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How to Experience This Project
This project offers an immersive experience accessible across multiple platforms:

• Mobile Devices: Touching the screen will reveal invisible thumbsticks for movement; physically turn your phone to look around.
For Augmented Reality, tap the AR button to launch the experience in augmented reality.

• Desktop/Laptop: Navigate using the W, A, S, D keys for movement and use the mouse to look around.

• VR Headsets: Access the project through your VR device's browser. Use your VR controllers' thumbsticks or touchpads to move, and physically turn your head to look around.
On devices that support mixed reality pass-through, the project can be experienced in AR mode with full spatial awareness.

*For optimal performance, use a device and browser that support WebXR.
Performance may vary depending on your device's capabilities.

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Deluge is an interactive, multi-platform public art project that immerses visitors in the powerful story of the historic October 2015 flood that devastated Columbia, South Carolina. Through this project, participants experience authentic audio recordings of residents recounting their personal encounters with the disaster, which claimed 19 lives statewide and inundated thousands of homes. After engaging with all eight oral histories, a symbolic glass house filled with water appears, representing the widespread displacement and loss caused by the flood.

The installation not only honors the lived experiences of those affected but also draws attention to the growing risks of extreme weather events intensified by climate change. Deluge encourages reflection, dialogue, and awareness around environmental vulnerability and preparedness. Yet at its core, the project is also a tribute to the resilience of communities— highlighting the compassion, solidarity, and strength that emerge when neighbors support one another in times of crisis.



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Here are some additional facts about the 2015 flood event:


Meteorological Overview:
Unprecedented Rainfall: Between October 1–5, 2015, South Carolina experienced historic rainfall, with some areas receiving over 20 inches. Columbia recorded over 12 inches in a 48-hour period, leading to widespread flooding.

Contributing Factors: The extreme rainfall resulted from a stalled front offshore, combined with deep tropical moisture and the influence of Hurricane Joaquin, which was situated near the Bahamas at the time.

Impact on Columbia and Surrounding Areas:
Fatalities and Displacements: The flood resulted in 19 fatalities statewide, with nine occurring in Richland County, which encompasses Columbia. Over 20,000 residents were displaced, and at the peak, 32 shelters housed approximately 941 citizens.

Infrastructure Damage: The deluge caused significant damage to infrastructure, including the breach or failure of 50 dams and the closure of over 500 roads and bridges. Notably, the Columbia Canal, vital for the city's water supply, was breached, necessitating emergency repairs.

Specific Impact on Gills Creek and Lake Katherine:
Gills Creek Watershed: The Gills Creek area, including the Lake Katherine neighborhood, was among the hardest-hit regions. Gills Creek crested at 19.6 feet on October 4, 2015, surpassing the previous record by over 10 feet, leading to extensive residential flooding.

Dam Failures: Multiple dams within the Gills Creek Watershed failed, exacerbating the flooding. The Overcreek Dam on Rockyford Creek, a tributary of Gills Creek, was breached on October 5, 2015, contributing to the downstream flooding in Forest Acres and surrounding areas.

Emergency Response and Recovery:
Rescue Operations: Emergency responders conducted over 1,500 water rescues, assisting residents trapped by the rapidly rising waters. The South Carolina National Guard deployed approximately 1,300 personnel to aid in response efforts.

Long-Term Recovery: The aftermath of the flood prompted extensive recovery and rebuilding efforts. The City of Columbia established a Flood Recovery Program to manage the rehabilitation of affected areas, including infrastructure repairs and community assistance initiatives.

Educational Insights:
Climate Change Implications: The 2015 flood has been characterized as a 1,000-year rainfall event, highlighting the increasing frequency of extreme weather events potentially linked to climate change. This underscores the importance of climate resilience and adaptive infrastructure in vulnerable communities.

Community Resilience: The disaster showcased the strength and resilience of the Columbia community, with numerous stories of neighbors helping each other and local organizations mobilizing resources for recovery.



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References




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Special thanks to the University of South Carolina Department of Oral History for permission to incorporate audio excerpts taken from the 2015 South Carolina Flood Oral History Collection.

2015 South Carolina Flood Oral History Collection
University Libraries
University of South Carolina