(WPDE) — The Housing Authority of Florence has reinvested in its old building off of Pine Street in East Florence with a goal of using the property to help families in a number of ways said the building wasn't in bad shape and it was a wise investment to put it back in use for the community "It's in the center of our community And we are going to be providing a lot of services that they can benefit from MORE: 2 former students sue St. Andrews University in Laurinburg; sex offender at school Bradley said right now their using one building on the campus but will eventually renovate the other two properties Dana Rutledge is the site manager for the Residential Services One Stop Shop Rutledge said they have a number of programs to help families credit rebuilding and the Family Self-Sufficiency Program This is a place for them to find the resources that they need And we're excited to provide that," said Rutledge Several families have already enrolled in some of the programs We need to take advantage of this opportunity You can learn more about the program by clicking here: https://www.hafsc.org/ The intersection of Old Marion Highway and East Palmetto Street – where stands of trees are now – is the site of a planned 935-home subdivision A large new subdivision is the latest sign of growth in eastern Florence County FLORENCE COUNTY — A new subdivision with almost 1,000 homes is coming to the far eastern edge of Florence County The Florence County Planning Commission approved a sketch plan for the development at its December meeting The new homes — 935 in total — will be built on almost 300 acres near the intersection of Old Marion Highway and East Palmetto Street That's close to the Pee Dee River and the Marion County line The project's engineers acknowledged it would be a large subdivision but they said it would take years to construct and nothing would happen overnight told commissioners the size of homes would vary The goal would be to accommodate people with a wide array of backgrounds and incomes looking for housing A wedge of land that borders East Palmetto Street will be reserved for commercial uses while the rest of the land to the south will become residential property The development includes a planned clubhouse and playground for the community The planning commission's approval is contingent on the project passing a few more procedural hurdles and resolving safety questions The subdivision is the latest sign of growth in the eastern part of the county along S.C Residents have raised concerns that traffic has made Old Marion Highway unsafe The county embarked in an ambitious plan to rezone the Highway 76 corridor from Florence's city limits to Francis Marion University The subdivision is well beyond the planned corridor News tips/online questions: peedee@postandcourier.com Delivery/subscription questions: subserve@postandcourier.com Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Florence Flood of Westhampton Beach died peacefully in her sleep on March 2 they moved to Westhampton Beach where they founded Westhampton T-Shirts a business they successfully ran together for 42 years Affectionately known as “Flo,” she was a beloved fixture on Main Street in Westhampton Beach she touched the hearts of all who knew her she cared for and nurtured countless cats and kittens providing them with love and care before finding them new homes Her kindness and generosity will always be remembered by those who were fortunate enough to know her She is survived by her husband Jim; nieces Lisa (Ray) and Denyce (Mike); and great-nieces and great-nephews at Werner Rothwell Funeral Home in Westhampton Beach at Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church in Westhampton Beach You've read 4 of your 7 free articles this month Please log in or create an account to continue reading 2025 at Meadow View Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law David (Cristine) Hartley and Terron (Shayna) Hartley; granddaughters and Kimberly Anne Evans; and numerous great and great-great grandchildren Florence was employed by the American Visco Corporation of Lewistown She was also employed by the Foundation of the Blind where she sewed sneakers Her sewing skills further served her while being employed by the Arrow Shirt Company and the Marlet Mobil Homes where she sewed drapes She was also an avid cook and had a cookbook collection that was featured in the Lewistown Sentinel She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Lewistown In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Montrose Minute Men or the First United Methodist Church of Lewistown Copyright © 2025 Ogden Newspapers of Pennsylvania LLC | https://www.lewistownsentinel.com | 352 Sixth Street This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application 2024 at UConn John Dempsey Hospital in Farmington She was the