Before, During and After the Flood

After three years, $2.3 million raised, 200,000 volunteer hours given, and 255 homes repaired, we want to keep our promise to report back to you on the achievements you made possible with your generous gifts. In October 2015, South Carolina experienced a devastating 1,000-year flood because of Hurricane Joaquin. More than 11 trillion gallons of water engulfed the area and swallowed everything in its path, but as the waters rose, so did you. You responded immediately — helping neighbors and strangers clean out their homes, pick up debris, provide water, food and encouragement and 7,000 volunteer hours in the first few weeks. Before we could even gauge the damage, you gave generously. And since then, you’ve allowed us to celebrate homecomings with welcome baskets, hugs and happy tears. We showed that when Mother Nature is at her worst, human nature is at its best. United Way has served the Midlands for 90 years. We know that every day, thousands of our neighbors are one rent increase, one health problem or one car repair away from their own disaster. With your support, United Way is here, responding to personal disasters every day.

Initial Phase of Relief

In the days following the October 2015 flooding, United Way of the Midlands was hands-on in the initial phase of relief efforts. Our strategy was simple: do what United Way does. So we examined the needs, determined the most effective and efficient way to help, rallied our partners and resources and deployed them. Here is just a snapshot at our role during the initial phase of disaster relief.

Placing Volunteers

From October through December 2015, we coordinated more than 1,300 volunteers shifts over than 6,600 hours of work. Our volunteers are AMAZING. They helped distribute water, organize donations, clean up, staff shelters and fill in wherever they can help. We cannot thank them enough.

Working Together

In partnership with the City of Columbia, Transitions and the Salvation Army, we opened the first shelter for the area's homeless population before the first drop of rain even fell. 

In the days following the disaster, United Way convened local housing partners to get people moved out of shelters quickly and into better accommodations; working with Salvation Army to move people displaced by the flood into hotels and helping with security and utility deposits to get people moved back into housing.

We directed in-kind donations to the appropriate partner agencies and enlisting the support of partner organizations such as Enterprise Holdings, Terminix and The COMET to help transport goods

Distributing Funds

Individuals and organizations from 48 states and two countries have donated $1 million dollars to United Way's Flood Relief Fund. These donations are already being distributed and are being used directly for disaster relief. Donations will incur no administrative fees, allowing for 100% of donations to go to helping flood victims. 

Assistance for Flood Victims

Victims of the October 2015 Flood who are in need of assistance should call SC 2-1-1, United Way’s statewide Information and Referral phone line, and have their information entered into the Disaster Case Management Coordinated System.

Individuals or households with unmet needs due to the flood or storm damage are encouraged to contact 2-1-1 where they will be connected with a Volunteer Organization Active in Disaster (VOAD) Partner.

Flood Recovery Funding

TOTAL INVESTMENTS FROM UNITED WAY OF THE MIDLANDS IN FLOOD RECOVERY: $2,159,305

As of September 2018, United Way is in process of issuing our last allocations of flood funds.

Please contact Jennifer Moore at jmoore@uway.org for questions about funding.

Funded Projects

Organization Name	Org Overview	Amount Awarded	Comments
Salvation Army of the Midlands	Local organization and UWM Community Impact Partner	$80,000	Emergency financial assistance and motel vouchers for households affected by the floods.
SBP	New Orleans based non-profit organization engaging in SC flood repair projects.	$1,064,335	Supporting home repair with work still underway.
Homeworks of America SC	Local organization and UWM Community Impact Partner	$165,084	Capacity building grant to increase construction management and funds supporting home repair with work still underway.
Central SC Habitat for Humanity	Local organization and UWM Community Impact Partner	$40,000	Supporting home repair with work still underway.
Columbia Metro Baptist Association	Local Association to support and strengthen local congregations.	$30,000	Supporting home repairs early in the recovery efforts.
Disciples Home Missions	Indiana-based faith-based organization engaging in SC flood repair projects.	$50,000	Supporting home repairs early in the recovery efforts.
Hearts and Hands	Florida-based non-profit organization engaging in SC flood repair projects.	$36,975	Supporting home repairs early in the recovery efforts and temporary housing for homeowners.
Evangelical Free Church of America Reach Global Crisis Response (Reach Global)	EFCA churches and ReachGlobal partners prepare for and respond to disasters in their communities and around the world.	$83,765	Supporting home repairs early in the recovery efforts.
SC United Methodist Church Disaster Recovery (UMCOR)	UMCOR is a faith-based based non-profit organization engaging in SC flood repair projects.	$112,500	Supporting home repair with work still underway.
Brethren Disaster Ministries	A faith-based organization that helps communities rebuild after disasters.	$123,017	Supporting home repairs early in the recovery efforts.
United Black Clergy	A local non-profit formed after the October 2015 floods to help the Midlands recover.	$55,000	Supporting home repairs early in the recovery effort.
Various Agencies including SBP, Hearts and Hands, and Lutheran Family Services	Various non-profits providing recovery support	$65,700	Emergency financial assistance and motel vouchers for households affected by the floods.
Flood Recovery Project Management	Management of recovery and construction efforts.	$210,347	Supporting home repair with work still underway.
Mold Remediation Equipment	Equipment purchased by UWM for use of recovery organizations.	$42,581	Mold remediation equipment, dryers and dehumidifiers.