Heavy rainfall Sunday night left several roadways in Camden County flooded, prompting officials to urge residents to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.
The Camden County Sheriff’s Office reported that heavy rain led to extensive flooding, notably around South Mills and Old Trap areas, where drainage ditches overran and flooded key roads. According to Sheriff Kevin Jones, several roadways were found to be impacted, with law enforcement carefully tracking the evolving conditions.
“We aim to avoid accidents and prevent anyone from being injured,” stated Jones.
He mentioned that the flooding happened quickly because a heavy rainfall overloaded the county’s drainage systems.
“Last night, we had a very large amount of water dumped on us in a very short amount of time,” said Jones. “The ditches fill up real quick. They overflow, which spills into the roadway, which causes a problem for motorists.”
Low-lying Camden County frequently experiences flooding, as pointed out by Jones. Although these circumstances aren’t rare, he emphasized that they remain a significant danger to motorists.
“It’s quite typical for these routes to become inundated with water. Given that Camden is inherently a low-lying area, we tend to experience flooding,” explained Jones.
People living in the South Mills region voiced agreement with the sheriff’s worries. Some community members opted out of appearing on camera or giving their identities, yet they conveyed that minor floods often occur, particularly around Linton Road. They mentioned that this area faces challenges due to inadequate capacity of local drainage systems like culverts and farmlands when dealing with significant water overflow during rainy periods.
A nearby resident noted that the drainage system frequently causes floodwaters to accumulate in the fields since there is no alternative path for the water following events such as Sunday’s storm.
Jones provided safety guidance for those who have to travel.
Jones recommended allowing ample time for travel, staying home whenever possible, and using a cautious, safe speed during nighttime journeys. This precaution is advised in case you encounter areas that might be prone to flooding.
The sheriff’s department will keep an eye on the road conditions and ask locals to stay updated with official warnings and information via community resources.
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