This video shows some raging waters at Twelve Mile Creek in Lexington, SC.
Columbia, SC (WLTX) -The Midlands has begun a long and slow recovery from the historic flooding that devastated our area on October 4th.
So many of our neighbors were left either homeless or with heavy damage to the places that they live. They need resources--food, water, insurance help--whatever it may be. Others are still having to boil their water to make sure it's safe. And even for those not directly effected, the damage to the roads has made it tough to get where they're going--and that problem will persist for weeks, if not months.
Because of the ongoing problems, we've put together this resource guide to help. We'll update with new information as we receive it.
How to Get Help:
United Way: 2-1-1
Red Cross Assistance: 855-773-3175
Columbia CARE hotline: 1-866-272-1976 Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
FEMA Disaster Assistance Hotline: 1-800-621-3362 website: www.disasterassistance.gov (For more information on FEMA Help, scroll down)
Want to Donate Your Services? Call Here: 1-888-585-9643
Small Business Administration: www.sba.gov/offices/district/sc/columbia
Richland County Ombudsman Office (To report problems): 803.929.6000
SC Bar Association Free Legal Assistance: 1-877-797-2227 ext. 120, 803-576-3815, or e-mail disasterinfo@scbar.org
United Way Website (Getting & receiving help)
United Way of Sumter (Covers Clarendon, Sumter, and Lee Counties)
SC Dept. of Transportation Updates on Road Conditions
How You Can Help Storm Victims:
One SC Fund Relief Fund
You can donate to the One SC Relief Fund at the following ways:
Online: www.OneSCFund.org
Text Message: Text "ONESC" to 843.606.5995
Call: Central Carolina Community Foundation - 803.254.5601
Check:
Make it payable to the Central Carolina Community Foundation/One SC
2711 Middleburg Drive
Suite 213
Columbia, SC 29204
Statewide Hotline: The state of South Carolina has set up a hotline where people who want to donate goods or services can call: 1-888-585-9643
Salvation Army:
Online: www.salvationarmycarolinas.org
By mail: Send your gift to The Salvation Army Disaster Relief PO BOX 1959 Atlanta, GA 30301 or to your local Salvation Army unit. Please make checks payable to "The Salvation Army" and clearly mark your gift "East Coast Floods."
By Text: Text STORM to 51555 to receive a donation link for easy mobile giving
Harvest Hope Food Bank: www.harvesthope.org
Richland County has also set up a number where people can call them to volunteer to help with whatever services they may have: 803.929.6000.
Columbia CARE hotline: 1-888-272-1976 Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Lower Richland Donation Drive: Councilman Kelvin Washington, District 10, has organized a donation drive for the Lower Richland County community. Donors can drop off items from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday at the warehouse located at 1601 Shop Road. Items needed are non-perishable food items, furniture, baby diapers and wipes and bottled water. (At this time, clothes and shoes are not needed.)
Flood Bucket Project: An effort to fill buckets with materials that victims will need. Call 1-803-227-6031
Bookbags & Hygiene Products Donation: www.umcor.org
1.877.227.2702
American Red Cross of South Carolina
1.800.435.7669
1.800.771.2303
803.254.4432
1.843.747.8146
1.800.638.3522
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
1.800.872.3283
1.800.725.2769
Southern Baptist Convention/Disaster Relief
1.800.462.8657
United Methodist Committee on Relief
1.800.554.8583
1.800.272.4630
803.929.1000
Water Missions International
843-769-7395
FEMA Assistance:
President Obama has declared multiple South Carolina counties a federal disaster, which means people in the following Midlands counties are eligible for individual assistance: Lexington, Orangeburg, Newberry, Sumter, Clarendon, Lee, Fairfield, Kershaw, Calhoun, and Richland.
The money would cover, in part, losses not taken care of by insurance. SC Emergency Management Division spokesman Derrec Becker said that people can go ahead and register, even if they haven't gotten a property assessment from their insurance company.
People in those counties can register for assistance now, either by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or going to www.disasterassistance.gov. UPDATE: The deadline to apply for individual assistance has been extended to January 4, 2016.
When you call or access their web site, you'll need the following information at hand:
- Your Social Security number
- Address of the damaged home or apartment
- Description of the type of damage
- Information about your insurance coverage
- Your telephone number
- Your mailing address
- Your bank account and routing numbers for the direct deposit of funds
Once you contact them, FEMA will be able to better tell you how soon they will be able to provide disaster assistance funds.
(If you're on mobile, click here to view the above document)
FEMA say people who get a rejection letter should not be discouraged, and should check to make sure that they gave the agency all the necessary information: READ MORE:FEMA Ineligibility Letters May Not Be the Last Word
There are disaster assistance centers set up in the following counties:
Clarendon County
Weldon Auditorium
7 Maple Street
Manning, SC
Kershaw County
Blaney Fire Department
2344 Highway 1 South
Elgin, SC
Lee County:
Park and Recreation Center
397 Chappell Drive
Bishopville, SC
Lexington County:
Irmo Branch Library
6251 St. Andrews Road
Columbia, SC
Cayce-West Columbia Library
1500 Augusta Road
West Columbia, SC
Orangeburg County
YMCA Orangeburg
2550 St. Matthews Road
Orangeburg, SC
Gaillard Park Rural Development Center
848 Sandpoint Street
Eutawville, SC
(Gov. Complex near police station)
8423 Old State Road
Holly Hill, SC
Neeses Town Hall
6357 Savannah Hwy
Livingston, SC
Newberry County
Newberry County Sheriff's Emergency Service Building
540 Wilson Boulevard
Newberry, SC
Richland County
Richland County Library Southeast
7421 Garners Ferry Rd
Columbia, SC
Richland County Library Main
1421 Assembly Street
Columbia, SC
Richland County Main Branch Eastover
608 Main Street
Eastover, SC
Temple of Faith Bible Way Church
2850 Congaree Road
Gadsden, SC
Sumter County
Sumter County Civic Center
700 W. Liberty St.
The National Guard dropped sandbags in the Columbia canal on October 7, 2015.
The Roads:
There continue to be roads and bridges in the Midlands that are closed due to construction, but most have now been reopened. you can get updates from the following sources.
Phone line:1-855-GO-SCDOT Website: www.scdot.org
People can also check the SCDOT website before venturing out on any roads.
If you have damage and don't have insurance, you can contact FEMA.
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