Over half of SC counties now eligible for FEMA aid, more could be added

A bridge washed out on Cleo Chapman Highway near the town of Sunset. (Provided by Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative)

COLUMBIA — Residents in over half of South Carolina’s counties are eligible for some level of assistance through the Federal Emergency Management System in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene.

Gov. Henry McMaster announced Monday at a briefing on the storm that residents of 23 counties are eligible for individual FEMA assistance and 29 counties are eligible for FEMA assistance to local governments.

Four or five counties might still be added to the list, said Kim Stenson, state Emergency Management Division director. That would bring the total to almost three quarters of the state’s 46 counties.

The state is also launching a series of events where residents in storm-impacted counties can meet with a range of state and federal agencies for assistance with recovery. The first three, called Team South Carolina Days, will occur this week in the Upstate.

Brett Howard, federal coordinating officer for FEMA, said the agency has already approved over $57 million in aid following the storm. If residents apply and are turned down, he encouraged them not to give up, as issues could be as simple as a missing digit in a Social Security number.

“If you register for FEMA assistance and you get a denial letter … do not accept the denial letter for the end all, be all,” he said.

Moving from response to recovery

The scale of damage is becoming clear 10 days after the storm tore up the Georgia-South Carolina border and through the Upstate. At least 41 people died as a result of the storm, and as of Monday afternoon there were still over 51,000 power outages across the state.

Stenson said that 5,200 homes had some level of damage; 300 of those were destroyed. But state agencies are shifting towards recovery work.

While 72 roads are still closed across the state, none are closed by downed trees anymore, according to Justin Powell, secretary of transportation. Four state bridges will need to be replaced — one each in Oconee and York counties and two in Greenville County.

The state is also preparing for the impact of Hurricane Milton. The storm is not expected to hit South Carolina but could bring high winds to the southern part of the state and along the coastal plain, according to John Quagliariello with the National Weather Service in Columbia. It could also bring some coastal flooding Wednesday and Thursday.

Residents can see the full list of eligible counties and apply for FEMA aid at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362.