Dillon County is conducting a flood management study and hazard mitigation update. The following information comes from the scope of work by AECOM, who is performing the work.

Flood Management Study
Over the past decade, the Dillon County has experienced numerous hurricanes and high-intensity rainfall events that have caused repetitive flooding of streets, residences, and businesses. This had included all areas of the County including the municipalities of Dillon, Latta, and Lake View.
On January 14, 2020, the County received a $100,000 grant from FEMA for the development of a Flood Management Study. This study will serve as an annex to the existing Dillon County Hazard Mitigation Plan and include a public involvement process that may include surveys, public meeting, and interviews. Information will additionally be obtained through field investigation. Limited hydrology and hydraulic modeling will be conducted to evaluate areas of repetitive flooding and identify potential flood mitigation solutions.
AECOM’s proposed scope of work for the Flood Management Study consists of the following tasks:
Task 1 – Public Engagement
AECOM will schedule meeting and interviews with representatives from Dillon County departments, the municipalities of Dillon, Latta, and Lake View to document institutional history of flooding issues and public needs.
Based on input received from the stakeholders, AECOM will identify critical areas of the County to be included in detailed hydrologic and hydraulic modeling.
AECOM will host a public workshop (face to face or virtual) to hear about flooding concerns from the public, develop goals and objectives, and explore alternative standpoints.
TASK 2 – Assessment of Conditions
AECOM will collect relevant base data, facility inventories, maps, aerial imagery, and previously developed storm water plans.
AECOM will observe the storm drainage system, as necessary, to identify attributes of new, replaced, or removed infrastructure, including material and condition. AECOM may verify existing conditions with field surveys and CCTV inspections. AECOM will utilize previously developed storm water construction documents (such a SCDOT plans).
AECOM will conduct an assessment of the current community characteristics and how they have evolved over the past 20 years.
Task 3 – Facility Inventory & Mapping
Task 4 – Hydrologic & Hydraulic Analysis
Task 5 -– Development of the Flood Management Study
AECOM will develop a Flood Management Study with recommendations based on the outcomes of community engagement, assessment of conditions, hydrologic & hydraulic modeling, and future land use trends. Recommendations, at a minimum, will include the following:
AECOM will conduct a qualitative assessment of flooding problem areas. This information will be prepared from interviews with County officials, complaint files, citizens’ forums, and workshops that will allow residents an opportunity to share their concerns about storm drainage, flooding and water quality. Specific areas should be identified, with a priority ranking for analysis and possible remedial actions to be recommended in the Flood Management Study.
2. AECOM will provide conceptual alternatives for ideas received during public engagement and for areas identified as not meeting the desired level and/or scope of services during the H&H analysis, including modifications to existing infrastructure and new infrastructure. Conceptual alternatives should include Green Infrastructure/Low Impact Development ideas consistent with the desired levels of commitment or explanation for deviations.
3. AECOM will combine conceptual alternatives into a prioritized capital projects list, including a ranking by importance. Considerations for ranking should include severity of the deficiently, area of impact, public safety benefits, project scale, effected individuals, properties, businesses, organizations, and other metrics deemed necessary by the AECOM and County staff to achieve the optimal level and scope of service.
4. AECOM will develop a conceptual 10-year implementation schedule for the highest priority flood mitigation projects.
5. AECOM will develop a detailed list of actions to implement the flood mitigation projects identified. The actions should include a start date, completion date, preliminary cost estimates, financing options and responsible parties.
6. AECOM will include a description of the changes necessary within the comprehensive plan, zoning ordinance, development regulations or other locally adopted plans of Dillon County to support the Flood Management Study, including a committed schedule for adopting such changes.

Hazard Mitigation
Plan
AECOM will also update the hazard mitigation plan.
The objective of this project is to develop three (3) local jurisdictions – City of Dillon, Town of Lake View, and Town of Latta. The update will cover the following hazards:
Drought, earthquake, extreme heat, flood, hailstorm, hazardous materials, hurricane and tropical storm, lightning, thunderstorm wind/high wind, tornado, wildfire, winter storm and freeze.
AECOM’s proposed Scope of Work for the project consists of the following tasks:
Task 1: Plan Development
This task includes guiding the overall process listed in preparing the plan update as required by 44 CFR201.6(b). AECOM will work closely with the local mitigation planning team in acquiring best available information and local data to support the plan update process, as needed, and in soliciting local input and feedback on the finding and draft deliverables created as part of the plan update. AECOM will work with participating jurisdictions to create the planning committee to the extent needed and send formal invitation to committee members and stakeholders. AECOM will also provide technical guidance and useful planning resources to members of the mitigation planning team throughout the plan update process as required.
Format/design revisions will be provided as needed to the Dillon County Hazard Mitigation Plan as well as writing sections of the Dillon County Hazard Mitigation Plan to meet the requirements identified 44 CFR201.6, FEMA Local Plan Guidance and the FEMA Plan Review Tool.
AECOM will assist with two public meetings as part of the planning process. For public meetings, AECOM will assist in presenting information, facilitating discussions, developing questionnaires/surveys and answering questions regarding the mitigation plan update. Public meeting must be separate from committee meetings or the governing body meeting. AECOM will also assist in coordinating with neighboring communities; local and regional agencies involved in hazard mitigation activities or in regulating community development; and businesses, academia, and other private and non-profit interests identified as stakeholders for this project. Public Meetings will be held within reasonable proximity to high flood hazard areas when possible. Participation and involvement by members of the public and targeted stakeholders will be documented as required by SCEMD and FEMA. The risk assessment tasks (Hazard ID, Hazard Profiles, Vulnerability, Structures and Losses, Development Trends) include documenting the process used in updating the plan as required by 44CFR 201.6c(1). It includes an update to the identification and analysis of those hazards posing a threat to the planning area and will update the vulnerability assessment for the area to those hazards based upon best available data and as required by 44 CFR 201.6c(2). The updated plan will include a comprehensive update to the previously completed Mitigation Action Plans for each participating jurisdiction. Each mitigation action from the previously approved plan will be evaluated and addressed in coordinating with each of the participating jurisdictions, as required. The updated plan will identify the completed, in-progress, deleted, or deferred activities from the previously approved plan as a benchmark for progress. If mitigation actions remain unchanged from the previously approved plan, the updated plan will indicate why no changes occurred and/or why changes are not necessary. Further, the updated plan will include an evaluation and prioritization of any new mitigation actions identified since the previous plan was approved or through the plan update process. Each mitigation action listed within the plan must continue to identify the lead department or person responsible for carrying out the action, a general cost estimate and potential funding sources (if necessary), and a general timeframe for implementation. AECOM will rely on the local mitigation planning team and the participating jurisdictions for assistance in making such assignments for their respective Mitigation Action Plans. AECOM will document the process used by each jurisdiction in making these assignments as required by SCEMD and FEMA mitigation planning guidance. In completing the task, AECOM will coordinate with each participating jurisdiction on collecting information for updating each jurisdiction’s individual Mitigation Action Plan through the use of standardized data collection surveys/templates that minimize the time necessary for coordination between AECOM and the mitigation planning team.
The scope of work also includes a section for plan maintenance and plan approval and adoption.
All work will be completed and final approvals received prior to the existing plan expiring on May 25, 2022.
On the Flood Management Study, Councilman Stevie Grice made a motion to accept the study, seconded by Councilman Christopher Miller. All approved the motion.
On the Hazard Mitigation Plan Update, Councilman Gerome McLeod made a motion to accept the plan, seconded by Councilman Jamal Campbell. All approved the motion.