Recovery Updates

November 21, 2024 - We have only identified 8 homes that suffered flooding damage from the November 9-13 floods.  This is insufficient to request a joint preliminary damage assessment from FEMA.  If you have received damage from the November 9-13 floods along the Edisto River, please report the damage by clicking the button above.

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November 14, 2024 - Colleton County Fire-Rescue's Emergency Management Division has shifted from response to recovery operations. If your home was damaged during the November Edisto Riverine Flood, we need your help. Please report damage(s) by clicking the "Report Damage from November 9-13 Floods" button above. We understand several residents have previously submitted reports for damages related to Tropical Storm Debby. You maybe asking yourself, "Why should I report my damage; we were denied for FEMA assistance for Tropical Storm Debby?" That is a great question. It is possible with the repeated impacts for areas along the Edisto River that FEMA assistance and/or SBA Loans may become available.

Local Damage Assessment Teams will be conducting damage assessment along the Edisto River as soon as the water levels recede. This is why it is important to report damages now to make sure the team conducts a site visit. 

Colleton County Fire-Rescue’s Emergency Operations Center is here to help and can be contacted at 843-549-5632. 

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Thursday, October 24, 2024 - TS Debby FEMA IA Disaster Declaration Denial

FEMA has denied the Individual Assistance (IA) request sent by Governor McMaster on September 16, 2024.  Despite FEMA assistance not being available for Colleton citizens with home damages from Tropical Storm Debby, Small Business Administration (SBA) loans remain available for those individuals.  Details on how to apply for SBA loans are below.

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Wednesday, October 16, 2024 - Colleton 2024 Hurricane Season Update

Tropical Storm Debby (August 2024) - No FEMA Assistance is available for individuals within the Major Disaster Declaration for Colleton County; however, Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans are available for any Colleton Citizens that experienced damage to their property as a result of Tropical Storm Debby.

• Loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.  

• Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future damage.

• For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

  • Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.25% for nonprofit organizations, and 2.813% for homeowners and renters

  • Loan terms of up to 30 years

  • Interest does not begin to accrue, and monthly payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the initial disbursement. 

  • Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant's financial condition.

• Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA's Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

• The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is November 18, 2024. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 18, 2025.

Hurricane Helene (September 2024) - Despite having significant damage to infrastructure and extended power outages in Colleton County due to Hurricane Helene, only 14 damaged homes were identified as a result of Hurricane Helene.  Only one of those homes had major damage.  This was insufficient to conduct a FEMA Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment.  As a result, FEMA assistance for individuals is not available as a result of Hurricane Helene.

Hurricane Milton (October 2024) - No damages to homes or infrastructure were recorded as a result of Hurricane Milton.  Therefore, FEMA assistance is not available.

Although the official end of the 2024 Hurricane Season is not until November 30th, our county has already been significantly impacted by Debby and Helene.  These impacts are sure to create stress among our citizenry.  FEMA offers a national hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling.  This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 to all residents in the U.S. and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.  Call or text 1-800-985-5990 to access the Disaster Distress Helpline.  For Deaf and Hard of Hearing ASL Callers: Please text or call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 using your preferred Relay provider.

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Friday, October 11, 2024 - Colleton Citizens who are SNAP Recipients

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

publicinfo@dss.sc.gov

(803) 898-7602

Hurricane Helene SNAP Replacement Benefits Update- October 11, 2024

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved South Carolina’s waiver request allowing DSS to automatically issue replacement benefits to current SNAP recipients residing in counties where 50% or more of the total population experienced a power outage lasting more than four (4) hours during Hurricane Helene. SNAP recipients residing in the 28 counties listed below will automatically be issued a replacement of 55% of their September benefits, as determined by the federal government, and no longer need to individually apply for a replacement of their SNAP benefits.

Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chester, Colleton, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union, York

Replacement SNAP Benefits will go out to EBT cards electronically on or before Tuesday, October 15th. **Calling or visiting your local DSS County Office will not speed of the process of the replacement benefits being added to a household’s EBT card.** 

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Thursday, October 10, 2024 - 

Only 14 homes were identified as having damage from Hurricane Helene including no destroyed, 1 with major damage, and 4 with minor damage and 9 with cosmetic damage.  While this is good news that the damage to Colleton County was limited, the numbers do not currently support any FEMA or SBA assistance.  We will continue to track damages and if you sustained damage to your residence from Hurricane Helene and have not already reported it, you can do so through the button above.

The Storm Management Debris Site at 1497 Industrial Road remains open Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 AM to 4:30 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 12 PM.  Residents are responsible for transporting the vegetative debris to the site and only vegetative debris (trees, limbs, etc.) will be accepted.  There will be no fee for dumping at the site.  The landfill is not accepting storm debris.  Call 843-893-2313 for questions about debris disposal.

Although in-person assistance is no longer available to Colleton citizens that sustained damage from Tropical Storm Debby, you can still apply for SBA loans online at sba.gov/disaster or by phone at 800-659-2955.

