Gov. Henry McMaster and emergency officials talk to reporters Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (Skylar Laird/SC Daily Gazette)
COLUMBIA — Gov. Henry McMaster on Friday announced help for farmers dealing with past natural disasters, while some counties deal with another.
McMaster declared a state of emergency Thursday night after several counties south of Columbia received between 7 and 14 inches of rain Wednesday night into Thursday morning. In Calhoun, Orangeburg and Barnwell counties, the rain closed roads, broke through dams and wiped out bridges.
Several roads in Allendale and Bamberg counties were also closed because of flooding Friday morning, according to the state Department of Transportation.
The North Fork Edisto River, which flows through Orangeburg County, hit a record-breaking 15 feet Thursday. The major flooding began to ebb late Thursday into Friday, but the river is expected to remain in a flood stage until Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
As the water runs downstream, people along the Edisto River, including in Dorchester County, should prepare for moderate flooding in the coming days, according to the National Weather Service.
Orangeburg County was hit particularly hard.
More than 150 roads in Orangeburg County were closed as of Friday, and some were washed away entirely, the emergency department said. Orangeburg County schools were closed Thursday and Friday because of flooded roads, the county’s only school district said in social media posts.
McMaster’s executive order activates the state’s emergency plan, making it easier to get help into affected areas.
“We’re assessing right now, and we’ll do whatever’s necessary to get help to them,” McMaster told reporters Friday.
To qualify for federal assistance, the damage must be greater than $9.5 million to homes, roads and businesses. Although it’s too early to determine how much damage the flooding has done, it seems likely the cost will surpass that amount, said Emergency Management Director Kim Stenson.
Help after Helene
Flash flooding was only the latest natural disaster to hit the state.
After Helene, SC farmers face extensive damage to crops, livestock
Helene swept through South Carolina as a tropical storm at the end of September, knocking down powerlines, crushing homes and killing 49 people.
Strong winds and heavy rain also leveled orchards, knocked down stands of timber trees and destroyed fences, affecting farmers.
Farmers lost more than $452 million in crops, livestock and timber, according to surveys by Clemson Extension and Forestry Commission researchers.
“Right now, we’re at a point of crisis in the state of South Carolina,” State Forester Scott Phillips said. “After these storms and all the different things that have hit our state this year within forestry, we’ve had a terrible last 24 months.”
The number of farmers who had insurance is unclear, but crop and timber insurance often doesn’t cover much, if farmers are eligible at all, officials said.
Making matters worse, a summer drought and rain from Tropical Storm Debby wrought another $169 million in damage to crops and livestock.
At three upcoming Farm and Forest Recovery Resource Days, federal and state officials will be available to answer questions and help farmers sign up to get help for any losses they have experienced.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has grants available to help with removing debris, rehabilitating damaged land, rebuilding fences and replacing damaged crops and livestock, said Laurie Slade Funderburk, state executive director for the Farm Service Agency.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that any grants will require proof of damages and the costs of repair, said Funderburk, who previously represented Camden in the state House.
McMaster is also asking for nearly $621 million in federal assistance for farmers, which would include supplementing some lost wages, he said.
State Republicans have said hurricane assistance will be among their top priorities when they return to session in January. If enough federal funding does not come through, McMaster could ask for as much as $100 million in the budget to help out, though that number is subject to change, he said.
“We need to exhaust the federal resources first, because we’ve got a lot of other things that we need to spend our taxpayer money on in South Carolina,” McMaster said.