wife of the late Albert Bryant daughter of the late Robert and Grace (Peckham) Reutenauer Bryant served her country during World War II as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army Nurse Corps She served stateside in military hospitals in Florida and Louisiana before deploying to the Philippines and the Dutch West Indies After the war she taught young mothers how to care for their infants and later served as a registered Nurse at Waterbury Hospital for 20 years Diane Bryant and Joanne Kunde and her husband Bill She will be missed by her loving grandchildren and her husband Tim; Lauren Bryant and her husband TJ Rooney; Kristen Bryant and her fiancé She will also be missed by her friend and caregiver Bryant was predeceased by her brothers George and Russell Reutenauer and playing cards with her friends at the Cheshire Senior Center She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren who looked forward to stories from her long The Bryant family would like to thank the dedicated staff of the John Dempsey Hospital for the care and compassion that they provided during her final days We would also like to thank Cheshire’s Because of the Brave a local veteran’s organization for their support in her later years Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors NY passed peacefully at Medical City Fort Worth NY to the late Harry and Lillian (Green) Shaw She remained a lifetime resident of the area and began wintering in Fort Worth TX 13 years ago to be closer to her daughter and family Florence started her career as a Medical Assistant and Family Planner in 1975 During her tenure of over 30 years Flo held a variety of positions later retiring from Oswego County Opportunities Health Division as the Coordinator of Facilitated Enrollment She enjoyed scrapbooking and had a great love for dogs:  “Halo Florence was pre-deceased by her devoted husband and soulmate James “Jim” Gardner in 2012 after having been blessed with over 48 years together She was also pre-deceased by her siblings:  Betty Meeker and David Shaw and her brother-in-law:  Hal Meeker Gardner is survived by her companion:  “Her Poppy and beloved adventurous traveling partner for the last 11 years:  Stanley Stevens of Volney NY; her children:  Cheryl (Thomas) Farrell of Fort Worth and her cousin and heart daughter:  Vanessa Moore of Fort Worth Flo is also survived by her grandchildren:  Steven Farrell Katie Richmond McCamey and several nieces and nephews especially David Meeker and Harry Meeker Print this entry Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email The Owensboro Times Kentucky passed away at Med Center in Bowling Green 1934 to the late Joseph Duke and Faye Felty Carson Florence was a member of Hartford United Methodist Church She was artistically creative and enjoyed art and cooking Rebecca (Mike) Clauson and Mary Ann (Kevin) Wilson; grandchildren and Laura (Craig) McKenna; and 4 great-grandchildren Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery in Hartford Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home from 11:00 until time of service Online condolences may be sent to bevilbrosfuneralhomes.com Privacy Policy Site by Tanner+West (WPDE) — The Florence Police Department responded to a reported structure fire at 417 Kemp Street in East Florence Several fire units saw smoke upon arriving at the scene Crews promptly conducted a search of the structure to verify that the occupants were not in the structure MORE: Nichols structure fire under control The fire was under control within 10 minutes of arrival and no injuries to civilians or responders were reported Fire officials say an electric issue is the likely cause FPD asks everyone "to make sure heating sources are at least three feet away from combustibles plugged directly into a wall outlet and that your home has working smoke alarms." (WPDE) — A groundbreaking ceremony took place Wednesday for the Cheney Brothers 386,047 food distribution facility on Harllee Boulevard at the Pee Dee Commerce City East Industrial Park in Florence County The $66 million investment was initially said to bring roughly 200 new jobs to Florence County the company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Byron Russell said during the ceremony they will need to hire between 600 to 700 people to be fully staffed South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster was on hand for the event McMaster praised Florence County's workforce for being so strong that companies are located in the county South Carolina has a reputation for its people The facility will include 45 loading docks and the largest culinary kitchen the company has developed to date TRENDING: 'I want to clear this up:' McColl councilman addresses police force resignations located on nearly 50 acres in the Pee Dee Commerce City East Industrial Park across I-95 near Buc-ee's