Colleton DSS is currently taking applications for current active food stamp clients that wish to have a Replacement of Benefits. They must complete an Affidavit of Loss Application and submit a statement or something showing that they have lost power for more than 4 hours to qualify. Colleton DSS will be taking applications until October 26, 2024 for anyone interested in applying. For more information contact Colleton DSS at 843-549-1894, or visit dss.sc.gov 

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Friday, October 4, 2024 - For Colleton Citizens with damage from Tropical Storm Debby 

The Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) at 118 Benson St, Walterboro, will be open from 10 AM to 2 PM tomorrow (Saturday, October 5th). After tomorrow, Colleton residents will not be able to apply in person with the Small Business Administration (SBA). Only online and phone applications will be accepted after the DLOC closes tomorrow at 2 PM. Information regarding online and phone applications is below (under September 25th announcement).

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Wednesday, October 2, 2024 - For Current SNAP Recipients

Colleton DSS is currently taking applications for current active food stamp clients that wish to have a Replacement of Benefits. They must complete an Affidavit of Loss Application and submit a statement or something showing that they have lost power for more than 4 hours to qualify.

Colleton DSS will be taking applications until next Friday, October 11th, 24

There is a lot of misleading information on social media regarding benefits. Trust only information that comes from the local or state office.

For up-to-date information visit https://dss.sc.gov/

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Tuesday, October 1, 2024 - FOR CITIZENS THAT EXPERIENCE DAMAGES DUE TO HURRICANE HELENE

Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans are not available at the DLOC for Hurricane Helene damages; however, Bamberg County received an SBA Declaration due to Hurricane Helene.  As a result of being contiguous with Bamberg, Colleton County citizens can access SBA Loans for Hurricane Helene Damage repairs online at sba.gov/disaster or by calling SBA's Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.  People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, can dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.  The Disaster Loan Outreach Center (explained in the segment immediately below) only offers in-person assistance to citizens who experienced damage from Tropical Storm Debby.

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Wednesday, September 25, 2024 -  FOR CITIZENS THAT EXPERIENCED DAMAGES DUE TO TROPICAL STORM DEBBY

Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) will be open to Colleton residents starting on Monday, September 30 and will close on Saturday, October 5. The DLOC will be located at the Colleton County Tax Payer Center located at 118 Benson Street in Walterboro. 

DLOC Hours of Operation:

Monday (9/30) - 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday (10/1) -    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday (10/2) -    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday (10/3) -    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday        (10/4) -    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday (10/5) -  10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Applicants do not have to visit a DLOC to access SBA loans.  They can apply online at sba.gov/disaster or call SBA's Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.  People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, can dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services. 

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Thursday, September 19, 2024 -

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Following Governor Henry McMaster's September 16 request, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today that South Carolina's businesses and residents affected by Tropical Storm Debby from the incident period of August 4-22 are eligible to apply for low-interest disaster loans. The declaration covers Berkeley and Orangeburg counties and the adjacent counties of Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Charleston, Clarendon, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Lexington, and Williamsburg. 

• Loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.  

• Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future damage.

• For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.25% for nonprofit organizations, and 2.813% for homeowners and renters, with terms of up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and monthly payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the initial disbursement. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant's financial condition.

Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA's Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is November 18, 2024. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 18, 2025.

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-- Monday, September 16, 2024 -

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Governor Henry McMaster today requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration and a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster declaration for eligible counties as a result of Tropical Storm Debby, which made landfall in South Carolina on August 8, 2024. The requests follow extensive damage assessments that determined more than 900 homes were damaged, with public agency costs and infrastructure damage projected at more than $16 million. 

The Presidential Disaster Declaration, if approved, would provide FEMA Individual Assistance Program help to residents impacted by the storm in Charleston, Colleton, and Dorchester counties.

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-- Thursday, August 29, 2024 - 

Colleton County Fire-Rescue, Assessor's Office, Finance Department and Administration completed a Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment (JPDA) with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Small Business Administration (SBA), and South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD).  The JPDA involved visiting damaged properties and compiling data for FEMA and SBA to validate.  Once validated, FEMA will return the data to SCEMD and the Governor's Office.  The Governor can then request a disaster declaration from the President.  If the President includes Colleton County in a Disaster Declaration, FEMA programs may become available to Colleton Citizens.  This may take several weeks.

These programs may include one or more of the following: 

• Rental Assistance or reimbursement for hotel costs

• Temporary Housing Units 

• Funds to support repair or replacement of household’s primary residence (see financial assistance distribution note below)

• Disaster Unemployment Assistance

• Disaster Legal Services

• Crisis Counseling

• Disaster Case Management.

Generally financial assistance is distributed in the form of:

• Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans (long-term, low-interest loans that can be used for repairs to your primary residence)

• Individual Assistance Grants (financial awards that do not have to be repaid and can be used for repairs to your primary residence)

  • The maximum grant award is $42,500, but less than 1% of applicants receive that amount 

  • The average grant award is around $1,500

REMEMBER, FEMA assistance is not designed to make you whole.  Loans and/or grants may be insufficient if you have had significant damage to your residence.

HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE AND FLOOD INSURANCE (IF YOU LIVE IN A FLOOD PRONE AREA) REMAIN YOUR BEST DEFENSE AGAINST A LOSS FROM DISASTER.