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Marlboro County reports 101 homes affected by recent storm; officials lay out recovery, volunteer and debris plans
Summary
County emergency staff reported 101 houses affected and 15 meeting FEMA 'major damage' criteria; council discussed drainage grants, debris disposal options, mosquito mitigation and creating a volunteer registry for storm response.
County officials told the Marlboro County Council that recovery from the recent storm is underway and that the county will pursue state and federal assistance while addressing immediate public-health concerns.
Emergency-response staff (Speaker 10 in the transcript) reported the county had identified 101 houses affected by flooding ranging from minor water intrusion to major damage; of those, 15 houses met FEMA’s definition of major damage and one business was listed as major-damage. Officials reported rainfall of about "just under 10 to 3 quarters inches" over five days and wind gusts of 20–25 mph during a 48-hour period. The county set an emergency contact for reports at 843-479-1111.
Councilors pressed for steps to address standing water and mosquito concerns; one member described mosquito activity as a potential health nuisance and urged staff to look into contracting spraying or similar control measures. Staff said they would consult with city partners and review records from prior storms (Florence) about countywide mosquito response options.
Recovery needs discussed included drainage studies, pursuing grants from the Rural Infrastructure Authority for a countywide drainage plan, clearing debris from washed-out roads and allowing residents to use convenience sites for storm-generated tree limbs and other non-household material. Staff said the county is understaffed in public works and is prioritizing impassable roads and safety-critical repairs.
The council also discussed using a new emergency text system (TextMyGov) to sign up residents for emergency notices; staff estimated the service would be active in roughly six weeks and available to all county residents for free for emergency messaging.
Separately, the council recognized Red Cross volunteer Betty Jo Quigg for work during the storm; Audrey H. Heirderman of the American Red Cross thanked Quigg and praised the county’s volunteer base: "Together, we are turning heartbeats into hope," Heirderman said.
Next steps: staff will continue damage assessments for state and federal reporting, pursue grant options for drainage improvements, clarify debris disposal rules and develop a volunteer registry to support future storm response.
