Tropical Storm Debby raising rivers across Horry County. Where flooding will be a concern

Amanda Watts walks to the back of her yard and points at a butter knife sitting in a pool of water in the ground. She said she stuck it in the ground on Sunday as way to watch flood levels.

“I put the knife in when it was dry,” Watts said. “Now the water’s up to here.” She points at the ground a foot away from the knife.

The water is slowly flowing into the backyard of her home near the Waccamaw River on Star Bluff Road in the Longs area but Watts said she’s not worried about her home flooding. She’s lived on the land her whole life, as it’s a piece of family property.

Part of living on the river means dealing with floods.

Tropical Storm Debby brought around 15 to 19 inches of rain to where Watts lives, according to the National Weather Service. That rain combined with rainfall from up north is raising the Waccamaw River this week.

Previous flooding events like Hurricane Matthew and Florence happened during the off-season so Watts was able to stay in a vacation rental for cheaper. If her house floods again, she said she doesn’t know where she’ll go. Watts doesn’t appear anxious, stating it more as a fact.

The Waccamaw River in Longs is currently in a moderate flood at 13.65 feet. It’s expected to crest around 14.7 feet on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Across the street, Watts’ cousin Saundra Watts Barnhill said she’s not worried about her house but heads over to her river walk that’s become a river swim. The walkway that normally allows her to stroll over the river to her floating dock is completely underwater with only the posts sticking out.

Barnhill and her husband had to add extender poles to the dock rings because the river was about to sweep the dock away.

Other parts of the Waccamaw River, like the end of Big Gutter Lane have flooded as well. Nobody was home on Monday, but kayaks sat at the water’s edge, ready for when residents needed to paddle home through the water.

The Waccamaw River near Conway is facing more flooding. It’s currently at 12.1 feet and is expected to crest at 14.5 feet around Aug. 19, according to the National Weather Service. Various communities located near the river are expected to flood as water levels continue to rise.

There are currently 13 boat launches closed due to flooding. Several streets, including Red Bluff Highway, Old Reaves Ferry Road, Depot Road and Waccamaw Drive, are closed due to flooding, according to the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

If the flooding does reach her house, Watts said she’ll be ready. She’ll take her daughter and find somewhere safe to stay until the water recedes.