The Latest: State providing tetnus shots Saturday and Sunday
Update 9:45 p.m.
If you suffer a puncture wound while clearing flood debris talk to your healthcare provided. You may need a tetnus shot depending on how many years it has been since you were last vaccinated. .
State Health officials have expanded the hours and locations of free tetnus vaccinations adding Saturday hours and additional locations as follows:
Two mobile clinics will be held Saturday:
▪ 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at A.C. Flora High School, 1 Falcon Drive, Columbia
▪ 3 to 5 p.m. at Pine Glen Subdivision, Seawright Road, Columbia
Clinics will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the following locations:
▪ Garners Ferry Adult Activity Center, 8620 Garners Ferry Road, Hopkins
▪ Irmo Branch Library, 6251 Saint Andrews Road, Columbia
A tetanus vaccination is recommended if it’s been 10 years or more since your last tetanus vaccination or you have experienced an injury and your shot is more than five years old.
Update 6:30 p.m.
More rain in the forecast this weekend. The National Weather Service says showers are likely to begin tonight with a 90% chance of showers Saturday.
Richland County government offices will open at normal hours Monday. County employees who face unsafe conditions getting to work should talk to their supervisor.
Richland County’s Central Court jury trials have been canceled next week. Jurors should not report to the court.
State health officials are offering tetnus shots for residents this Sunday, October 11, from 9a-5p at the Adult Activity Center at 8620 Garners Ferry Road.
The dams at Lake Katherine and Lake Columbia were given a thumbs up after a DHEC inspection. After a re-inspection, they were declared in ‘good condition,” officials said.
Foster homes are being sought for homeless pets, Pawmetto Lifeline said. Volunteers who can commit to offering a home for two weeks are being urged to come forward. More information is available at www.pawmettolifeline.org.
Free tarps available but supplies are limited
Tarps will be available beginning 8 a.m. Saturday while supplies last at the following water distribution sites to help residents cover items placed outside of flooded homes.
▪ Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln St.
▪ Walmart, Forest Drive
▪ Parking lot, 3700 Landmark Drive
▪ Eastover Park, 1031 Main St.
▪ Gadsden Community Center, 1660 S. Goodwind Circle
▪ Crane Creek Community Center, 7405-B Fairfield Road
Update: 2 p.m.
Bamberg, Colleton and Greenwood counties are now eligible for individual assistance being provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, officials said.
Survivors who sustained losses in the designated counties can apply for assistance by registering at Disasterassistance.org, or by calling (800) 621-3362. Disaster assistance applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing should call (800) 462-7585. Those who use Video Relay Service may call (800) 621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.
Assistance can include money for temporary rental assistance and essential home repairs for primary homes, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help survivors recover from the effects of the disaster.
Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Clarendon, Darlington, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, Sumter and Williamsburg counties were previously designated for individual assistance.
Update: 12:45 p.m.
Forest Drive has been reopened in a limited capacity Friday afternoon, according to Forest Acres Police Department officials.
One lane of traffic has been reopened and people can now cross the bridge at Gills Creek, officials said. However, motorists are still urged to find alternate routes due to the road’s condition.
Update: 12:30 p.m.
Vanderbilt University is sending relief supplies to the University of South Carolina following devastating floods that enveloped the state Sunday and Monday.
A supply drive held in Nashville, T.N. urged area residents to donate bottled water and generators to donate to those affected by the floods.
The truck transporting the relief supplies is expected to arrive at USC’s Columbia campus at 1 p.m. Friday. Supplies will be unloaded at the Russell House University Union on Greene Street by USC student-volunteers.
Update: 12:25 p.m.
A water and food distribution center has been established at the Dennis Chapel located at 230 Bertha Rd. and will be serving the Hollywood Hills, Stark Terrace, Highland Forest and Meadow Lake communities, officials said.
The distribution center will serve lunch at 12 p.m. and dinner at 5 p.m.
Update: 12:15 p.m.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation has issued an updated road closures map. Drivers are urged to find alternate routes around barricaded roads instead of trying to drive through them.
I-95 remains opened to local-only traffic from I-25 in Orangeburg to Exit 119.
I-95 remains closed to all traffic from Exit 119 to Exit 132.
I-95 remains opened to local-only traffic from Exit 132 to I-20 in Florence.
SCDOT road and bridge closures: 12 p.m.
Update: 12 p.m.
Lexington County officials said they are going to spend the weekend working to reopen 15 miles of dirt roads that sit on major school routes that were washed out by the rain.
County Administrator Joe Mergo said "very preliminary" estimate of road damages across the county exceeds $10 million. That figure will rise as assessment teams start visiting neighborhoods mainly in the Irmo area to inspect damage to homes and roads.
The roads that require the most repair are primarily in the rural southern and western parts of the county.
Update: 11:30 a.m.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be opening a disaster recovery center in Sumter County, according to Sumter county and city officials.
The center will be located at the Sumter County Civic Center located at 700 West Liberty St. in Sumter, beginning at 1 p.m. today.
Officials said flood survivors will be able to apply to receive disaster-relief assistance, which can include money for temporary rental assistance and essential home repairs for primary homes, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help flood survivors.
