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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

Hurricane Matthew Victims Learn How State Plans to Help Them Recover

Residents in Nichols, SC being rescued after Hurricane Matthew.
Courtesy of Nichols resident Courtney Wilds

The South Carolina Disaster Recovery Office (SCDRO) will hold four town hall meetings this week to present the Hurricane Matthew action plan and obtain public feedback.

Much like the office's 2015 Storm recovery program, the Hurricane Matthew recovery program is designed to serve as many citizens as possible while concentrating on meeting the needs of the least resilient citizens. Based on public response, SCDRO may add or revise portions of the action plan before submitting it to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

All town hall meetings will take place between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m.

April 3, 2017
Technical College of the Lowcountry – Beaufort Campus

Building 12

921 Ribaut Road

Beaufort, SC 29902

April 4, 2017

Francis Marion University

Lowimore Auditorium in the Cauthen Educational Media Center

4822 E Palmetto Street

Florence, SC 29506

April 4, 2017

Ellis Performing Arts Center

618 North Richardson Street

Latta, SC 29565

April 6, 2017

CD Joyner Auditorium

161 Elizabeth Street
Marion, SC 29571

SCDRO will oversee $65.3 million allocated for the 24 counties impacted by Hurricane Matthew. The housing focused program will concentrate on the repair and refurbishment of homes based on eligibility and priority need. Like the 2015 Severe Storm recovery Action Plan, it will focus on serving the most vulnerable citizens, giving priority to those who cannot recover themselves. The counties served by this program include: Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Jasper, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Orangeburg, Sumter, and Williamsburg.

To be eligible for the program, citizens must have disaster-caused damage to their home as a result of the October 2016 Hurricane Matthew and own property or live in one of the 24 declared counties. Eligibility, however, does not guarantee assistance. Factors that determine citizen priority include income level, disability, and age.

For more information about the town hall events or the SCDRO Action Plan, citizens should visit the SCDRO web site at www.scdr.sc.gov or email ContactSCDR@scdr.sc.gov.