DROUGHT
The USDA announced on April 23, 2026 a disaster declaration due to ongoing drought. The primary designated counties are Abbeville, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Beaufort, Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Lancaster, Laurens, McCormick, Marlboro, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union, and York. The contiguous counties that are also eligible are Aiken, Barnwell, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Clarendon, Florence, Horry, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, Marion, and Richland. Application deadline is December 10, 2026. More information can be found here https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-events/news/04-23-2026/usda-designates-30-south-carolina-counties-natural-disaster-areas
Resources for those affected by a disaster
FEMA
How to Obtain Assistance After a Disaster please visit the FEMA website https://www.fema.gov/assistance
There are different assistance programs for individual citizens versus public groups like government agencies and private nonprofit organizations. Find the help you need to support your disaster recovery.
SBA
You can reach SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for assistance.
Explore SBA’s low-interest disaster loans to help homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes recover from declared disasters.https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance
To contact a local SBA office in SC https://www.sba.gov/district/south-carolina
USDA
USDA offers a variety of programs to help farmers, ranchers, communities, and businesses that have affected by natural disaster events. https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/index
Info on hurricane recovery: https://www.farmers.gov/protection-recovery/hurricane
Phone 877-508-8364
SCEMD
Contact the SCEMD at 866-246-0133 or at scemd.org
Find your county emergency manager https://www.scemd.org/who-we-are/county-emergency-managers/
211
Public Resource Assistance Directory-Find resources and help at sc211.org
SC Department of Insurance
For Insurance Issues https://www.doi.sc.gov/
Phone 803-737-6160