Everyday Heroes: Those who rescued residents amid Tropical Storm Debby flooding

DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – It has been just over a week since Tropical Storm Debby drenched the Lowcountry. Depending on where you lived, you saw anywhere between 15 and 20 inches of rain – and in some cases, even more.

Yes, there was damage to homes and property, but no lives were lost. And that’s partially due to the people trained to help when disaster strikes.

“It’s a house I waited 35 years for, and now I won’t have it no more,” said Dorothy Beach, whose property in Dorchester County was flooded after the storm moved through.

Beach, her husband Ralph, and their pets were rescued on Saturday from their home in the Twin Lakes community along the Ashley River. The river spilled over its banks after torrential rainfall the night before.

“I have never seen it like this. It’s never been water running under my house. Everything that I own on the outside is floating across the road and my vehicle is gone,” she said.

The Beach family was not alone. Hundreds of homes were flooded. Dozens had to be rescued after water surrounded their homes.

“This one was a little different,” said Chief Brent Melcher with Summerville Fire and Rescue when comparing the flooding from Debby with the thousand-year flood in October 2015.

“We weren’t prepared for that because that wasn’t something we saw coming,” he said. “Since 2015 we made sure got certain vehicles, we got a water rescue team. So, we felt more prepared this time, even though the conditions seemed to be a little worse.”

For the better part of the weekend, the rescue team with their rescue boat and highwater vehicle helped families get to higher ground and drier land.

“Most of it was relocating some of our citizens who were flooded out of their homes. We had to relocate them from their homes to a higher ground. They were able to touch base with family members and friends that were able to give them a place to stay,” said Chief Melcher.

These teams going in when everyone else wants out. Chief Melcher says it’s not about the money for his team. “Honestly, it comes down to service. We don’t think about the paycheck or anything like that – this is more of a calling than a job. It takes a very special person to want to do this type of work,” he said.

A team effort when storms like this hit the area. Summerville Fire and Rescue works closely with Dorchester County and North Charleston. Helping others is what they do, and learning from each storm that impacts the community.

“We’re always learning. From every storm that passes by. We’ll take notes from this storm, and we’ll apply it to the next one, too. Preparation is constant,” he said.

Summerville Fire and Rescue has three men assigned to their boat team and two to their high-water vehicle.