(Richland County PIO) – The Richland County Emergency Management Division (RCEMD) along with the National Weather Service, and state and local officials urge residents who live along the Congaree River and those in low lying areas to prepare for the heightened risk of flooding because of Hurricane Helene.

12th Street Extension is closed on the other side of I-77 before Amazon and Nephron Pharmaceuticals. Amazon trucks were on the side of the road Sunday evening near where the road passage on 12th Street Extension had been blocked off.

The Congaree River is forecasted to crest Monday afternoon—reaching levels comparable to those in 2015. While there are no mandatory evacuations in place in Richland County, County and emergency officials encourage residents to stay safe, remain vigilant and take any necessary precautions now. Additionally, public access to rivers in the County and city will be closed Monday.

Richland County Emergency officials will continue to work with the National Weather Service to monitor Helene’s impact on the rivers. For continuous updates, please visit www.richlandcountysc.gov, the County’s Facebook page, and local news reports.