Subtropical storm Alberto wreaks havoc along the East Coast
South Carolina television news anchor Mike McCormick and photojournalist Aaron Smeltzer were killed in their WWAY station van Monday while reporting developing weather in association with subtropical storm Alberto.
McCormick and Smeltzer were reportedly driving near Tyron, NC on US Highway 176 when an uprooted tree landed on the vehicle.
Tyron Fire Chief Geoffrey Tennant claimed a week of extended rainfall, ending in 2 inches of rain in the Tyron area on Monday, saturated the soil and caused the tree to fall.
The torrential rainfall and dangerous flooding associated with Alberto has brought tragedy to areas all along the East Coast.
In Ellicot City, MD, Sgt. Eddison Hermond of the Maryland National Guard disappeared into the rapid flow of flood water while rescuing a woman’s cat on Monday.
Hermond was off-duty attending a birthday party downtown with friends when a local woman asked for help rescuing her cat from the flood.
Witnesses saw Hermond fall under the rapid current of the flood and never resurface.
As of Monday, Ellicot city emergency responders conducted 300 rescues during their search for Hermond.
While rainfall and flooding has subsided in both regions, the beginning of reparations are daunting.
“You just got to pray,” 77 year-old Maryland resident Ray Miser said.
