Hurricane Florence

A Day to Celebrate One Year of Hurricane Florence Recovery

In September of 2018, Hurricane Florence hit Conway, South Carolina, pummeling the town of 23,000 with rain. Yet it was after the storm had passed that the damage truly began. The Waccamaw River usually floods at 11 ft., and in the days after the storm, the city was nearly washed away when river levels reached a record 21.7 ft. Somehow, Conway stood strong. Both its people and its spirit shows resiliency last year, and it’s that strength that the city is looking to honor.

To commemorate the strength shown by its people, the City of Conway is planning a “Conway Strong” day on Oct. 5, 2019, to celebrate the community’s effort to restore the city over the past year. During the event, residents of Conway can enjoy food vendors, a kid zone and information on how to get involved with nonprofits in the area. There will be trees both planted and given out to the public to benefit the area in which they are planted. Though not specified yet, Mayor Barbara Blain-Bellamy stated that the trees selected will be chosen for their ability to hold water.

While Conway and its parks have not been completely restored since the storm, the city’s event will be a celebration of the progress which has been made in the nearly twelve months since Hurricane Florence hit. “Not everything will be 100 percent… but we think the public will be thrilled to see a return to access of our parks,” Mayor Blain-Bellamy said. “Let’s be a part of doing things that celebrate our survival.”

For more information on “Conway Strong” day and how you can take a tree home, Mayor Blain-Bellamy is urging residents to check social media in the near future and to stay up to date on the latest in Conway.

News

Hurricane Florence Relief Concert Coming Up in Myrtle Beach

Image Source: VisitMyrtleBeach.com

We may be almost two months out from Hurricane Florence’s wrath, but for so many the devastation is still present. That’s why Myrtle Beach is reaching out to its neighbors with some relief in the form of a benefit concert to be held Sunday, Nov. 11th at the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Field.

The announcement was made on the Gator 107.9 country music radio show, who will be a partner in the production of the concert. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketreturn.com and via Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Prices range from $50-$200. All proceeds will stay in the area, going to the Area Recovery Council through Waccamaw Community Foundation, as well as the Eastern SC Chapter of the American Red Cross.

According to a Facebook post from Mayor Brenda Bethune, who has been an integral partner in this undertaking, the concert will be a unique and incredible experience. Artists will perform together for the first time, creating mashups with a party-down-south attitude. These artists, who are all performing for free, include:

Love and Theft

Chase Bryant

Michael Ray

Carly Pearce

Josh Philips

Davisson Brothers Band

The Swon Brothers

BlueDog

Darius Rucker

Local organizations such as Visit Myrtle Beach, City of Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, WPDE ABC15, Gator 107.9, Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Ticket Return and many more have been working non-stop for several weeks to make this amazing event a reality. The teamwork, love and supper that has made this benefit possible will contribute to disaster relief efforts in the counties of Horry, Florence, Darlington, Marlboro, Dillon, and Marion.

Not only will the concert be an opportunity to come together as a community to help our neighbors impacted by Hurricane Florence, you will see some of your favorite artists performing like never before to do the same. The goal is to raise as much money as possible. In addition to attending, you can donate your time.

From lighting to staging, to artists, to location, volunteers are needed as the more that is contributed at little-to-no cost, the more money can be contributed the disaster relief. So many throughout the community have already donated their labor, services and resources. If you or anyone you know want to help, reach out by emailing MBHurricaneFlorenceConcert@gmail.com.

Featured

4 Quick Tips to Stay Prepared for Hurricane Florence

Featured Image: Jack Gruber, USA TODAY.

Bigger than South Carolina and North Carolina combined, Hurricane Florence is about to make quite the impression. Florence, now downgraded to a category 2 storm with winds of 110 mph, is still a real threat to our coastline especially when it comes to rainfall, storm surge, and flooding. Even though it is now expected to shift south to make landfall just below Myrtle Beach on Saturday, it’s exact direction is still somewhat unknown. With comparisons to devastating Hugo of 1989, the only thing certain about a cone of uncertainty like this, is that the best thing to do is be prepared for any and every outcome.

Check out these quick tips for surviving Hurricane Florence:

1. Create a plan and execute it.

Pack an emergency kit, including money, medication, and a few days worth of food and water. Also, get gas before leaving! Many gas stations are beginning to run out of gas. To see what gas stations you can fuel up at, check out Gasbuddy. If your house floods, you can’t return home immediately, so it is essential to have a plan, especially if you live in a flood zone. Not sure if you live in a flood zone? Get informed here.

2. Bring all valuables with you during evacuation. If you stay, keep them safe!

It is highly recommended that you photograph or scan important documents, such as driver’s license, passports, social security cards, prescriptions, and all other legal documents. You can upload them to a hard drive, take them with you when evacuating, or store them in a fireproof, watertight container. Keep this, and other important belongings, with you or in a place with higher elevation.

3. Stock up on plenty of bottled water and non-perishable food.

It is also recommended that you freeze all cold products in case you lose power. This will allow your cold products to remain cool for a longer period of time. In case of lost power, a tightly packed freezer can stay cold for 48 hours. Non perishable foods will be your best option, in case you lose power for many days. Keep these items, and water, stored on high, secure shelves so they will be safe away from flooding. Along with food and water, be sure to safely store your household chemicals. When they mix with floodwaters, they become dangerous to your health and can cause fires and explosions.

4. Secure your doors and window.

Board up your windows to prevent leaks and broken glass, and if necessary secure your doors as well. If you do not board up your windows, to prevent damage, clean up yard debris! Safely dispose of branches, secure rain gutters, and clear your yard of bikes, trash cans, and outdoor furniture.