Five years ago, the biggest flood in memory wreaked havoc on the Midlands when about 20 inches of rain fell in the area Oct. 4, 2015. The so-called "thousand-year rain" broke dams, swelled creeks to overflowing and flooded hundreds of homes and businesses, and some people have yet to fully recover from that event. Public utilities also were damaged. A very visible example is the Columbia Canal, near the point where the Broad and Saluda rivers join to form the Congaree River. The canal provides

This weekend may bring back painful memories to many Midlands residents who survived the biggest flood the state has seen in memory, which climaxed on Oct. 4, 2015. What officials called a "thousand year rain" dumped about 20 inches of rain on the region in one day. Filled to overflowing by that rain, ponds throughout the area broke their dams and added their waters to already swollen rivers and streams like Gills Creek, which crosses - and destroyed - three major traffic arteries in the capital

The aftermath of the October 2015 flood continues to occupy the business of many people and agencies in South Carolina, such as the East Richland County Public Service District (ERCPSD), which operates the sewer system for a section of the county heavily damaged by the flood. ERCPSD Deputy Director Ed Schooler said the flood changed the route of the system’s pipes, knocking many right out of the ground. Two and a half years later, the system has learned it has been awarded a $1.6 million grant

For the past two years, South Carolina has been in recovery mode. Long-term recovery for families, business and municipalities, following the historic rain event and flood of October 2015, is seen in almost every county. Recently, during National Community Development Week, Richland County celebrated the first home in its flood recovery program given to a flood survivor. The event marked a major milestone in the County’s recovery program and also presented a second chance at recovery for those

It’s that time again. Spring is in full swing, and so are preparations for the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season. The National Weather Service is preparing to recognize National Hurricane Preparedness Week in early May, and will partner with the state’s Emergency Management Division to sponsor South Carolina Hurricane Preparedness week beginning May 27. But, as the state encourages citizen preparedness, how can individuals gauge the state’s success in responding to these disasters? One metric

Both have historic homes, waterfront parks and battery walls, as well as reputations for hospitality. Charleston was named the best southern city this year by Southern Living Magazine. Last year, Beaufort was awarded best small town. But that’s not all these two Lowcountry communities have in common. “We’re sort of like brothers,” said Beaufort Mayor Keyserling. He’s referring to his life-long, family friendship with Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg. Their cities may be 70 miles apart, but the

For some, the so-called “thousand-year rain” and the floods that followed it in October 2015 may seem an event long past, but many are still recovering from the storm’s devastation. For some businesses in Richland County, the after effects of the floods continue to pose particular difficulties. Take the Four Paws Animal Clinic , which was forced to operate out of a temporary location for more than two years after the flood, when the business' original building bordering Gills Creek was ruined.

There’s a stop sign for campers pulling into Hunting Island State Park. But visitors have likely slowed down long before. The island has been closed for nearly two years following Hurricanes Matthew and Irma. To the right of the entrance, campers once enjoyed breath taking beachside views. Now storm damage takes their breath away. “I wasn’t even sure there would be a spot,” said Eileen Benjamin as she wandered on to the beach. “When you drive in you see all the down trees and you think if it

For more than a year, the Williamsburg Regional Hospital has been serving patients from a temporary facility located right next to their old building. The hospital was damaged beyond repair during the thousand-year floods. Eventually, the hospital determined that they had to move out of the old building. With a combination of insurance coverage and FEMA funding, they began their efforts to open first a temporary ER in the spring of 2016 , followed by the temporary hospital later that year .

On a sunny patch of open space along the Congaree River in Columbia, the eighth annual River Rocks Festival brought hundreds of residents out last weekend to enjoy the spring weather and learn about the conservation efforts of the region’s Congaree Riverkeeper and their partners. In between acts, a man took the stage to pump up the crowd. “So, who here is here to listen to some awesome music?” he shouted, to applause. He continued the survey, eliciting more cheers for those in attendance to