SC Emergency Officials Move to OPCON Four after Flood

(SC EMD)– The South Carolina Emergency Response Team is transitioning from Operating Condition Three to OPCON Four, the second lowest level of five operational conditions the state uses. The State Emergency Operations Center will continue operations as the SERT enters the 17th day to support local governments and residents in their on-going flood recovery efforts. The Waccamaw River remains in major flood state, and five other counties have rivers at flood-level. More than 1600 National Guard members remain activated, three shelters are open, and 163 roads and 64 bridges are closed. Harvest Hope and Low County food banks continue to provide meals to survivors, with 1,244,824 meals served since Oct. 1. Twenty counties received a Federal Disaster Declaration. Severe flood survivors are now eligible for federal disaster aid in Bamberg, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Greenwood, Horry, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, Sumter and Williamsburg counties. FEMA is operating 17 Disaster Recovery Centers in the affected area. Nearly 50,000 survivors registered with more than $27 million in disaster assistance funds approved. Local, state and federal disaster recovery officials continue to urge anyone who was affected by severe flooding to register for disaster assistance from FEMA by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or to go online at www.disasterassistance.gov.