SC

#SCFlood: Dam Owners Were Warned

AGENCY URGED LOWERING OF WATER LEVELS … As we reported exclusively this week, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) undertook a review and reclassification of dams in the Palmetto State during the tenure of former director Catherine Templeton. Did it make a difference? No … Would it…

AGENCY URGED LOWERING OF WATER LEVELS …

As we reported exclusively this week, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) undertook a review and reclassification of dams in the Palmetto State during the tenure of former director Catherine Templeton.

Did it make a difference?

No …

Would it have made a difference?

Probably not …

One thing that might have, though?  A warning issued by SCDHEC on Thursday, October 1 – two days before the brunt of “Floodmaggedon” began pelting South Carolina.

“Owners of reservoirs should take the appropriate steps to safely lower the water level in their reservoir if additional storage for the anticipated rainfall is needed,” the agency’s dam safety administrator warned.

Reiterating forecasts that promised record rainfall, the agency warned dam owners to “be aware of the conditions at their dams during such events.” and to “contact  downstream property owners and local public safety officials” in the event breaches were imminent.

Hmmm …

This website hasn’t had many good things to say about the lack of preparedness/ bungled response demonstrated at the state, county and municipal level in the aftermath of the flood – especially in the Midlands region of South Carolina.

But it looks as though at least one agency knew what it was talking about … and tried to warn of the danger to come.

***

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27 comments

stumpknocker October 7, 2015 at 12:17 pm

DO NOT REBUILD THE DAMS, if they are not going to be responsible for the upkeep, then let the streams flow naturally, make no mistake these are high dollar neighborhoods because the have the lakes, it is not up to the government to step in make their properties skyrocket in value because the don’t pay for the upkeep. the only thing worse than a poor taker gaming the system is a rich taker gaming the system.

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vicupstate October 7, 2015 at 12:40 pm

Good luck with that. The wealthy ALWAYS get their voices heard. They sign the campaign checks.

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Lucille Simpson October 8, 2015 at 4:22 am

Work at Home~Follow this guide to make $97/hour…I just purchased themselves a McLaren F1 when I got my check for $19993 this past 4 weeks and just over 17 thousand lass month . this is really the nicest-work Ive had . I began this 10-months ago and straight away started making more than $97… p/h .learn the facts here now .
rba……..
???? http://GoogleCyberTechHomeJobsEmploymentSelf/get/chance/top…. ??????????????????????????????????????????

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Liberals looking to BLAME GAME October 7, 2015 at 12:25 pm

Wonder which Ambulance Chaser put FITSNews up to this…???

When you can find a culprit (with money) the liberal Trial Lawyers can take it…

And Lazy Liberals are EXPERT at extracting money that someone else EARNED. (See Democrat Party and Obama)…

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stupid October 7, 2015 at 12:31 pm

umm like whats yer point?

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GT's Flooded Trailer Park October 7, 2015 at 12:34 pm

Did your mobile home turn into a mobile boathouse?

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energydonk October 7, 2015 at 5:18 pm

Remember that now that you and your state are BEGGING for those Liberal dollars to bail your ass out of this mess you helped create! We don’t need no stinking Gubmint & certainly don’t support it helping anyone but “us”.

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Nölff October 7, 2015 at 12:35 pm

They don’t give a damn about those damn dams

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underwater October 7, 2015 at 12:37 pm

Had experience with dams – there is NOBODY in charge of these things. try to find the party responsible for a dam and you will run into a numbered company or a legal rep. Developers build lakes because it increases shoreline values, then they stash the lake itself in a black hole of ownership so theres nobody to answer when this happens. HOAs don’t own them, even if they sometimes accept responsibility for maintaining them. ask anyone at DHEC, DNR, the county or the city – who owns this dam and who is legally responsible for maintaining it? they don’t know. developers screw us everytime because we keep their stooges in legislature and county council.

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YouWontPostThis October 7, 2015 at 1:49 pm

Yuhp. She had the poor suckers under her purview make a lot of phone calls to outdated ownership rosters, then took off to god only knows where for the weekend…only to show her face again for the first time on TUESDAY. Where the hell was the head of the agency responsible for dam safety, one of the primary public safety pillars in this entire event?

