S.C. Gov. McMaster: Farmers lost $125 million in storm

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The Office of the Governor has released its preliminary damage assessment caused by Hurricane Florence in South Carolina.

In a letter Gov. Henry McMaster sent to South Carolina's congressional delegation requesting their continued support and as the state begins to focus on recovery efforts prior to flooding that is still expected to come, he said the total initial damage is estimated at $1.228 billion, asking for $540 million for future Community Development Block Grants. Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties are included in the 23 he asked President Trump to authorize federal individual assistance for through FEMA.

"The rainfall and flooding in North Carolina is sending unheard of amounts of water into South Carolina along the Lynches, Great Pee Dee, Little Pee Dee and Waccamaw rivers. The damage in the northeastern part of our state will be catastrophic, surpassing anything recorded in modern history," he wrote in the letter.

The estimates were made based on what the South Carolina Emergency Management Division and the state Disaster Recovery Office provided they are anticipating for "actual on-the-ground assessments."

Other breakdowns that make the $1.228 billion include $165 million for the National Flood Insurance Program, $80 million for the Small Business Administration, $18 million for the Federal Highway Administration, $300 million for the Disaster Relief Fund and $125 million for agriculture.

Early estimates indicate a significant loss of the cotton crop and moderate loss of soybeans and peanuts, according to the South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation. High-value fall fruits and vegetables will also be impacted. Livestock losses are still being assessed but are expected to be substantial. Access to many farms remains limited because of flooding.

"Farmers in South Carolina are no strangers to hurricanes, flooding and natural disasters, especially after what we've experienced in the last few years," SCFB President Harry Ott said. "Hurricane Florence significantly impacted the Pee Dee region where the majority of our state's crops are grown. We are working with our farmers and officials to get everyone back on their feet as quickly as possible."

The 23 counties McMaster asked the president for FEMA funds for are Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Chester, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Fairfield, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Orangeburg, Richland, Sumter, Williamsburg and York.

South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers praised McMaster on Thursday for including statewide agricultural losses in the request.

"With an estimated $125 million in agricultural losses after Florence, Gov. McMaster's inclusion of agriculture in his request for federal support is critical for the state's largest industry," Commissioner Weathers said.

Weathers and 7th Congressional District Rep. Tom Rice took an aerial tour of Chesterfield, Dillon, Florence, Horry, Marlboro and Marion counties on Thursday and met with farmers in Dillon, Marion and Lake City, according to the state agriculture department.

"We had good engagement with upwards of 60 farmers who verified what we suspected," Weathers said in a statement. "Cotton was most impacted by high wind, followed by peanuts damaged by drenched soil and soybeans whose pods were blown from the plants."

Farmers are encouraged to complete Clemson's online damage assessment form to aid officials in determining the full impact of the hurricane. The form is available online at: clemson.edu/public/emergency.