The Latest: Columbia residents no longer have to boil water

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — 4:15 p.m.

Columbia officials say water customers no longer have to boil water before drinking it or cooking with it.

Officials had been slowly lifting the advisory for some areas in recent days. They announced Wednesday that the advisory has been rescinded for all customers now.

A news release says customers should flush their faucets and empty any ice made from water during the advisory period.

Officials say that extensive testing shows the water system is now safe.

Customers of the city’s water system had been under the boil advisory since a massive rainstorm caused flooding in the region around the city.

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4:15 p.m.

South Carolina House Speaker Jay Lucas is calling for hearings in the Ways and Means Committee to determine how the recent devastating floods have affected the state and the costs of the recovery.

In a statement Thursday, the Darlington Republican said he understands it will take time to make exact damage estimates, but he thinks it’s best not to sit back and wait.

Gov. Nikki Haley said earlier this week she didn’t think there was enough information to call lawmakers into a special session.

The leader of the South Carolina Senate, Republican Hugh Leatherman of Florence, has also said lawmakers will have a better idea of what is needed when they return to the Statehouse in January for their regular session.

However, Lucas says he thinks the hearings could take place in the coming weeks.

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1 p.m.

South Carolina is working to assure visitors that things are returning to normal after historic rain and flooding and that the state’s coast is open for fall vacations.

Myrtle Beach, Charleston and the state are mounting media campaigns to let visitors know that tourist attractions are open, as are the roads leading to the coast.

Officials estimate the $18 billion industry has lost tens of millions of dollars because of the storm.

The state campaign is called “Our Coast is Clear” and features a television ad narrated by Gov. Nikki Haley.

Brad Dean with the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce says after the storm, people called wondering if Myrtle Beach was open. He says there also were calls from people wondering if they could get there because of widespread flooding.

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11 a.m.

Flood recovery efforts continue in South Carolina as more roads open and the number of open shelters goes down.

South Carolina Emergency Management Division spokesman Derrec Becker said Wednesday 241 people are in seven shelters in six counties affected by the Oct. 3 and 4 rainstorms and floods.

Becker says two shelters are in Richland County. The rest are in Williamsburg, Florence, Georgetown, Clarendon and Lexington counties.

Becker said that as of Wednesday morning, 197 roads and 84 bridges remained closed statewide.

Meanwhile, Fort Jackson spokeswoman Kara Motosicky said the Army is investigating the cause of last week’s dam failure at Semmes Lake on the post.

State officials have reported 29 dam failures at sites across the state, but Semmes Lake is the only one overseen by the federal government.