By Carla Damron, LISW-CP, Executive Director, South Carolina NASW (www.scnasw.org)
Greetings from a weary South Carolina.
We continue to recover from the “Biblical” flood. My social worker intern and I spent the other day sorting donated clothes for one of the most devastated areas. It is odd to walk down a street where every house has a “Do Not Enter” sign and a big red X. These houses had up to 20 feet of water and are no longer inhabitable.
Some good things have happened and are happening. I learned these fun facts at a community meeting with legislators and agency heads:
- During the flood, responders made 900 rescues. Despite that, 19 people died, most in vehicles that were swept away by water.
Since the disaster:
- FEMA has sent 1,000 people to South Carolina to help.
- 42,000 people have registered for disaster relief. It is believed we have 60,000 victims statewide.
- FEMA has already sent $17 million dollars to South Carolina. (In my previous disaster work, I never knew them to work that fast!)
Volunteers from EVERYWHERE have converged on our city, as well as our own residents helping their neighbors. Teams have helped with furniture, carpet, drywall and debris removal. They brought food, water, clothes, furniture and appliances.
As a social worker, I’m struck by the power of this. No matter how bad your situation is, it can be healing and empowering to help someone else. Southern hospitality doesn’t begin to describe what’s happening here. (Some of it might be survivor guilt—those who weren’t injured by the flood feeling compelled to help the victims—but that’s okay, too. It helps to help).
Businesses and churches have been generous. A mattress store is giving free mattresses to any flood victim. A bank set up a special fund to help folks get back on their feet. Churches and religious groups from North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, etc. have sent hard-working teams who don’t preach, but DO help in so many ways.
As of yesterday, we no longer have to boil our water. Getting around is interesting though. We’re still dealing with hundreds of road closures and repairs will take time. What used to take 10 minutes may now take 40. And for those of us who need to use a bridge to get somewhere—that is even more challenging.
The stark reality of how many people are now homeless is difficult. FEMA money only goes so far. The next few months will be very difficult for social workers and other service providers, and our victims will be dealing with grief, anger and so much more as they try to rebuild their lives.
Please keep South Carolina in your thoughts and prayers if you’re a praying person.
