Stories of survival emerge from East Coast rainstorm

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Relentless rains and floodwaters brought much of South Carolina to a standstill. Thousands warily watched rising creeks, others had to be rescued after water spilled into their homes. Still others helped save neighbors. The following are vignettes from people in the storm:

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Wilson McElveen lives on a hill in a place called Forest Acres, but just down the hill, neighbors were flooded out of their townhomes by water surging over a nearby dam.

He said the rushing waters burst through the doors of one home, and emergency responders had to use an ax to break down the door of another townhome to rescue a woman.

"We've seen people lose everything," said his wife, Sharon McElveen, noting they lost only a small boat. "It just floated away. But I could care less about that stupid boat."

Brenda Van De Grift said her husband got trapped in his car while driving to work Sunday morning at the Van De Grift Animal Clinic. She said he was driving an SUV and thought he could make it, but didn't realize how deep the water had gotten.

"He was running late," she said. He doesn't even know who pulled him out.

Others said high ground kept them safe.

"We're counting ourselves very lucky that we're uphill enough," said Griffin Schultz, a resident of an apartment complex near one flooded area.