will be the company's first in South Carolina The new distribution center will provide means for the broad-line distributor to significantly expand its reach in the region "This new distribution center in Florence will allow Cheney Brothers to enhance our customer service and obtain a higher level of customer satisfaction," states Byron Russell "The support we have received from the State of South Carolina and the local communities has been tremendous." "We're thrilled to be partnering with Cheney Brothers to develop a facility of this magnitude and complexity," explains A.M "Our history of successful projects for CBI along our depth and breadth of food industry expertise is a broad-line food distributor that delivers more than 16,000 different products throughout the Southeast region of the United States and in more than 100 countries Cheney Brothers employs more than 3,800 individuals and reports annual revenues exceeding $3.2 billion Schofield said 2024 has been a really good year for the county with the announcement of 3,000 new jobs by way of different companies located in Florence County "We are immensely grateful for Cheney Brothers' trust and investment in Florence County," explains Florence County Council Chairman William Schofield "We are confident that their presence will reflect the success of the thriving companies already here creating jobs and making a lasting impact on our community This partnership marks an exciting chapter in our journey toward growth and prosperity." Construction will start in the coming weeks and is expected to be finished in early 2026 (WPDE) — The Florence County Planning Commission has given the green light to sketch plan approval for a project that could create a subdivision containing more than 900 new homes The commission took up the matter last month The proposed site is located just shy of 300 acres on East Palmetto Street in Florence TRENDING: Darlington Co. mother begins New Year grieving the the loss of her only two sons Documents show the applicant as Ervin Engineering Co either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content Cameras have started rolling on the new Netflix limited series inspired by John Steinbeck's 1952 novel and some sneaky previews from the set have begun circulating on social media Florence Pugh and Christopher Abbott have been spotted in full hair and makeup in character as Cathy Ames and Adam Trask Florence Pugh and Christopher Abbott as Cathy Ames and Adam Trask on the set of the ‘EAST OF EDEN’ limited series. https://t.co/DQDrJ2pVrL Florence Pugh on the set of the ‘EAST OF EDEN’ limited series. https://t.co/bpSrJWlJY4 Pugh dons a floor-length deep blue skirt and blazer-style jacket combination Production was said to have commenced in October 2024, as per Netflix who announced that the seven-episode limited series from writer and executive producer Zoe Kazan would be shot across locations in New Zealand The project has sentimental roots for Kazan whose grandfather is the two-time Oscar-winning Elia Kazan "In the process of bringing this family saga to life the resonance of my own familial connection to the material has not been lost on me." East of Eden takes place predominately in the Salinas Valley in California at the end of World War I and is said to be a re-telling of the Bible tale of Cain and Abel The narrative alternates between California and Massachusetts and travels back to the American Civil War telling the story of three primary characters Garth Davis and Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre share director duties with Davis helming episodes one to four and Clermont-Tonnerre on episodes five to seven Kazan's joined by executive producers Zack Hayden and Garth Davis with Florence Pugh serving as a co-producer Netflix's Vice President of Scripted Series at Netflix told Netflix that "Zoe's thoughtful and artistic vision pays homage to her grandfather's revered film adaptation while beautifully honoring and introducing new audiences to a true canon of American literature." East of Eden does not yet have a release date Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all deliver knock-out blows while reprising the part of Marvel’s deliciously deadpan Yelena Belova in Thunderbolts* And she’s not stopping there—Netflix has now confirmed that she’ll also be taking center stage in a hotly-anticipated new series based on a literary classic: the sweeping seven-part reimagining of John Steinbeck’s 1952 magnum opus will “explore the multigenerational saga of the Trask family,” farmers who settle in California’s Salinas Valley in the early 20th century “focusing new attention on its indelible antihero Cathy is depicted as evil incarnate—a swooningly beautiful blonde who is fully aware of the power she has over people As a teenager she burns down her family home killing her parents; entrances