The sun showed its face in South Carolina on Tuesday after days of heavy rain wreaked havoc on much of the state, making roads impassable, cutting off electricity and leaving thousands without potable water, according to news reports.
At least 12 deaths in South Carolina and another two in North Carolina were attributed to the flooding, and news reports indicated that as many as 1,000 residents were in shelters, with damage estimates topping $1 billion.
The state capital of Columbia was among the hardest hit areas, and few restaurants were open Tuesday, primarily because of problems with the water system.
Water was either not available, or there were concerns about contamination. Officials urged residents and businesses to boil any water used, said Katie Montgomery, director of communications for the South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association, based in Columbia.
Bobby Williams, CEO of the Lizard’s Thicket regional chain, with 15 units located mostly in the Columbia area, said all but one of his units were open on Tuesday after closing around lunch on Sunday, which is typically the Southern comfort-food concept’s busiest day. The closed unit had no water service at all, he said.
Dams breached around Columbia, leading to severe flooding in some neighborhoods, although Williams’ own home was on high enough ground to have avoided damage. “We probably know 100 people who have lost their homes,” he said.
Though his restaurants weren’t fully staffed, Williams said he wanted to reopen at least for limited hours to feed emergency crews and police because few dining options were available.
Williams arranged for fresh ice deliveries to his restaurants, and any water used was boiled when necessary. Some units used plastic foam plates because of limited dishwashing capability, though he said about half of his restaurants had clean water by Tuesday.
“We went through Hurricane Hugo in 1989, which was horrible, but we didn’t have water issues then. That was more electricity. For this area, this is probably the worst we’ve seen,” Williams said.
With business down by about 80 percent on Sunday and 50 percent on Monday, after some units were able to open, Williams said he was optimistic that sales would return to normal later this week as curfews on area residents were lifted.
“Right now it’s probably 80 degrees with beautiful blue skies,” Williams said midday Tuesday. “You forget that across town it’s a disaster area.”
Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected].
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