Lexington Co. Receives Over $16 Million in Flood Funding

Officials Want Residents to Apply As Soon As Possible

LEXINGTON COUNTY (WOLO)– One year and four months after flood waters devastated parts of the Midlands, much needed help is on the way. An action plan for community development in Lexington County was approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Officials said their focus is on buying out homes and conducting minor rehab on homes in flooded communities, hoping to spend around $2.45 million on minor rehab, fixing homes that sustained damage to less than 50% of their house.

Developers hope to spend $10 million on clearing homes to make room for flood water.”We would like to buy up as many of the homes as we can that are in the flood way, knock those down so that we can allow the flood way to be a flood way, to allow the stream or creek to go where it needs to go,” said County of Lexington Community Development Director Charles Garren.

Neighbors of the flood-impacted Pineglen subdivision tell ABC Columbia they wish there was another solution instead of green spaces.

“Even if you have that green space, and it allows the water to flow there, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s going to be a preventive measure from any of the other homes in the neighborhood getting flooded,” said Pineglen resident Christy Stemba.
County officials look to begin inspections for minor rehab and possible offers for buyouts by Mid-April. Anyone who was affected by the October flooding is encouraged to apply here: http://www.lex-co.sc.gov/departments/DeptAH/communitydevelopment/Pages/CDBG-DR.aspx