SC News

South Carolina: Flood and Recovery

Stories of people and communities going about the work of recovery from the floods of 2015 and Hurricane Matthew in 2016.00000177-2120-db48-a97f-fb222fb50000In October of 2015, South Carolina received rainfall in unprecedented amounts over just a few days time. By the time the rain began to slacken, the National Weather Service reported that the event had dumped more than two feet of water on the state. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the subsequent flooding was the worst in 75 years.Then, one year later, rain and storm surge from Hurricane Matthew dealt a blow to many in South Carolina still at work recovering from the 2015 floods.SC Public Radio Flood Coverage from the Beginning

Ahead of Matthew, Flood Rebuild Group Asks Volunteers to Delay Arrival, Shifts to Storm Clean-Up

South Carolina Public Radio | By Thelisha Eaddy

Published October 5, 2016 at 9:23 AM EDT

Hundreds of volunteers with the nonprofit Eight Days of Hope were expected in Williamsburg and Georgetown Counties Saturday. The group was scheduled to start rebuilding 150 homes damaged in last year’s flood. President Stephen Tybor is now asking some of those volunteers to delay their arrival.

"We ask those volunteers that are going to come in tomorrow on Saturday, to delay that arrival to Sunday Afternoon."

Tybor said teams that are already in the area will temporarily shift their focus to post-storm cleanup.

"We have dozens of certified chainsaw professionals. We plan on sending 150 to 200 people to areas that do get hit by the hurricane."

These certified chainsaw users will also have tarps for roofs and other equipment that can be used for debris removal. Eight Days of Hope plan to resume its flood-rebuilding blitz Sunday afternoon.

During Governor Haley's Friday morning press conference, she said officials will be paying close attention to the Edison, Black and Waccamaw rivers. The Black River runs through Williamsburg and Georgetown Counties. The area sustained massive damage during the October 2015 historic rain event and flood. Eight Days of Hope initially planned to rebuild 150 homes in eight days, but evacuations ahead of Hurricane Matthew will likely decrease the number of homes the group will be able to repair.