SOCASTEE, SC (WBTW) – Senator Lindsey Graham and Congressman Tom Rice visited neighbors and surveyed the flood damage on Starcreek Circle in Socastee Friday afternoon.
The Senator encouraged people who live in flood-prone areas to consider relocating to higher ground instead of rebuilding.
“Some people don’t wanna leave. They’re gonna build back again, and I’m gonna tell them, ‘If you do that, you’re doing it at your own peril,'” Graham said.
He told residents that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, will use Community Development Block Grants, or CDBG to help people find new homes and will go toward down payments on new homes. According to Graham, this is the first time CDBG money will be used toward mitigation efforts.
According to Congressman Rice, Congress passed a disaster relief package of almost $1.7 billion dollars. A certain percentage of that money will be coming to South Carolina.
Senator Graham will meet with Horry County Government leaders to create a mitigation plan for the area.
“We’re gonna sit down with County Council; we’re gonna sit down with every government agency, and we’re gonna tell some people things they don’t wanna hear,” Graham said.
“It’s gonna be hard, it’s gonna be honest, but we’re not gonna keep doing this again. It’s not fair to people, it’s dangerous, and it’s time to make some good, hard decisions for the people who come after us,” Graham said.
