FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – Members of SC Disaster Recovery held a town hall Wednesday night for homeowners affected by last October’s catastrophic floods.

The lecture hall was nearly full at Francis Marion University as members of SC Disaster Recovery met in breakout sessions with homeowners.

“My ceiling collapsed in my bedroom,” recalled Cora Smith. “My floor needs to be fixed.”

Smith nearly lost her home in the floods.

“I didn’t know what I was going to do, now I’m trying to get help.”

That’s why she and close to a hundred other homeowners came to the Cauthen Education Center at FMU. Staff members from SC Disaster recovery as well as representatives from the Dept. of Agriculture were on hand to meet with those who say they need assistance to recover from the catastrophic flooding.

$96 million has been set aside for South Carolinians to recover, and now SC Disaster Recovery is making sure that money gets into the hands of those who need it most.

“When people lose their homes, they lose more than their home, they lose part of themselves,” said Beth Parks.

Parks joined the SC Disaster Recovery Team after she saw her own town of Forest Acres near Columbia suffer in the wake of the flooding.

“Our goal is to get as many people as possible back into a secure, safe, and sanitary home,” Parks explained.

Wednesday’s meeting is the second of five town halls planned around the state. People affected by the floods are asked to come out and learn first if they are eligible for a part of the flood aid, and also how to sign up. Parks said she is proud of the work her team is doing to help her fellow South Carolinians recover after the disastrous storms.

“They’re just heroes,” Parks said. “Even if they didn’t serve in the military, they’re just heroes because they’re out there for the people.”

The remaining three meetings will be held:

–Thursday, July 7: Alex Chatman Complex Auditorium, 147 West Main St., Kingstree

–Monday, July 11: Patriot Hall, 135 Haynsworth St, Sumter

–Tuesday, July 12: Howard Recreational Center, 1610 Hawkins St. Georgetown