HURRICANE FLORENCE NEWS: 
The NHC has confirmed that Hurricane Florence is now likely to make landfall near Myrtle Beach, SC by this weekend as a Category 2. 

Hurricane Florence is approaching the Southeast U.S. coast as an extremely dangerous, major hurricane. The latest forecast brings the center of the storm near the coastal Carolinas on Friday, then Florence could stall or drift slowly southwest to west over the weekend. Regardless of the exact path, impacts will extend well away from the center and into both central South Carolina and eastern Georgia this weekend with the worst conditions expected Friday night into at least Sunday, although impacts could linger longer depending on the uncertain evolution and track.

The main threatening impact in the region may be a prolonged heavy rainfall event with associated flooding through early next week. Storm surges as high as 9 feet and rainfall of as much as 40 inches in some spots are predicted if conditions fall into place. This rainfall would produce catastrophic flash flooding and prolonged significant river flooding. Rivers and tributaries may quickly become swollen with swifter currents and overspill their banks. Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches may overflow. An extended period of tropical storm force winds is also possible. 

Coastal evacuations should be well under way and emergency plans should be in place by now. Watch the video from your Savannah Riverkeeper for tips on how to stay safe.
FORECAST AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT UPDATES:
This is a rapidly changing and potentially life-threatening situation. Please stay up to date by following these pages: 

NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center
US National Weather Service Columbia South Carolina
South Carolina Emergency Management Division
Georgia Emergency Management Agency
US National Weather Service Southeast River Forecast Center
Local Government Pages such as Chatham Emergency Management Agency

ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
- For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov
- For information from the state of South Carolina see scemd.org
- For information from the state of Georgia see gema.ga.gov
CLICK HERE to see a map of USGS rain gauges throughout the basin.

If you get good photos of flooding, damage, or high water around the watershed, click here to drop them in this folder, with your name and the location in the filename. 

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Press Release
May 29, 2018 - COLUMBIA, SC - The S.C. Drought Response Committee met Tuesday via conference call to update the drought statuses of all counties in South Carolina.

Above average rainfall totals across much of the state during the month of May, along with improving numbers across a range of indicators, prompted members of the Committee to vote unanimously to change the drought status of 13 counties from “incipient” to “normal.” The counties that were removed from the first level of drought (incipient stage) included Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, Dorchester, Edgefield, Hampton, Lexington, McCormick, Richland, and Saluda. 

“The last time the entire state was drought-free was July 8, 2016,” said S.C. State Climatologist Hope Mizzell.

The weather pattern across South Carolina for the month of May began with warm and dry conditions. However, the weather pattern changed during the second half of the month, according to Leonard Vaughan, Senior Hydrologist/Meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

“A persistent trough of low pressure produced a moist, southerly flow, which increased rainfall coverage,” said Vaughn. “This, combined with the additional moisture from Sub-Tropical Storm Alberto, brought even more beneficial rainfall. Over the past fourteen days, rainfall across South Carolina, has ranged from 200 to 600 percent above normal, with totals from 3 to 12 inches.”

“Recent rainfall, along with higher humidity, has helped reduce the number of wildfires statewide,” added Brad Bramlett, Rural Fire Coordinator with the S.C Forestry Commission. “This was very much needed, since we were well above our 5- and 10-year averages for the number of fires just a month ago.”​

The above normal rainfalls over the past several weeks have also significantly improved streamflow levels across the state. All of the state’s major reservoirs are now at or near their target levels for this time of year, reported South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Senior Hydrologist Scott Harder. “According to the latest available data, lake levels and stream flows across the state are in good shape now,” said Harder. “Overall groundwater levels look good as well.”
​
These improved conditions supported moving all counties that were previously in an incipient drought status to a no drought (normal) status. The committee will continue to monitor the weather and will meet again as conditions warrant. More information about drought conditions and drought policy in South Carolina is available via the new and improved South Carolina Drought Portal at www.scdrought.com

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management just released its new five-year plan for leasing offshore areas for oil and gas drilling and nearly all U.S. waters are proposed for leases to the oil and gas industry. Under this proposal, every coastal area in the continental United States and Alaska are at risk from the devastating impacts of offshore drilling.

The good news is that this plan is not set in stone, as the name suggests, this is just a draft proposal and there will be opportunity to submit comments on it. The public comment period is open now and ends March 8. You’ve helped defeat drilling proposals off of our Atlantic Coast once – speak out and help do it again!

Submit your comments here to let them know why you oppose offshore drilling and that you do not want to see it off of Georgia's or South Carolina’s coast. You can also mail in your comments to: Ms. Kelly Hammerle, National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program Manager, BOEM (VAM-LD), 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166. 

We suggest that comments:

• Be fact-based;
• Include links to data or research;
• Provide specifics regarding impacts to the ocean and coasts, the plants and animals, to people, and how people use the ocean; and where and when the ocean is utilized.​

The more specific and fact-based your comments are, the more effective they will be, so please add in your personal reasons for opposing offshore drilling and explain why our oceans and coasts are so important to you.