Area residents impacted by the floods are urged to register with FEMA online at Disasterassistance.org, or by calling (800) 621-3362. Disaster assistance applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing should call (800) 462-7585. Those who use Video Relay Service may call (800) 621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.
Subcontractors with FEMA are already in the county performing inspections and assessments, as well as processing applications that have either been submitted to FEMA via phone or online.
Officials said anyone representing themselves as a FEMA subcontractor should have FEMA identification credentials with an identification card that has both a FEMA seal and a code chop similar to those found in military ID’s.
If a Sumter County resident encounters someone who claims to represent FEMA but does not have proper credentials, they are urged to contact law enforcement.
Update: 11 a.m.
South Carolina Emergency Management Division officials have announced that two disaster recovery centers are open in Columbia and Lexington to help flood survivors.
Officials said the Lexington Main Library, located at 5440 Augusta Rd., and the Irmo Branch Library, located at 6251 St. Andrews Rd., will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.
Representatives from the SCEMD, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business Administration and other agencies will be at the centers to explain disaster-relief assistance programs and help survivors apply for aid.
Officials said that, if possible, people who are going to the disaster recovery center and have losses related to the flooding should register with FEMA. Registration can be completed by visiting Disasterassistance.org, or calling (800) 621-3362. Help is available in most languages, and lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week until further notice.
Disaster assistance applicants who are deaf or hard-of-hearing should call (800) 462-7585. For video relay service or accommodations to visit a center, call (800) 621-3362.
Federal disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for temporary rental assistance and essential home repairs for primary residences not covered by insurance.
The centers will also help with low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration. Representatives from the agency will be at the centers to help with homeowner, renter and business uninsured losses.
Update: 10:30 a.m.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation has issued an updated road closures map. Drivers are urged to find alternate routes around barricaded roads instead of trying to drive through them.
I-95 remains opened to local-only traffic from I-25 in Orangeburg to Exit 119.
I-95 remains closed to all traffic from Exit 119 to Exit 132.
I-95 remains opened to local-only traffic from Exit 132 to I-20 in Florence.
SCDOT road and bridge closures: 10 a.m.
Update: 9:30 a.m.
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson will travel to Columbia and Charleston Friday to meet with federal, state and local officials and view ongoing response and recovery efforts in areas affected by severe flooding.
Johnson will participate in joint media press conferences with Gov. Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott, Rep. Mark Sanford, Rep. Joe Wilson and Rep. Jim Clyburn along with other officials.
Johnson will appear at the Emergency Operations Center in West Columbia at 1:20 p.m. before heading to North Charleston.
Update: 9 a.m.
Following historic statewide flooding Sunday and Monday, Columbia city officials have canceled the Mayor’s Walk Against Domestic Violence event scheduled for this Saturday.
Instead of participating in the walk, Mayor Steve Benjamin said he encourages those planning to participate in the walk to put on their purple gear and help those local neighborhoods and assist with clean up and volunteer efforts.
However, South Carolina still ranks number one in the nation in the rate of women murdered by men. If you are a victim, or know of a victim, of domestic violence, call sister-care at (800) 637-7606 for assistance.
Update: 8:45 a.m.
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley will be holding a a press conference Friday morning at 11:30 a.m. at the South Carolina Emergency Operations Center to discuss statewide flooding and recovery.
Update: 8:30 a.m.
Columbia city officials said potable water filling stations will be open all day Friday for those in need of water.
Residents will need to bring their own clean containers to the water filling stations. Each station will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the National Guard present at each site to provide assistance. The filling stations include:
▪ Fire station 4, 446 Spears Creek Church Road
▪ Fire Station 18, 7401 Fairfield Road
▪ Fire Station 29, 121 Old Congaree Run
▪ Fire Station 34, 321 Elders Pond Drive
Water at these sites is being supplied by a purification technology unit on loan from Water Missions International. Licensed drinking water plant operators from the South Carolina Water and Wastewater Response Network have volunteered to run this unit.
As a reminder, these water filling stations are in addition to the already established water distribution sites, which are open from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. They include:
▪ Dutch Square (former Belk parking lot), 421 Bush River Road
▪ Midlands Shopping Center, 2638 Two Notch Road
▪ Former Sam’s Club parking lot, 1401 Sunset Drive
▪ Walmart, 5424 Forest Drive
▪ Richland Mall, 3700 Landmark Drive
▪ Lower Richland High School, 2615 Lower Richland Boulevard
▪ Eastover Park, 1301 Main Street, Eastover, S.C.
▪ Gadsden Community Center, 1660 South Goodwin Circle
Update: 8 a.m.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation has issued an updated road closures map. Drivers are urged to find alternate routes around barricaded roads instead of trying to drive through them.
I-95 remains opened to local-only traffic from I-25 in Orangeburg to Exit 119.
I-95 remains closed to all traffic from Exit 119 to Exit 132.
I-95 remains opened to local-only traffic from Exit 132 to I-20 in Florence.
SCDOT road and bridge closures: 8 a.m.
This story was originally published October 9, 2015 at 8:22 AM with the headline "The Latest: State providing tetnus shots Saturday and Sunday."