On Friday afternoon, Nathan and Robin Galloway drove from Hunter Army Airfield through their Richmond Hill neighborhood earlier than usual. Their route home, U.S. Highway 17, was about to be closed due to flooding from the Ogeechee River.
When the couple left the White Oak Subdivision on Sunday afternoon, they were traveling in another vehicle and drifting in five feet of water on a volunteer’s Carolina boat.
Over the weekend, Richmond Hill became ground zero for a volunteer campaign involving hundreds of people in response to flooding caused by rising water levels in the Ogeechee River. Residents flocked to neighborhoods like Rushing Station and White Oak to carry sandbags across flooded streets and help residents evacuate their water-surrounded homes.
“The people were incredible and I have never been so proud of our community,” said Meredith Gibson, who has lived here for 25 years.
The Ogeechee River near Richmond Hill peaked at 10.19 feet around 7 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Water Prediction Service. The river level remained at about 10 feet throughout Sunday.
Flooding in the White Oak neighborhood reached nearly 5 feet (1.5 meters) on Sunday when a Savannah Morning News reporter was there.
The City of Richmond Hill never issued a mandatory evacuation order, but residents left their homes over the weekend anyway. The city posted instructions on Facebook Sunday evening for residents needing assistance evacuating.
“The flooding in our community is a serious situation and we are working around the clock to respond,” the post said. “Our top priority is to help those asking for assistance to leave their flooded homes.”
On Saturday evening, volunteer Kiley Thomson in Rushing Station said the water was up to her shoulders.
Thomson waded through the neighborhood on a paddleboard and made excursions with sandbags until about 10:30 p.m. She arrived at 6 p.m. after closing her salon, Wild Horse, early because of road closures and expected rain.
“I just think it’s important to help the community when you can,” Thomson said. “I have two good paddleboards in my garage. There’s no point not using them when I can.”
Starting Friday morning, residents like Gibson prepared sandbags for the expected flooding, and by the end of the day, about 2,500 bags were filled, she said. Gibson was back in White Oak late Sunday afternoon, when another hundred people moved through White Oak, distributing sandbags on kayaks and evacuating residents in motorboats.
On Saturday, more than 50 volunteers were busy piling sandbags on anything that could float on Rushing Street, where the Rushing Station neighborhood continued to struggle with rising waters.
“I probably cried seven or eight times, and it wasn’t out of sadness,” Gibson said. “It was humbling and so much gratitude, just so much gratitude.”
On one occasion, Karen Stephens Brown and Chase Miles brought two families and four pets ashore on their Carolina Skiff boat, which was the boat the Galloways and Gretchen were on.
Brown and Miles said they transported at least 20 people from their homes in White Oak on Sunday. The two helped until 1:30 a.m.
“It feels like a community, like a neighborhood,” Brown said. “When you see someone hurting or sad, you just want to help.”
Many volunteers said they learned about the need through other community members and Facebook groups. Brown and Miles said they came to White Oak with a few specific addresses they knew needed help, but ultimately were able to help more when entire blocks were under water.
Cameron Collins was in White Oak on Sunday, kayaking to transport sandbags and food to people’s homes. He traveled from Whitemarsh Island to Richmond Hill to volunteer.
“It’s good to have some faith in humanity again,” Collins said. “It’s nice to see that everyone can come together when needed.”
Evan Lassetter is a city and county reporter for the Savannah Morning News. Reach him at [email protected].
