River, or who live in areas that are not flood-prone but may become isolated due to deteriorating roads, are strongly encouraged to consider the safety and security of first responders, "officials said in a statement.

Employees of Tomlinson Department Store pulled out all merchandise from the store in Georgetown, S.C., on September 24, 2018. Authorities warned of the region's record flood since Hurricane Florence for several days. (Photo: Jeffrey Collins, AP)

The sandbag walls protected many shops on Front Street in downtown Georgetown, Sun News reports. With the exception of those attending a prayer service Tuesday in a downtown park, the only responders in the center of the city were the emergency responders and the media.

National Guard teams installed a temporary system and sandbags along Highway 17 near the bridge over the Pee Dee and Waccamaw rivers. The newspaper reports that the guard also has a ferry to transport the goods to Georgetown.

According to WMBF-TV, on Tuesday, in Conway, North Carolina, some 50 kilometers north of Georgetown, several meters of water had already invaded the streets and damaged houses.

Going up the coast to Myrtle Beach, county officials urged people to evacuate the Socastee area because of the expected flooding of the Intercoastal waterway triggered by the rise of the Waccamaw.

Along American Highway 501, connecting Myrtle Beach inland, the water was already touching a temporary barrier of sand and plastic that was erected to prevent water from entering the bridge. Called the Lifeline, the temporary wall will remain effective if the water does not exceed 5 feet of the current level, according to the State Transportation Department.

Rivers have stopped rising in North Carolina, but the recovery process is just beginning. In rural areas of Jones County, between Kinston and New Bern, two of the county's six schools will be demolished after the waters have left mold in their wake, said school principal Michael Bracy.

At least 47 Florence-related deaths have been reported in several states, including North Carolina with 36 deaths. In the latest deaths, the North Carolina Governor's Office, Roy Cooper, said a 67-year-old man had died in Craven County. The victim died as a result of her fall and fractured neck as she cleaned up on September 18, a few days after Florence landed, officials said Tuesday.

Contributor: Associated Press

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