Local

How Myrtle Beach area flood victims can get help, and how to help them

From staff reports

As flood waters recede across South Carolina and damage is assessed, requests for assistance and offers of help are flooding area nonprofit and governmental agencies.

Assistance can be provided in the form of volunteerism, monetary donations, in-kind product or food donations and clothing donations.

Area officials advise it is important to know which agencies are equipped to handle various types of donations. They also advise donors to protect their donation by donating only through reputable organizations. Charities approved by the S. C. Secretary of State’s office can be verified at this link: http://www.scsos.com/Public_Charities.

Below are some ways to find out how to get help after assessing flood damage and ways individuals can make a financial or in-kind donation or volunteer their time to help.

How to get help

2-1-1 | Those needing information on the latest shelter, donation and recovery information can call the state’s 2-1-1 hotline. Horry County, the United Way of Horry County, Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster and other area nonprofits are working with the state to provide the call center with the most current information, according to a press release from the United Way.

Federal Assistance | If you were impacted by flooding in South Carolina, FEMA may be able to help you with flood related costs. Apply for aid at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362/800-462-7585 (TTY). Early registration is encouraged.

S.C. Department of Revenue | S.C. taxpayers impacted by the storms and flooding may qualify for tax relief from SCDOR. The IRS provides special filing and payment relief to victims of flooding in several S.C. counties – including Horry and Georgetown – by postponing various tax filing and payment deadlines that occurred starting Oct. 1.

Affected property owners have until Feb. 16 to file those returns and pay any taxes due. The extension includes the Oct. 15 deadline for those who received an extension to file their 2014 return and the deadline for making quarterly estimated payments.

U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loans | For financial assistance from the U. S. Small Business Administration, contact SBA's Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA's website at sba.gov/disaster.

Baptist Disaster Relief | Offering free assistance for Horry County property owners whose properties were damaged by flood waters. The assistance is given regardless of insurance, however rentals and businesses are not eligible.

To qualify, home owners should contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency 800-621-3362 to begin the disaster assistance process. After applying through FEMA, owners will then need to obtain an application at any Red Cross shelter or at the Living Water Baptist Church located at 1569 S.C. Highway 9 E. in Longs. Homeowners must apply in person.

Once qualified, Baptist Disaster Relief will assist the homeowner in removing damaged items and sheetrock and then apply a short term mold retardant. For more information, call Baptist Disaster Relief at 919-946-2239.

How to help

American Red Cross | Accepts financial donations. The American Red Cross cannot accept clothing, household items or food products. To verify local needs or to make a donation, call the Eastern South Carolina Chapter in Myrtle Beach at 843-477-0020 or visit www.redcross.org/sc to learn more about training opportunities to become a Red Cross disaster volunteer. Those affected by the flood and needing assistance can contact their local chapter or call 1-800-RED-CROSS, or visit www.redcross.org/find-help.

United Way of Horry County | Funds partners who are both essential in disaster recovery and those who will be here for the long-term relief. Donate at www.unitedwayhcsc.org; by calling 843-347-5195; or mail a gift to P.O. Box 673, Conway, SC 29528

Black River United Way | Serves Georgetown and Williamsburg counties; donations are being taken through United Way of the Midlands and 100 percent will be distributed based on ZIP codes and communities indicated by the donor. Visit http://uway.org/news/give-help-get-help-flood-disaster-relief. An online volunteer site allows individuals to register to volunteer or donate inkind gifts at www.surveymonkey.com/r/FloodVolunteerism.

Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOADs) | For an overall list of organizations in South Carolina accepting donations to help the statewide disaster relief visit http://www.scemd.org/recovery-section/donations-and-volunteers

Coastal Community Foundation | Donations will support those hardest hit by flooding in Horry, Georgetown, Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties. Go to coastalcommunityfoundation.org/donate-today/ and designate your gift to “SC Flood.”

Housing | The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce advises that anyone willing to house displaced residents due to flooding should email Kori.Hippe@VisitMyrtleBeach.com with their name, number of people they can house and a telephone number so the person in need can call them directly.

Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce food drive | The chamber and the Myrtle Beach Area Recovery Council also are accepting canned goods as part of a food drive to assist S.C. residents impacted by the flood. Donations will be accepted at various locations throughout October and drop-off locations can be found at www.MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com.

North Strand Helping Hand | The shelter is accepting canned goods such as tuna, chicken and soups as well as other foods including pasta, jelly, cereal and rice. North Strand also is accepting clothing donations.

The shelter is located 2501 Long Bay Road in Longs. However, those wishing to donate use Water Tower Road as S.C. Highway 90 is flooded. North Strand is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to noon Friday. A staff member usually is on site by 8:30 a.m. and will accept donations.

Lowcountry Food Bank | Accepts food donations, call 843-747-8146

Catholic Charities | Accepts cash and food donations, 855-377-1357

Impact Ministries | Accepts cash donations, 843-628-5300 or http://impactmb.org/disaster-relief

Salvation Army | Accepts financial donations, clothing, furniture, 843-488-2769

Fundraising Efforts

Minor League Baseball GoFundMe page | The four MiLB Teams—the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Charleston RiverDogs, Columbia Fireflies and Greenville Drive -- will raises funds for the American Red Cross of the Palmetto South Carolina Region. Each club will contribute $2,500 to the relief effort. The alliance will use the hashtag: #PalmettoStrong. Contribute at #PalmettoStrong GoFundMe page at the following link: http://bit.ly/PalmettoStrong. All funds raised through this campaign will be donated to the American Red Cross of the Palmetto SC Region, which serves the entire state of South Carolina.

This story was originally published October 7, 2015 at 11:14 AM with the headline "How Myrtle Beach area flood victims can get help, and how to help them."

Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER