FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – Some business and home owners in Florence are still trying to clean up after this weekend’s storm.
One of those businesses, Jacob Plumbing, had more than 2 feet of water seep inside which caused extensive damage to the walls and floors. The owner, Werner Jacob, says this is the fourth time his business has flooded since 1984 and the second time in the last week. He says the main issue is rainwater trickling down to Jacob Plumbing from Coit and Irby Streets where there are slants in the road.
“I can handle the rainfall. But when I have rainfall coming from other places converging in my office, that’s where the problem is,” he said. “From Irby Street, it flows toward my house. And from the Coit Street side, it comes down toward my house. Everything from the Greyhound bus station comes this way. Everything from where the donut shop used to be flows this way.”
Jacob says he installed extra drains outside, but that couldn’t keep the water from making its way inside. Now he’s reaching back out to his insurance company for help in paying for repairs which could cost about $250,000.
“I’m sure they’re going to take my walls out 4 feet up from the floor and check for mildew and spray for mildew. And take up all of the hardwood flooring of this building,” he said.
This comes 6 months after he has his entire house remodeled for about the same amount of money due to flood damage from Hurricane Matthew. He also says the house flooded during Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Ultimately, Jacob wants something done about the drain lines and their directions.
“Reroute some of these businesses next to me that converge onto my property. And have them go out somewhere else. That would decrease the flow of water to this area,” he said. “And I could help control that.”
News13 reached out to the Department of Transportation, who owns Coit and Irby Streets, for comment. Officials say the drains are not designed to handle that much water in a short period of time. They tell us they will have crews out this week checking the drains in the city.