Hurricane Matthew hits Darlington County
Tree split on Woods Street in Darlington.
Photos by Samantha Lyles
Crews are working around the county to restore power and services
By Jana E. Pye, Editor and Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer – editor@newsandpress.net / slyles@newsandpress.net
[Editor’s Note: Many thanks to the City of Hartsville Fire Department for hosting the News & Press on Monday. With no power in most of Darlington County, including our office, Hartsville city manager Natalie Zeigler graciously offered the fire department location for us to complete our layout for this issue. Special thank you to Fire Chief Jeff Burr and the entire staff for allowing us to borrow your generator to complete our work. We appreciate you all! – Jana E. Pye]
Be sure to view the photographs taken by Samantha & Jana from their cell phones after the storm stopped on Saturday afternoon at the end of this story. UPDATE: We have added photographs submitted to us from our readers to this gallery.
As soon as Hurricane Matthew’s fierce winds subsided, work crews all over Darlington County fanned out to assess the damages and being the daunting cleanup process.
The Darlington County Emergency Operations Center activated Thursday, October 6 at 7 a.m. to prepare for Hurricane Matthew. All county first responders coordinate through EOC during times of emergency.
“There is still a lot of danger,” said Sheriff Wayne Byrd. “Power is still off in the majority of areas. Avoid the dangers – stay off the roads.”
Darlington
“Our crews responded as soon as the storm was over Saturday afternoon, “ said Howard Garland, Darlington city manager. “Our fire department crews were out cutting up downed trees immediately …we probably cleared ten streets of trees on Sunday. We have at least eight houses with trees on them, but there may be more.”
Power lines were stressed to near breaking point by fallen trees.
Photos by Samantha Lyles
Fire Cheif Pat Cavanaugh said his department estimates over 80 service calls, and over 100 counting trees that fell from city right-of ways. DFD personell worked 36 – 48 hour shifts, sleeping at the station between calls. He shared that if residents requiring breathing therapy may bring their medical equipment to the station to use their generator to take their treatment. Ice is available for patients who need to chill their insulin. Emergency oxygen canisters are available by calling: 843-655-7047.
Fire department crews are currently surveying residences, businesses, and city buildings for FEMA damage assessment. Chief Danny Watson and the police department are working 12 to 16 hour shifts, regularly checking on businesses and the elderly.
“We are going door to door, and will continue to do so until we have power.” said Watson.
Police were called to investigate a few “smash and grab” thefts with windows broken and property stolen – crimes of opportunity during the blackout nights.
Garland says the street department and the water and sewer crews are working hard as well, though their efforts are complicated by the widespread power outages.
“Three of our four water wells went down and we were using county water for most of the weekend,” says Garland, noting that Duke Energy is working to restore power to the well units. Street and fire crews are busily removing downed trees, but some cannot be touched because they have fallen across power lines. Garland says that until Duke Energy crews secure those lines, those trees cannot be cut down.
As of Sunday afternoon, Duke Energy estimated they had over 18,000 Darlington County customers without power. Garland said that Duke crews are working with city personnel to get the trees removed, secure the lines, and get the power on as soon as possible.
Hartsville
Hartsville sustained major damage with multiple large trees down, blocking roadways and taking power lines down with them.
Natalie Zeigler, city manager, worked with other city employees in four teams to canvas the city to assess storm damage to complete FEMA forms on Monday, Oct. 10.
“We have cleared all streets that we can at this time,” said Zeigler when she returned to the fire department. “As of now, there are 14 trees that we cannot access until the Duke Energy crews secure the lines.”
As of Monday, tree clearing continues throughout the city. Most traffic lights are still inoperable, and city police department is reminding residents to heed state laws by treating each intersection like a four way stop. Large portions of the city remain powerless. Power has been restored at some parts of West Carolina near BiLo and parts of Fourth Street around and including Walmart.
Fire Department Chief Jeff Burr and his team has been working continuously throughout the storm. “I am thankful for the teamwork effort from everyone throughout the City of Hartsville,” he said. “We all worked together to help out.” He estimates that the firefighters all worked 36+ hour shifts, most staying at the station.
Burr celebrated his birthday on Saturday as the storm hit. “I definitely will never forget this birthday,” he said. “But, that’s what we are here for.”
The Fire Department is acting as the temporary location for the Navigator to offer business license and permits; the city will waive electric turn-on fees during storm cleanup.
Hartsville Police Department asks that resident stay home after dark, as road clearing crews, linemen and emergency personnel will be working through the evening hours.
The city only needed to use Darlington County water for one night. “We were never completely off, “ said Zeigler. “We are now fully operational. We have prioritized the wastewater treatment facility.”
Zeigler expressed thanks to the dedication of all of the city employees who have put in extra hours during and after the storm. “They have worked remarkably well together.”
She also expressed thanks to Bizzell’s for feeding the first responders, and to the Newsome Auto location on 5th Street for allowing their front parking lot for the city to use as a staging area for their tree and yard debris.
Residents are reminded to research all tree service companies and contractors to insure they are legitimate companies.
Lamar
Lamar Police Chief Charles Woodle says that even though his town completely lost power Saturday afternoon – and may not see it restored until Sunday, October 16 – damages from wind and flooding were less than some other communities saw.
One Main Street business, the Lamar Community Center, suffered a collapsed roof, a traffic signal pole snapped and fell on Main, and Hwy. 401 South linking Lamar to Sumter was blocked near the Dollar General by fallen trees.
Woodle says the traffic signal was cleared and raised by Monday, but the 401 blockage cannot be cleared until Duke Energy crews secure downed power lines in that area.
Due to the blackout, Lamar has instituted a town curfew forbidding anyone on town streets after dark. Woodle says town law enforcement will be patrolling regularly to dissuade criminals from targeting shuttered businesses.
As with many neighboring communities, Lamar was without gasoline as of Monday morning. Chief Woodle said he was forced to drive to Camden to gas up over the weekend.
Society Hill
Society Hill fared well in comparison with other areas of Darlington County, with most of their residents having their power restored as early as Sunday.
Mayor Tommy Bradshaw had high praises for his small town on Monday. “We couldn’t depend on help from anyone else,” said Bradshaw. “Our police department, fire department and rescue squad banded together with chain saws, back hoes and trucks to help unblock roads. There was basically no ingress or egress to the town, and they got it taken care of.”
As of Monday, most of the town has regained power with the exception of some side streets that have power lines that must be rebuilt.
“We were totally dependent on local resources to take care of the town,” continued Bradshaw. “I’m very, very proud of how everyone worked together during and after this storm.”
To his knowledge, no damage was sustained to any of the historic landmarks in the town, including the old library and the newly restored train depot.
The Great Pee Dee River is expected to surpass the highest flood stage level recorded in 1945; at that time, the river was impassable as the water washed over the bridge.
“We are watching the bridge and the Society Hill River Landing closely,” said Bradshaw.
)n Saturday afternoon, the Markette by Prestwood Lake in Hartsville was swarmed.
Photo by Jana E. Pye
Massive tree on by Rudy and Jayne Tyner’s house East Carolina in Hartsville; the tree was planted in 1908.
Photo by Jana E. Pye
Mobile users, please click link to view slideshow of photographs from Saturday after Hurricane Matthew broke: Hurricane Matthew 2016