South Carolina Needs to Double the Size of Dam Safety Staff

South Carolina wants to double the size of its dam safety staff after the floods that devastated the state in October. The Department of Health and Environmental Control submitted a budget request in November for an additional $595,000 in funding for 2016. The requested money would more than double the agency’s current budget, allowing for a much needed staff increase.

Just after the agency’s budget request, as if to highlight the need for a more comprehensive dam safety program, Governor Nikki Haley held a press conference about the storm damage. Gov. Haley reported that the state owed “at least” another $114 million for its share of the flood damage.

According to NBC’s WAGT26, “The governor said the estimates include the state’s obligations for damaged roads, houses and other infrastructure like the Columbia Canal, which was damaged and left the state’s largest city without clean water for more than a week.”

Big damages show need for smarter planning (and spending)

The infrastructure failures left nineteen people dead and closed more than 540 roads and bridges. It is arguable that a better inspection program could have prevented these deaths and the catastrophic damages. South Carolina’s DHEC’s program has been ranked as one of the most poorly funded in the country in recent years.

Mark Ogden, project manager with the Association of State Dam Safety Officials, feels the same way. He told EmergencyManagement.com, “It’s difficult to say without knowing the particulars, but based on the reports, it seems that there were probably dams that failed that should not have failed given the circumstances. If those dams had been properly inspected and had follow-ups to make sure they got repaired, they could have weathered this storm.”

Bad infrastructure causes big problems

The crumbling state of South Carolina’s infrastructure before the storm didn’t help matters. Now, with 540 significantly damaged roads and bridges to repair, the state will have to figure out how to climb out of a financial hole. Roads, bridges and dams are designed to protect residents, not contribute to injuries and deaths.

Until these infrastructure problems are addressed, poorly maintained roads and bridges will continue to contribute to accidents and deaths. If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident because of improperly maintained infrastructure, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the experienced South Carolina personal injury attorneys at McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, today for a free consultation, or call 803-327-7800.