ORANGEBURG, SC (WIS/Gray News) – A South Carolina woman on her way to the pharmacy died when her car was caught in floodwaters. Her family believes her death could have been avoided if the road she was traveling on had been blocked earlier.

Valerie Goff, 66, left her home Thursday afternoon in Orangeburg County for a short errand and never returned. She was one of two people who died following massive flooding across the county, WIS Reports.

Investigators say they found the body of Valérie Goff in her car one day after she was reported missing. The car was found underwater on Glover Street, just four minutes from the 66-year-old’s home.

Even though Valérie Goff’s family continues to cry, they are also confused. They believe their mother’s death could have been avoided if Glover Street had been barricaded earlier. Her family said it wasn’t until 8 p.m. Thursday that authorities finally closed the road, hours after Valerie Goff was reported missing.

The 66-year-old’s son, Carmelle Goff, drove from Columbia to Orangeburg County on Thursday in search of his mother.

“She had been in the water for over 24 hours,” he said.

Video obtained by WIS shows Glover Street and what appears to be the car Valerie Goff was driving that day underwater.

“One officer said they didn’t set up barricades until 8 p.m. that evening. My mother would have never gotten up at 8 p.m. that night,” Carmelle Goff said. “It just has to be a better system.” It has to be a better system and be proactive, so this doesn’t happen to anyone else’s mother.

Valerie Goff’s daughter, Renee Gooden, said her mother made two trips away from home Thursday. One was around 10 a.m. looking for her mother’s prescriptions at Walgreens. It’s about a six-minute drive from the 66-year-old’s home on Pontiac Lane. At that point, she was told the prescriptions weren’t ready and she went home.

“I know she was saying the 23rd Psalm because that’s what she always did,” Gooden said.

Around 3 p.m., Valérie Goff leaves for what will be her last attempt to obtain her mother’s prescriptions.

“I know she was hurt,” Gooden said. “The last thing she said to her mother was, ‘I’m going to get your medicine, Mom, and I’ll be right back.'”

Gooden reported his mother missing shortly afterward.

“The fact that she couldn’t come back to say goodbye, the fact that she couldn’t make a call, the fact that she couldn’t give him her last hugs, kisses. It hurts,” Gooden said.

Valerie Goff’s children took WIS to the same location where their mother was found, near Glover Street. As of Monday afternoon, some areas were still filled with water.

“I still can’t believe she’s gone. I didn’t get a chance to talk to him that day,” Carmelle Goff said. “I haven’t had the chance to hear her tell me she loves me.”

While searching for Valerie Goff, investigators also found the body of a man in the area of ​​Stonewall Jackson Boulevard. He has not yet been identified.

Orangeburg County and other areas of eastern South Carolina were left in shock significant flooding caused by heavy rains. Many parts of the East Midlands region received between seven and ten inches of rain, with totals up to 15 inches in some areas.

Orangeburg County’s emergency services director said there are no active search and recovery efforts for anyone at this time, but county officials have been checking on homeowners who are experiencing the along the Edisto River.

Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency Thursday evening to aid counties’ recovery efforts.

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