and then marries the novel’s hero Charles; gets pregnant and unsuccessfully attempts to abort it; and flees her family soon after giving birth to twins shooting her husband in the shoulder when he attempts to stop her transforming it into a den of sexual sadism Her story eventually ends with her committing suicide It’s a meaty part that a number of formidable actors have gotten their teeth into in the past: Jo Van Fleet won a best-supporting-actress Oscar for playing Cathy in Elia Kazan’s 1955 East of Eden while Bond girl Jane Seymour snagged a Golden Globe nod for her own saucy portrayal in a 1981 miniseries give Cathy more space than ever before—and actually flesh out her backstory and motivations in a way that the book never truly manages to As we’ve come to expect from the streaming giant the supporting cast is stellar—Poor Things’s Christopher Abbott as Adam the Trask family’s Chinese-American servant alongside Pugh’s Cathy—as is the behind-the-scenes team Zoe Kazan—the actor best known for her work in The Big Sick who penned the Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal-led Wildlife with her partner and who also happens to be Elia Kazan’s granddaughter—is spearheading the adaptation and will serve as showrunner alongside Jeb Stuart Lion’s Garth Davis and Lady Chatterley’s Lover’s Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre will split directing duties and Pugh has signed on as an executive producer So, bring on the windswept landscapes and intricate costuming—and the inevitable Emmys. Here's everything we know about the show And now we can add East of Eden to the list East of Eden follows "the multi-generational Trask family saga explored from the perspective of the standout female character Cathy Ames," according to TUDUM The story ranges from the Civil War to World War I and mainly revolves around brothers Adam and Charles This Great American Novel deals with everything from guilt and freedom to love and acceptance with the consistent desire for greatness that a lot of Americans feel at one point in their life or another The seven-part TV show will be written by Zoe Kazan (She Said) whose grandfather Elia Kazan wrote the script for the original 1955 movie adaptation “In the process of bringing this family saga to life the resonance of my own familial connection to the material has not been lost on me,” Kazan told TUDUM and free — that has kept me enthralled by East of Eden since I first read the book as a young teen.” “Zoe’s thoughtful and artistic vision pays homage to her grandfather's revered film adaptation while beautifully honoring and introducing new audiences to a true canon of American literature,” Peter Friedlander Netflix's Vice President of Scripted Series said creative force and we can not wait for everyone to see what she and Jeb alongside the brilliant cast led by Florence Pugh Marleen Moise/Victor Boyko/Robert Okine/Getty Images The East of Eden cast has some of the best contemporary actors around John-Mark Smith/Pexels East of Eden is coming to Netflix soon, and the New Zealand Herald reports the show's aiming for an "early 2026 release." Check back here for more news on the official release date Aneta Hartmannová/Pexels Stay tuned for the latest East of Eden news, and if you're still thinking about Flo's stint in We Live in Time, check out why The We Live in Time Ending Is Actually More Hopeful Than Heartbreaking (WPDE) — East National Cemetery Road in Florence has been shut down between Stockade Drive and Noisy Lane due to a structural fire Community members tell ABC 15 that the old Shingles nightclub is on fire Emergency Management officials ask that you please allow extra time for travel and use an alternate route How should Europe navigate a renewed conflict in the Middle East Visegrad Insight sat down with Florence Gaub Director of the Research Division at the NATO Defense College in Rome and an acclaimed security expert leading foresight-based analysis of international relations to discuss the shifting geopolitical alignments and consequences of the Middle East on the brink of war Florence Gaub explains that the current cycle of violence between Israel and its adversaries is not unique but highlights three significant differences from previous cycles: the rise of social media heightened public sensitivity owing to fatigue from the Ukraine conflict and a changed geopolitical landscape where global powers like Russia and China now side more openly with Palestinians she suggests that while the conflict could escalate there remains a chance for diplomacy to de-escalate tensions Europe’s position and interests could become even more precarious By subscribing or donating now gain access to analysis forecasts and scenarios by leading analysts and reporters who monitor democratic risks and develop policy debate from Central Europe on