SCDES Helped South Carolina Prepare for and Respond to Tropical Storm Debby as Part of the State Emergency Response Team

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More than a week before Tropical Storm Debby was expected to impact South Carolina, the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) began coordinating with other state agencies and the Governor's Office to proactively prepare for severe weather. In the days leading up to TS Debby and after, SCDES performed its first coordinated emergency response as a new state agency.

SCDES is part of South Carolina's State Emergency Response Team, which is led by the South Carolina Department of Emergency Management. SCDES had dedicated staff working 24-hours a day in coordination with other state agencies to prepare for and respond to TS Debby.

Before the storm:

• SCDES issued direct notification to more than 2,400 dam and reservoir owners in the state, advising them to clear spillways and assess the need to lower water levels.
• Dam inspectors performed pre-storm dam assessments at certain identified dams.
• Program staff worked closely with drinking water and wastewater providers, providing assistance as they implemented their emergency plans.
• Bureau of Coastal Management issued Emergency Orders in the state’s eight coastal counties to allow property owners along the immediate beachfront to take preventive measures to protect their properties from storm impacts.
• Staff remained in daily communication with local officials around the state.
• The agency created a Tropical Storm Debby webpage for providing daily updates.

After the storm:

• Dam inspectors conducted 248 post-storm assessments of high- and significant-hazard dams in the most affected areas of the state, with no urgent safety issues identified.
• The Bureau of Coastal Management performed post-storm damage assessments along our beautiful coastline. Staff assessed structures on 168 properties across four beaches: Garden City, Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, and Edisto Beach.
• The agency provided important messaging and resources for private well owners whose wells may have been impacted by floodwaters.
• Continued to communicate daily with local and state officials as localized flooding impacted portions of the state.

"I couldn't be prouder of our dedicated staff who worked around-the-clock to take critical actions that helped minimize impacts from Debby," said Myra Reece, SCDES Interim Director. "The concerted efforts among our staff and their coordination and communication with local officials in all 46 counties, with our fellow state agencies, and with the Governor's Office made this response a success in protecting people, their property, and the natural environment."

Learn more about SCDES's role with severe weather impacts at our hurricanes, floods, and other weather emergencies webpage. 

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