People who live in the Socastee area are working to prepare for what’s still the worst to come for them.
Local government officials are also pleading for help.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Intracoastal Waterway was at 14 feet, and it’s expected to rise between 21 and 23 feet on September 28.
That would be two to four feet higher than Hurricane Matthew.
A group of students from Socastee High School were out at the Rosewood Landing Wednesday afternoon bagging sand for neighbors.
Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune put on her Facebook page this week a message in all caps saying, “OUR SOCASTEE NEIGHBORS NEED OUR HELP.”
The City of Myrtle Beach is asking people to drop off any sandbags at the city services building on Oak Street so that the National Guard can take them to areas in need.
The city says 20,000 to 30,000 people could be displaced in the Socastee area.
“If the flooding gets as bad as what they’re saying, we may not have enough shelters that are set up,” Rep. Heather Ammons Crawford (R-SC) said. “So we have reached out to local businesses and hotels and motels and folks that have property that may be empty, especially this time of year. How can you help? Can you give a break on rates, can you donate some rooms?”
Jim and Linda Fraboni live in the Bridge Creek neighborhood. They’re in the process of moving what’s important to the attic– the only place that was safe from Matthew two years ago.
But this go-round, if the waterway crests higher than their house, Jim said even that won’t help.
“We’re gonna lose that,” Fraboni said. “Whatever memories are left in there are gonna be gone. And that’s the hardest thing, you lose your memories.”
The Frabonis have lived in the house for 22 years and say it’s not easy to just up and leave.
“You can’t list it,” Jim said. “Cause a lot of realtors will not list a property that has been flooded, so you’re kind of stuck.”
For a week that’s been one of Jim’s hardest, he finds hope in the helpers. Those have been not only his neighbors across the street but across the state.
Power crews from North Carolina helped the Frabonis during the storm last week when raw sewage filled their home.
“That simple act was the definition of courage,” Jim said. “Thank you Tarheels; thanks so much.”
