Environment | National

Disaster declaration covers Catawba Nation in South Carolina

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

South Carolina has been hit by severe storms and flooding associated with Hurricane Joaquin. Photo from Sen. Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) / Facebook

President Barack Obama issued a second disaster declaration for South Carolina on Monday in response to severe storms and historic flooding in the state.

Obama's action joins a declaration on Saturday that includes the Catawba Nation. Although there aren't any reports of significant damage on the reservation, the tribal community is eligible for assistance under the Stafford Act.

"The President's action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts that have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in all counties of the State of South Carolina and the Catawba Nation," the Federal Emergency Management Agency said on its website.

The October 3 declaration covers all 46 counties in the state, plus the Catawba Nation. The October 5 declaration covers coastal and inland counties that have seen significant damage due to storms and flooding associated with Hurricane Joaquin.

At least 12 deaths have been blamed on the storms and flooding. More than 900 people were staying in shelters and nearly 40,000 people were without water, the Associated Press reported.

Get the Story:
Rain relents, but thousands in S.C. without running water (The Rock Hill Herald 10/6)