DARLINGTON, SC (WBTW) – Two streets in Darlington were under water on Friday as a result of Tropical Storm Michael.
The City of Darlington says the Black Creek River rose overnight causing Hank Haynie and Shoshone Drives to flood. Officials say Shoshone Drive is beginning to wash out as well. Crews were out there on Friday assisting residents with sandbags. Officials also tell News13 the water on Hank Haynie Drive was waist-deep and the only way to get through was by boat. City officials say fewer than 10 homes were affected by floodwaters.
News13 spoke with one resident, who has lived on Shoshone Drive for 32 years, who says he has to spend at least $10,000 every time a hurricane hits.
“I just spent $60,000 which I haven’t gotten reimbursed yet from Matthew. And now it’s coming back up. So I haven’t gotten the money from the last one from FEMA. I don’t know how much they’ll give me. Half of it, I know they won’t give me,” said Rocky Gannon. “The heating and air conditioning unit, I paid out of my pocket two years ago $7,000. $12,000 to take the old ducting and all of the insulation from under the house and put new ducting in. They completed that yesterday.”
Gannon says this time, he is considering moving.
“I’m running out of money. And I’m getting smart enough. I love my house but I’m going to move,” he said.
Gannon, who is a veteran who served a total
of 37 years, says he has moved around quite a bit and has lived in 38 houses. He says he hoped to stay in his current house but he can’t afford to keep paying for repairs. As he moves on to his 39th house, he takes memories with him, including some tokens of history that were damaged by the floodwaters.
“I have an invitation to a party in Philadelphia, 1797, to meet General U.S. Grant. That got soaked. I have invitations to Tojo’s trial in Tokyo. 1948. That’s the stuff you keep in the garage. and I had four feet of water in the garage,” he said.
No word on when the floodwaters will recede. The City of Darlington says it is monitoring conditions.
