Project Impact: Building a Disaster Resistant Community

Project Impact

The City of Florence is a Project Impact Community

and as such is committed to undertake actions to build a disaster resistant community with the cooperation of both public and private partners.

In 1998, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated the City of Florence as the first Project Impact Community in South Carolina.

A Hazard Evaluation Plan was the first step in determining the risks in the Florence area. Several committees involving both the private and public sectors have addressed these risks and developed the following mitigation actions.

Project Impact Activities

Public Awareness (Completed)

  • Hurricane Awareness displays at Lowe’s Home Improvement stores and other local events.
  • Employee Hazard Awareness events at local industries and businesses.
  • Hurricane Hunter exhibit at Florence airport in cooperation with Florence County Emergency Preparedness, National Weather Service and Pee Dee Electric Cooperative.
  • Florence Area Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day, April 21, 2001.
  • City of Florence Hazard Awareness Calendar 2001 distributed to over 13,000 households.
  • Public notices regarding flood risks, flood insurance and suggested mitigation actions.

Technical Projects (Completed)

  • Digitizing and updating of floodplain maps
  • Inventory, surveys and preparation of Elevation Certificates for properties in the 500 year floodplain
  • Inventory of local dam information

Construction Projects (Underway)

  • Wind retrofitting of City fire stations and water treatment plant with storm panels and wind resistant bay doors
  • Upgrading of utility connections to sewer lift stations to minimize power outages
  • Upgrading of computerized monitoring system for sewer facilities to allow early detection of outages and related problems
  • Installation of weather monitoring stations in the Florence area in cooperation with Florence County Emergency Preparedness.

For more information:
Project Impact Coordinator
(843) 665-3175

Related web sites:

www.fema.gov
(Federal Emergency Management Agency)

http://www.florenceco.org/epd/EPD/EPDhome.htm
(Florence County Emergency Preparedness Department)

www.redcross.org
(American Red Cross)