Pew Applauds South Carolina's $200 Million Investment in Flood Resilience

WASHINGTON—South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster today signed a new budget into law that commits an unprecedented amount of state funds to flood resilience efforts. The budget dedicates $200 million to the state’s Disaster Relief and Resilience Reserve Fund for planning and implementing nature-based solutions to reduce flood risk.

Too many communities in South Carolina know the heartache and hardship that extreme weather can bring. Following historic floods in 2015, South Carolinians from the Upstate to the Lowcountry, Midlands, and PeeDee have weathered numerous severe flood events.

Mathew Sanders, a senior manager with The Pew Charitable Trusts’ flood-prepared communities project, issued the following statement:

“Today’s investment means South Carolina can take meaningful steps to improve resilience—and avoid painful and costly flood recovery efforts in the future. The budget that Governor McMaster signed into law today puts $200 million into projects that will help the state withstand flooding exacerbated by increasingly more frequent and severe weather-related disasters. This unprecedented funding is an impressive commitment for a state of this size, positioning South Carolina as a leader.  

“Over the past five years, The Pew Charitable Trusts has been working with the state and partner organizations to advance resilience, and today marks a real culmination of those efforts. The funding will prioritize projects identified by South Carolina’s first Statewide Resilience Plan, which is to be finalized at the end of this month, while maximizing the role nature can play in reducing flood risk.

“We applaud the South Carolina Office of Resilience and Chief Resilience Officer Ben Duncan for their leadership. This funding commitment provides them with vital resources to alleviate flood risk for communities across the Palmetto State.”  

Celebrating its 75th anniversary, The Pew Charitable Trusts uses data to make a difference. Pew addresses the challenges of a changing world by illuminating issues, creating common ground, and advancing ambitious projects that lead to tangible progress.