Special to the Herald

SPRINGFIELD – Effingham County officials urge residents to maintain a cautious stance as floodwaters left by Tropical Storm Debby recede. They warn that some risks will remain as the water leaves.

During a Wednesday morning conference call, Effingham County Emergency Management Agency Director Clint Hodges reported to area officials that the county has received “generally between 10½ and 13½ inches” of rain from Debby.

“We’ve got a couple of isolated locations reporting that their rain gauges showed a little over 14 inches but (the amount) is pretty consistent," Hodges said.

Hodges predicted that the bulk of the rain is over but a few scattered showers will likely linger until early Friday.

“There are no significant accumulations coming,” he said.

Despite the lessening rainfall, floodwater is rising in some areas.

“That’s probably going to be the case for the next couple of days,” he said. “Just as we did yesterday, we are seeing significant road damage as the water continues to flow across some of them.”

Hodges said approximately 20 county roads are impassable. Public Works intends to begin repairing them as soon as possible.

Effingham County School District Superintendent Dr. Yancy Ford inquired about the plight of residents who live on damaged dirt roads in the northern part of the county and where school buses “can or cannot go.”

“We haven’t really received any complaints about people not being able to get out somehow,” Hodges said. “I mean we can get them in and out definitely by emergency vehicles and a lot of the people on these roads have four-wheel drives and they are getting in and out.”

The start of the 2024-25 school year, originally set today, has been tentatively moved to Monday. A definitive call will be made after a future road assessment and discussion with Hodges.

In a bit of good news, it was reported that the Ogeechee River will crest Saturday at about 17 feet. That is nearly two feet lower than a previous projection.

That level is still considered major flooding, however, and could lead to significant impacts in the surrounding areas.

Effingham Health System reported no significant storm-related problems. It intends to return to a full and normal schedule Thursday.

All Effingham County government offices are scheduled to reopen on Thursday.

The shelter established at Springfield Oaks Church remains open, Hodges said. It is currently empty after briefly housing one resident.