South Carolina Office of Resilience

When coordinating statewide resilience planning, the SC Office of Resilience values its close partnerships with county and local governments across the state. In Beaufort County, we are proud to not only work on stormwater hazard mitigation infrastructure projects, but also to partner with Planning and Zoning to share resources for local and regional resilience planning and development! Juliana Smith, Environmental Long Range Planner, positively describes this partnership: “Resilience-building in our county is enlightened and supported by the SC Office of Resilience. We rely on their data collection and tool development to fill knowledge gaps, their projects to forge local community capacity for resilience planning, and their collaborative network to design holistic, county-led resilience-building initiatives. Their work is a lodestar by which we can more clearly see and plan for the future.” Read more about our office’s statewide resilience planning progress in the one year update to the Resilience Plan: https://lnkd.in/g9Nugz3Q We’re particularly excited to work in the Salkehatchie River Basin, including Beaufort, to kick off our watershed-based coordination program as part of a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant! Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/dCxynAjY And, learn more about planning projects in Beaufort County here: https://lnkd.in/dF3mgMkN

We're glad to announce construction began on the Miller to Morgan Avenue Stormwater Improvements project in the City of Sumter, South Carolina. Following a Notice to Proceed on November 4th, 2024, approximately 2,700 linear feet of existing underground stormwater infrastructure is being removed and replaced to reduce flooding in the area. “This project is an example of the State of South Carolina's commitment to helping communities not only recover from flooding events but reduce the impacts of future events,” said South Carolina Speaker of the House, Rep. Murrell Smith. “The City of Sumter's citizens, businesses and wider community will benefit from this project for years to come.” Press Release: https://lnkd.in/dk-e4cTC

FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are still opening up in South Carolina. At these centers, you can apply for assistance or check your application's status while learning more about disaster assistance programs. SCOR Disaster Case Managers are also on-site to help with additional unmet needs. Find a center near you with this locator: https://lnkd.in/ekSZs6Y

Join us for the latest updates on the Wattsville Stormwater Improvement Project. Laurens County and KCI will be available to present the most recent design plans for improving the stormwater drainage system and roadways in the area around Watts Avenue, Lucas Street, Swygert Avenue, Smythe Street, and Setzler Road. This public meeting is an opportunity to provide your input and feedback on the ongoing project design. When: Wednesday, December 4th, 2024 from 6-7pm Where: Laurens County Public Library Main Branch (1017 W Main Street. Laurens, SC 29360

We're joining our project partner Bolton & Menk, Inc. for the second public meeting to discuss stormwater improvements in City of Conway, SC. Citizens are invited to review project plans with us on Monday, December 9th, from 5:00-6:00pm at Conway Planning & Development (196 Laurel St. Conway, SC 29526). There will be a presentation at 5:30 followed by a Q&A session.

Last Friday, our Disaster Case Managers attended the first of three Farm and Forest Recovery Resource Days in Aiken, SC. In addition to connecting impacted citizens with community recovery resources, we also had the pleasure of briefing Governor Henry McMaster on our case management program! Disaster Case Management (DCM) is a process that involves a partnership between a disaster case manager and a citizen to develop and carry out an Individualized Recovery Plan. A case manager and a citizen impacted by a disaster work for the long-term to address disaster-caused needs, whether they are financial, physical, or emotional. Two more Farm and Forest Recovery Resource Days are planned and will serve as a one-stop shop for agriculture and forestry-related disaster recovery resources: Thursday, November 21, 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM Greenville Technical College, Student Success Center, 506 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, S.C. Friday, December 6, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM S.C. Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting at Embassy Suites at Kingston Plantation, 9800 Queensway Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Alongside our early recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene survivors, there's been a lot going on at the office! Read up on our project milestones and team member accomplishments in our November newsletter edition: https://lnkd.in/edRT27C2

We were glad to join state and local leaders yesterday to celebrate the Naturaland Trust's acquisition of the 1,090-acre Saluda Bluff Property. This significant milestone is great news for the state, according to Governor Henry McMaster. “Protecting the Saluda Bluff property safeguards our water resources, reduces the risk of flooding, and ensures that these lands aren’t lost to development, while guaranteeing that current and future generations can enjoy and benefit from this property,” explained Governor McMaster. Once ownership of the property is transferred to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources no later than early 2025, it will become the South Saluda Wildlife Management Area and will open for public use. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/dDccuZVY. Photo & Video by Mac Stone/Naturaland Trust

Farm and Forest Recovery Resource Days will provide South Carolina's farming and forestry communities affected by Hurricane Helene with a one-stop shop to learn about available assistance and services. These events will take place in Aiken on Friday, November 15, Greenville on Thursday, November 21, and Myrtle Beach on Friday, December 6. The South Carolina Office of Resilience's Disaster Case Managers will be on site to assist eligible citizens with disaster-caused unmet needs. We're excited to join FEMA, U.S. Small Business Administration, and multiple federal & state partners to assist impacted South Carolinians. See the full list of available agencies here: https://lnkd.in/dv3fks9e

Chief Resilience Officer Ben Duncan joined state and federal officials to announce three Farm and Forest Recovery Resource Days in South Carolina. These events will provide South Carolina's farming and forestry communities affected by Hurricane Helene with a one-stop shop to learn about available assistance and services. Friday, November 15, 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM University of South Carolina Aiken Campus, Student Activities Center, 488 Scholar Loop, Aiken, S.C. Thursday, November 21, 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM Greenville Technical College, Student Success Center, 506 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, S.C. Friday, December 6, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM S.C. Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting at Embassy Suites at Kingston Plantation, 9800 Queensway Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, S.C. See all participating agencies here: https://lnkd.in/eEbPg_qf