Folly Beach Initiates Projects to Combat Flooding Issues

Folly Beach Looks to Control Flooding Issues

In the coastal city of Folly Beach, South Carolina, flooding is a common issue often triggered by storms and high tides. In an attempt to mitigate this persistent problem, the city has devised several projects geared towards addressing the island’s flooding concerns.

The Center Street Project

The most anticipated among these developments is the installation of a significantly larger underground pipeline on Center Street. This substantial and overdue initiative is designed to help manage excess stormwater effectively.

Eric Lutz, Public Works Director, explained that a variety of green infrastructure constituents will be integrated into the project. This approach will prevent the stormwater from stagnating within the pipe. He further mentioned that the initiative involves many interesting concepts, including the installation of some filtration systems.

Lee Gessner, City’s Finance Director who has lived on the island for over a decade, has personally experienced the floods, especially during Nor’easter storms when Folly experienced high tides. He described the situation, saying “Center Street collected a lot of water and then some usual other side streets and main thoroughfares. It prevented people from even leaving their house without having to wade out of their front door.”

Other Areas of Concern

However, Center Street is not the single area of concern. Second Street and West Arctic, along with West Indian and Tabby Drive areas, are also being evaluated for drainage relief. “We’re pretty much focusing on the recommendations that came about with our 2020 island-wide drainage study, that was sort of the catalyst to all of these different items that we need to make some progress on,” Lutz commented about the efforts underway.

Timeline for the Center Street Project

This unprecedented Center Street project has currently reached its design and engineering phase. Lutz hinted that the construction is likely to commence in 2025 and continue into 2026. The welcoming reality is that, although true relief for the area may be a few years away, it is indeed on its way.

The efforts and coordination put into these projects are a testament to the city’s commitment to addressing and managing flooding issues that have been a long-standing trouble for the residents of Folly Beach.