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Bible Thumper October 7, 2015 at 2:24 pm

SC Code of Laws Title 46 Chapter 11
SECTION 49-11-10 through 260
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t49c011.php

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Todd October 7, 2015 at 3:09 pm

The only thing less effective than government is a Homeowner’s association. They control most of these dams I bet. Half a dozen busybody women who think dams are a thing that hold dentures together.

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Cousin Eddie October 7, 2015 at 3:11 pm

I just want to know where I can get some dam bait!

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mamatiger92 October 7, 2015 at 3:51 pm

With all of these dam articles, I’ve been wondering when we’d get our first Cousin Eddie sighting.

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Johnstown October 7, 2015 at 4:20 pm

What do you think lowering your pond or lake does to those downstream of it?

Some dams are designed to safely be overtopped (have a spillway) just for such flooding. Why don’t all of them?

What has the dam “safety” program at DHEC ever recommended in the past to make them safer? Why do citizens have to report major leakage at control structures on substantial dams such as at Langley Pond (twice) near Aiken, when if anything you would think that the more vulnerable structures or gates would be glanced at once in a while by owners or authorities.

But don’t worry, you’re completely safe — DHEC’s in charge.

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YouWontPostThis October 7, 2015 at 5:52 pm

It’s amazing how many people know just enough to be dangerous…

Overtopping is when the dam is flowing water via a path that is NOT the designed spillway.

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Johnstown October 9, 2015 at 10:34 am

How clueless. Many dams are designed for overtopping. Wateree Lake dam for nearest example.

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YouWontPostThis October 9, 2015 at 3:59 pm

How clueless, eh? I guess a few years in the industry did me no good. Many dams are designed to SPILL water. When water flows over a designed spillway, it’s called SPILLING, not overtopping. Let’s get our verbiage straight before we go around hurling insults, no?

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swampland October 7, 2015 at 8:37 pm

Lowering the level of a lake behind a dam in a controlled manner prevents or at least mitigates a disaster. Not lowering the level in a controlled manner while waiting for the deluge is moronic and deadly. A good time for a lawsuit.

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Beartrkkr October 8, 2015 at 1:55 pm

Some dam designs do not allow for the intentional discharge of water except when it reaches a certain level and it hits the spillway, drainpipe, or run around.

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YouWontPostThis October 9, 2015 at 4:00 pm

That’s a moronic design. ALL dams, by regulation, must be designed with a mechanism for draining the lake. How would one do that without the ability to “intentionally discharge water”?

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nitrat October 7, 2015 at 7:16 pm

Anyone know what happened to that old Green Diamond site that was in the news for so long?

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Fecal Matters October 8, 2015 at 12:35 pm

The brain trust that came with that dip shit idea is currently pushing his latest dip shit idea through, the Bull Street redevelopment. All this flooding is really tragic, but I almost wish that idiot would have gotten Green Diamond approved so everyone could be sitting back saying, I told your dumb hotdog necked ass it was going to flood.

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Beartrkkr October 8, 2015 at 1:51 pm

It’s under water, but it’s not in the floodway, right?

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Roberto October 7, 2015 at 10:14 pm

The dams need to be removed. This is a simple matter: Nikky should have the branch responsible for public safely and slowly drain them. Who ever complains is the owner. Sue them for the current damages and hit them with repair bills.

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City of Columbia Sucks October 8, 2015 at 8:43 am

The problem is the WRONG agency inspected these dams. Since the Richland County Sheriff’s Office gives press releases about current conditions of dams, maybe THEY should have inspected them. Apparently Leon Shortman Lott is the almighty he thinks he is.

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Miss Marple October 8, 2015 at 11:34 am

This is what you get when you consider any “gub’ment regulations” as being a bad thing. The problem with the dams is that private owners don’t give a damn about safety, only the bottom line. All dams should be under regular government review, but we don’t even inspect vehicles anymore because the GOP has spent a generation teaching people that the government is their enemy. This is totally the fault of anti-government regulation conservatives. The blood is on your hands.

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