October 5, 2015 – Edgefield County Emergency Management Director Suzy Spurgeon confirmed to The Advertiser Monday evening, Oct. 5, that officials are watching the water levels of Stevens Creek at Martintown and Woodlawn Roads for possible evacuation maneuvers. Spurgeon said that there are “a lot of unknowns right now” and that it is a “hurry up and wait situation.” Stevens Creek is rising and will continue to rise through the night Spurgeon relayed. She said that while no homes are threatened at this point, the creek could continue to rise another 18 hours or more before it crests.

Deputies with the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office are on the scene and are going door-to-door to homes warning residents of the rising waters and of the possible need for evacuation later if the water levels rise too high. They are asking residents to be cautious and to be aware of the water levels around their homes. Spurgeon said that they are also encouraging residents who may notice water levels getting nearer to their homes to not wait but to go ahead and leave the area.

Big Stevens Creek Baptist Church is on stand-by to be able to open as an emergency shelter in the event residents are evacuated.

Martintown and Woodlawn Roads are currently still opened to traffic. However, the SC Department of Transportation is on the scene monitoring the situation in the event the roads’ closures become necessary. The Merriwether Fire Dept. as well as the Savannah River Keeper are also on the scene helping to monitor the situation and keep residents safe.

Spurgeon said that based on past information available regarding the creek’s activities, she does not feel evacuations will become necessary but added that officials will err on the side of caution. Additionally, Spurgeon said that in the event evacuations do become necessary, she expected that very few homes would be included in those evacuations.

Update: 

In an follow-up interview with Spurgeon, Tuesday morning, Oct. 6, The Advertiser was told that there were no mandatory evacuations of the Stevens Creek area although one family did voluntarily evacuate. Spurgeon said that the water in the creek started slowing around 8:00 Monday evening, and the creek crested at about 1:00 Tuesday morning. She said that the water levels at Stevens Creek are now starting to recede.