Biden Approves Emergency Declaration for S.C.

(TNS) – Federal assistance is coming to South Carolina to help pay for the effects of Tropical Storm Idalia.

With the cleanup underway, President Joe Biden authorized a federal emergency declaration for the Palmetto State, which allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts in the state and provide federal money to help pay for emergency work and recovery efforts.

FEMA will pay for 75% of the storm-related costs in Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Jasper, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Orangeburg, Sumter and Williamsburg counties, according to a news release.

The money is meant to supplement local, state and tribal response efforts, which began Tuesday.

Thursday morning, trees were reported knocked down, roads were flooded in coastal areas, and other debris was left to clean up across South Carolina after Tropical Storm Idalia passed over the state Wednesday night.

However, South Carolina avoided much serious damage.

“Looks like we dodged a bullet, but we’ve still got some work to do to make sure the counties have what they need,” S.C. Emergency Management Division Director Kim Stenson told members of the state emergency response team Thursday morning.

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