The Daily Gamecock

Hurricane Matthew wreaks havoc along East Coast

Hurricane Matthew took three lives in South Carolina, and as of Sunday morning, nearly 750,000 people statewide were still without power.

Gov. Nikki Haley announced the first death at a press conference Sunday; Haley said the person died when their car was washed away. Later on, the Richland Country coroner said that a 66-year-old man drowned in a still puddle after he became stuck beneath his electric wheelchair.

Haley has lifted evacuation orders for several counties, but she said residents of Beaufort, Georgetown, Horry and Jasper counties should not return home yet.

William-Brice Stadium saw blue skies for the Gamecocks' football game against University of Georgia, which was moved to Sunday afternoon because of the storm. Game day operations proceeded as usual.

Earlier in the week, the governor declared a state of emergency and called for evacuation of coastal South Carolina. Interstate 26 lane reversals took effect Wednesday to assist in residents' exiting the Charleston and Beaufort areas. Throughout the week, Haley urged coastal residents to move inland for their safety and the safety of emergency responders.

USC cancelled classes Wednesday through Friday and hosted about 50 College of Charleston students seeking refuge from the storm. The visitors arrived Wednesday afternoon and stayed in on-campus housing.

Hurricane Matthew tore through the Caribbean and then up the East Coast over the past week, causing nearly 900 deaths in Haiti. The storm is also responsible for eight deaths in North Carolina, three in Georgia and six in Florida.


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