SOCASTEE, SC (WBTW)- It’s been more than two months since flood waters from Hurricane Florence destroyed hundreds of homes, and people in the Rosewood community are still struggling.
Most of the homes are shells with nothing inside. Some people in the area are living in campers, and others are living in their gutted homes.
“Frustrated, scared, don’t know what’s the next step, and don’t know what we need to do,” said Melissa Krupa, who lives in Rosewood.
Melissa Krupa said some of her neighbors had to move back inside their gutted homes because they can’t afford to pay rent and a mortgage. On top of that, she said some people are still paying on loans they took out in 2016 to rebuild after Hurricane Matthew.
“They moved in with cement ground, 2×4’s, and the brick, but they have no other choice. They got babies, they didn’t have heat. Us as a community got together and found heat for them and got them blankets and pillows,” said Kupa.
She said their needs change every day. She also said she feels forgotten by government officials, but not the community. Several church groups and individuals continue to come to this area to help however they can. Volunteers from Burnt Hickory Baptist Church from Northwest Georgia were out Monday installing sheet rock and helping homeowners rebuild.
“I hurt for them and I know the whole crew does. Again, that’s why we’re here to love on them and support them, and tell them we haven’t forgotten about them. That’s what we’re supposed to do as a community,” said volunteer, Chris Garrett.
Krupa said if county officials don’t change some things this will happen again.
“There was nothing fixed with the drainage situation. If that’s not fixed we will flood. If these things aren’t getting done how do we rebuild as is when we know it’s coming back,” said Krupa.
Some volunteers said they are in need of a storage facility for donations. If you’d like to help you can reach out to South Strand Helping Hand.
Their phone number is: (843)-238-4594
Their location is: 812 Poplar Drive S.
Surfside Beach, SC 29587