SCDES Begins Pre-storm Efforts to Prepare for Impacts from Tropical Storm Debby
Dam and reservoir owners and operators should monitor water levels, clear spillways
COLUMBIA, S.C. ― The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Debby and preparing for its potential impact on South Carolina later this week. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) is the state’s lead agency during a hurricane or tropical storm response, and SCDES, as part of South Carolina’s State Emergency Response Team, is staying in coordination with SCEMD, the Governor’s Office, and other state agencies.
Today, SCDES used its emergency notification system to alert owners of all regulated dams and reservoirs in the state to advise taking proactive steps to prepare their dams and reservoirs for potential heavy rainfall. This may include clearing debris from spillways and assessing the water level to determine if lowering the level is needed to accommodate incoming storm flows.
"Based on the significant rainfall predicted to impact our state this week, we are strongly advising dam and reservoir owners to perform thorough assessments of their dams and reservoirs, take any necessary actions to clear spillways and lower water levels, and plan for the routine monitoring of their dams and reservoirs for the next several days," said Jill Stewart, P.E., Director of SCDES’s Dam Safety and Stormwater Permitting Division. "As always, it’s important for dam and reservoir owners to coordinate any water releases for lowering water levels with other nearby dam owners and with property owners downstream. Our Dam Safety Program staff continue to be available to advise dam and reservoir owners.”
Additionally, SCDES Dam Safety Program staff are performing pre-storm assessments at high-hazard dams expected to be heavily impacted by rainfall based on current weather modeling.
If needed, SCDES is prepared to perform post-storm dam inspections, deploy mobile teams to severely impacted areas of the state, conduct post-storm aerial coastal assessments, issue authorizations for sand scraping or minor renourishment along beaches, and assist with solid- and hazardous-waste disposal and debris disposal at landfills, among other key actions. Learn more about SCDES’s roles with disaster preparedness and severe weather recovery on our severe weather webpage at des.sc.gov.
Visit SCEMD’s website at scemd.org, tune in to local news media, and follow SCEMD and SCDES on social media for the latest updates and information.
