South Carolina's Thousand-Year Flood: A Decade of Reflection and Action

By Marilyn Thomas

When faced with unfathomable adversity, the true character of a community is often revealed. This was proven true, ten years ago in October of 2015, when a momentous deluge swept through South Carolina, taking a number of lives and leaving behind billions of dollars of damage in its wake. Although devastating in so many ways, Lexington neighbors rose above this calamity as they united in their efforts to help one another, restore and repair, and prevent future flooding issues.

In the first week of October 2015, the state of South Carolina experienced record rainfall that resulted in historic flooding. According to documentation published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the National Weather Service, a combination of “hydro-meteorological factors” contributed to the spawning of this perfect storm. Specifically, when tropical moisture creat- ed by Hurricane Joaquin and the Atlantic Ocean met with slow-moving weather patterns, more than 20 inches of rain fell in the central and coastal regions of the state during a four-day period.

Because of its rarity and magnitude, the former governor, Nikki Haley, appropriately branded this tragic phenomenon as a “1,000-year flood.” On October 5, 2015, she requested an expedited major disaster declaration for South Carolina, which President Obama granted, and this action allowed affected residents to be eligible for federal financial assistance.

This unparalleled downpour proved to be both destructive and deadly— extensive power outages occurred, drinking water was compromised, roadways were washed out, dams were breached, homes were destroyed, and citizens were killed. In its aftermath, the South Carolina Emergency Management Department and other state authorities reported that the deluge caused 19 fatalities and nearly $1.5 billion in material damages throughout the state.

Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Interior Office of Emergency Management estimated that “410 roads and bridges, including 74 miles of I-95 between I-26 and I-20, were closed due to high water, flood inundation, or safety.”

During this catastrophic event, Hazel Livingston (Lexington’s current mayor) was actively involved in the town’s leadership as a council member. When the deluge occurred, she immediately became immersed in hands-on opportunities to serve the community. In addition to ensuring that her neighbors were located and safe, she helped with preparing meals for fellow staff members who were directly involved in local emergency efforts.

Because the church she attends is located in the Old Mill building, Mayor Livingston was personally aware of the devastation the flooding inflicted upon that structure and assisted with the cleanup efforts of that space as well as those of adjacent businesses.

“In the Town of Lexington,” she re- calls, “the areas affected most were ponds along Twelve Mile Creek and Fourteen Mile Creek. Both the Gibson Pond dam and the Old Mill earthen dam were breached, causing the water to drain from both ponds.”

A report developed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources states that “so much rain fell over the Twelve Mile Creek basin in Lexington County, the historic Lexington Mill Pond earthen dam failed, sweeping away much of the restored mill’s business property and taking out a portion of Highway 1.”

In the decade following that unforgettable calamity, “The Town has worked hard to restore these areas and bring them back to life,” says Mayor Livingston, “and to make them even better than they were before.”

Mayor Livingston shares two notable examples of how those water-torn areas were resurrected. “The Town worked with state and federal agencies to rebuild the Gibson Pond Park dam, and it was reopened to the public in August of 2021, after it was closed for more than a year during the construction to build a new dam,” she says. The renovated park within that area now “features a new bridge with fishing piers, a new dock, new picnic shelters, and a walking trail.”

Additionally, “Through a public/ private partnership, the Town designed and built the Old Mill Pond trail around the Lexington Mill Pond, which opened to the public in September of 2024,” says Mayor Livingston. “It is a 1.15-mile paved path that includes changes in elevation, bridges, outlooks, and seating areas that circle the pond. It provides an opportunity to enjoy nature in the heart of downtown Lexington, as well as panoramic views of the Old Mill.”

In the neighboring municipality of Irmo, the former town administrator, Courtney Dennis was employed by the local police department in 2015, but he says that he “vividly” remembers the floods.

“Fortunately, the Town of Irmo was spared any widespread or significant damage during the flood,” he adds. “However, we did experience localized flooding in areas such as New Friarsgate, particularly on Chapel White Road; Tamworth Court; Charing Cross Road; and South Royal Tower Drive. The primary cause of flooding in these areas was the inability of storm drains to keep pace with the volume of rain. Some flooding also resulted from rising waters in Rawls Creek.”

“To my knowledge, only a few homes sustained damage,” Mr. Dennis continues, “and fortunately, repairs were made without requiring any demolitions. The majority of our efforts were focused on temporary road closures due to flooding. These closures were reopened once the rain slowed and the drainage system caught up.”

To be proactive in preparing for possible water-related issues in the future, Irmo’s town leadership has since initiated ongoing preemptive measures to thwart potential damage that could be incurred by such heavy-rain events. For example, “The Town has increased the frequency of storm drain cleanings to help with drainage capacity,” Mr. Dennis explains. “The town has also been working with Keep the Midlands Beautiful to organize annual creek cleanups, which remove obstructions and trash, allowing water to flow more effectively.”

Certainly, storms may come, and when they do, the power of nature must be respected. A resilient community, however, is another kind of force within which citizens can unite their strength and apply lessons learned to build back better than before for a safer future.