The Red Bluff community off S.C.905 has flooded along the Waccamaw River and Simpsons Creek under Hurricane Florence’s deluge with entire neighborhoods underwater. Monday, Sept. 24, 2018.
Jason Lee
jlee@thesunnews.com
Some of Horry County’s most vulnerable areas for flooding are also some of its most rapidly developing.
Since 2015, communities along the Waccamaw River and its basin have experienced firsthand the impact that overflowing banks can have, from choked off transportation routes to destruction of critical infrastructure and property.
Last August, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and county leaders agreed to split the cost of a $3.9 million study aimed at offsetting the impact of flooding in key areas.
Although millions more will be needed for construction that’s years away, early plans are out as to what steps could be taken to alleviate the risk of flooding in the coming decades.
Here’s a look at those ideas.
Elevated roads and floodgates on the Pee Dee River in Bucksport
Raising roughly 3.3 miles of the Pee Dee Highway by up to seven feet could cut down on flood risks for homes on the eastern side of the road, aided by a flood gate south of U.S. 701 on the Pee Dee River to slow backwaters from inundating low-lying areas.
The Bucksport Marina store is flooded while boats float higher than the level of the buildings. The Waccamaw River at Conway crested Wednesday at well over 21 feet flooding many downtown homes. Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. Jason Lee jlee@thesunnews.com
Engineers say county leaders should also work on acquiring flood prone structures and work with property owners to store flood waters in vacant agricultural space.
An unincorporated portion of the county, Bucksport hugs the Intracoastal Waterway and has experienced five major flooding events in as many years.
Conway could see a retention dam and multiple levees
After Hurricane Florence in 2018, the Waccamaw River hit more than 21 feet in the Conway area, destroying homes and putting its iconic Riverwalk underwater.
The Conway Riverwalk and the Jerry Cox warehouse are flooded. The Waccamaw River reached a level of 17.07 feet by Saturday afternoon and is forecasted to rise to 17.5 feet by its crest on Sunday. Area overs of flooding to record levels following Hurricane Matthew. Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016. JASON LEE jlee@thesunnews
Major routes, including U.S. 501, U.S. 378 and S.C. 905, all run through the city — backing up traffic sometimes for hours during emergencies.
The study suggests restoring a dam on Lake Busbee to reduce flood elevations in surrounding areas, on top of relief bridges near the highways.
A network of five levees and a Waccamaw Drive flood wall are also suggested.
Wider river channels around Longs would give water more places to go
Officials working on the plan suggest creating a series of benches along Simpson Creek from U.S. 905 to Todd Swamp, helping to reduce flow velocities.
A mile-long flood barrier built to nearly 9 feet high along Buck Creek near the Aberdeen Country Club is also recommended.
Some Longs residents were forced to navigate waist-deep floodwaters in the wake of Hurricane Florence, moving belongings out of saturated homes via jon boat.
The Williams family off Collins Road in Longs, S.C. rapidly removes their belongings trying to keep their mattresses dry. Water began flooding the small community of Longs, SC late in the week touching some homes that did not expect to suffer the flood’s wrath. September 21, 2018. Jason Lee jlee@thesunnews.com
Flood walls and excavation in Socastee to keep the populated area drier
Nearly 20,000 people call the Socastee area of Horry County home, and long-time residents are quick to recall how damaging flood waters can be for businesses and properties there.
The Army Corps says two flood walls along the Socastee Creek could protect homes in the Forestbrook and Burcale Road areas.
Paul Rogers paddles his canoe up a Rosewood community street to bring a neighbor out of his flooded home on Tuesday. While much of the Rosewood community in Socastee in still under water from Hurricane Florence’s flooding, a few residents were able to return to assess the damage and begin cleaning on Tuesday October 2, 2018. Jason Lee jlee@thesunnews.com
Another suggestion: “Conversion of approximately 55 acres of land, south of the U.S. Highway 501 bridge,” the study says. “A diversion channel from Socastee Creek to the retention area would be excavated.”
A draft report of the study is expected to be made public next summer.
This story was originally published June 21, 2023 at 3:04 PM.