Then, plan to attend one of the “open meetings” BOEM will hold in the state capitals of each of the Atlantic Coast states. Efforts are underway to convince BOEM that additional meetings should be held in coastal cities. 

• Feb. 13 in Columbia, SC from 3-7pm at the Doubletree by Hilton: 2100 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC 29210. (803) 731-0300 
• or Feb. 28 in Atlanta, GA from 3-7pm at the Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel: One Hartsfield Centre Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30354. (404) 209-9999

Click here to see locations and times for other states.

If you go to a public meeting, here is a template that you can use to begin to prepare your statement: “Offshore drilling is a toxic and dangerous practice that ravages our oceans with chemical pollution, spills, fires, and explosions. It kills fish and sea life, poisons coral reefs and pollutes beaches. Expanding offshore drilling damages the tourism, recreation, and fishing industries that generate billions of dollars for our state's economy. Please look forward rather than backward and invest public dollars in renewable energy sources.”

The administration's efforts defy the will of more than 140 Eastern coastal municipalities; over 1200 local, state and federal bipartisan officials; and an alliance representing over 41,000 businesses and 500,000 fishing families who say #ProtectOurCoast and #KeepItInTheGround. Together, we can stop this. 

For 100 years, federal tax policy has incentivized the giving spirit and empowered our crucial work. But under the current overhaul plan, nonprofits and the work we do will take a hit. Simplifying the tax code is an admirable goal, and we can achieve a better outlook for nonprofits with a few simple amendments. 

At Savannah Riverkeeper, we rely on the generosity of our members—hardworking folks and families like you—to support our efforts to protect the Savannah River every day. ​According to Republican estimates, nearly doubling the standard deduction would place the charitable deduction out of reach for 95% of Americans. 

A decrease in giving of this scale would force charitable nonprofits, just like us, to make significant cuts to keep our doors open. Economists estimate a loss of more than 200,000 jobs in the nonprofit sector as a result. A bill that is designed to create jobs shouldn’t threaten the livelihoods of almost a quarter million Americans working to serve their communities. 

The tax reform plans in current form will harm nonprofit organizations, the people they employ and most importantly, those who rely on their services. When charities are able to do their good work efficiently, it takes the burden off of government. Please call your U.S. Senators and ask them to speak up STRONGLY for nonprofits on the Senate floor:

• Support an amendment to create a universal charitable deduction. 
• Oppose efforts to eliminate State and Local Tax (SALT) deductions.
• Please oppose efforts to weaken the Johnson Amendment.

Georgia: 
David Perdue by phone (202) 224-3521, email, or Twitter @PerdueSenate
Johnny Isakson by phone (202) 224-3643, email, or Twitter @SenatorIsakson

South Carolina: 
Tim Scott by phone (202) 224-6121, email, or Twitter @SenatorTimScott
Lindsey Graham by phone (202) 224-5972, email, or Twitter @LindseyGrahamSC ​

Ebenezer Creek has a held a special place in locals’ and visitors’ hearts for centuries. It has been the site of important events in American history, the site of an early colony, Civil War and Revolutionary battles. But this year a new kind of battle has been raging along the banks of Ebenezer Creek, a battle to protect this waterway and the community that cherishes it.

A plant was built in the Effingham Industrial Park by DRT America, a company which produces terpenes and other wood byproducts. They planned to send their wastewater to the City of Springfield’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. This wastewater would be added into the stream that is already discharged in the creek and a land application spray field adjacent to Ebenezer Creek.

When the permits for this and the Springfield wastewater treatment plant were first released, the public outcry was loud and unanimous: protect our creek and keep our communities safe. Savannah Riverkeeper was among those voices that spoke out about the risk and the damage this would put on Ebenezer Creek and to the City of Springfield. Working with other local groups such as the Georgia Conservancy and One Hundred Miles, we engaged in outreach with citizens, local government, and other stakeholders to unify our message.
    
From its establishment in Effingham County DRT America has made decisions that have put locals and this natural resource at risk. Before receiving any permits for discharge or air quality, a $43 million plant had already been built. An assumption of their right to operate and discharge their wastewater to a municipal treatment plant was obvious. Savannah Riverkeeper has made efforts to engage with the company to create an advisory board to start a conversation with the area citizens.
    
This summer, DRT America was found to have discharged a liquid through a manhole cover into the Springfiled Treatment Plant’s system, this discharge showed a dangerously high pH level for ebenezer Creek. There have also been incidents of such foul-smelling air coming from this plant that caused a local child with asthma to gag and vomit. These incidents show a dangerous disregard for the communities along Ebenezer Creek.

On Thursday November 16, the City Council of Springfield voted unanimously to reject the wastewater from DRT America, making the decision to protect the City of Springfield and Ebenezer Creek. Savannah Riverkeeper applauds the council for this decision.

But the challenges are not yet over. Savannah Riverkeeper will continue collaborating with City of Springfield and county officials on solutions for future and current wastewater to not be discharged to Ebenezer Creek. We believe there are better solutions, and that Ebenezer Creek is not a viable option for receiving industrial or municipal wastewater.

​Victories for our waterways are possible when we join together! Help us in our efforts by joining Savannah Riverkeeper as a member or donating to support our work. ​

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