Central Europe For a tailor-made offer email us: contact@visegradinsight.eu  Intelligence prepared by a group of Visegrad Insight Fellows from all across You will receive a receipt immediately after purchase and a VAT invoice upon request Yes. The payment is processed by STRIPE www.stripe.com entrusted also by Amazon Booking.com and used by other global NGOs and businesses in the world At any moment you can manage your subscription and account details Weekly updates with our latest articles and the editorial commentary The US Redraws Economic Security: Partnerships Must be Backed by Force – EDITORIAL Bulgaria’s Evolving Foreign Policy- COMMENTARY Why Even Polish Liberals Think Zelenskyy Should Change His Strategy Korčok’s Call for China Cooperation Dangerous for Europe – COMMENTARY The main Central European analysis and media platform Visegrad Insight generates future policy directions for Europe and transatlantic partners Established in 2012 by the Res Publica Foundation  Reverend Hines matriculated through Florence School District One He attended Holmes Elementary School and Wilson Jr He was also an extremely proud graduate of the 1965 class of Wilson High School he was actively involved in many organizations he served as the Student Government Association President he graduated from Allen University with a B.A Degree in History Hines earned a Bachelor of Divinity Degree from Morris College followed by a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Hood Theological Seminary in 2005  Reverend Hines always knew that he would be a preacher The early part of his preparation was becoming a member of Salem United Methodist Church at a very early age he eventually accepted the call into ministry He later became a member of Elizabeth Baptist Church refining his ministerial skills under the steady influence of the late Reverend Solomon Eaddy Sr he achieved his first pastorate at Fork Chapel Baptist Church (Dillon  · Sellers Chapel Baptist Church-Dillon  · Mount Zion Baptist Church-Bennettsville This year marked the beginning of his 40th year of service at the church Hines led numerous revivals that stirred the hearts and souls of thousands of Christians Reverend Hines held various significant positions in the ministry He served as Past Secretary of the South Carolina Baptist E & M Convention Assistant Secretary of the National Baptist Convention and Moderator of the Pee Dee Baptist Association Hines was an equally ardent servant of his community he became the first African American to represent House Seat 59 in the South Carolina House of Representatives He was the founder and president of the Mullins Area Ministerial Alliance He served as the first chairman of the Pee Dee Investor's Group He was also one of the founders of the Wilson Clergy-which awarded scholarships to graduates of his beloved Wilson High School He also held active memberships in the following masonic organizations: Pee Dee Consistory #197 Pride of West Temple #301 Order of Eastern Stars  Reverend Hines was also a staunch advocate for education He served as an educator in Florence School District One for 12 years He also served two terms on the Morris College Board of Trustees he served as vice-chairman and chairman of the board of trustees he became the first and only person to raise $1,000,000 for this institution Hines received many accolades because of his service to others He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree for outstanding leadership in the state of South Carolina from Morris College he was presented with the honor of the Order of the Palmetto by Governor Mark Sanford following 12 years of service in the South Carolina House of Representatives He is also a member of the Morris College Hall of Fame and Wilson High School Hall of Fame The South Carolina General Assembly named a portion of Highway 76 in Marion County as “Representative Mack T Hines Early Head Start Center was named in honor of his years of service as the director of the Pee Dee Community Action Partnership transitional shelter Reverend Hines was united in holy matrimony with the former Gladys Jackson of Darlington This union produced three children-Mack III  Left to cherish Reverend Hines’ memory are his wife South Carolina; five bonus daughters: Deatrice Robertson of Gibson North Carolina; Niambi (Jermain) Lacy of Greensboro He is also survived by five grandchildren: Michael T South Carolina; four brothers-in-law: Roosevelt Dudley of Elizabethtown and Alphonsa Hough and Elijah Cannon of Darlington Hines will also be lovingly remembered by a host of nieces Family will receive friends daily from 2 PM - 8 PM at the home.  Please keep the family of Reverend Doctor Mack Torise Hines The deputy who shot the man has been placed on administrative leave The man's name hasn't been released at this time ABC15 is working to learn when autopsy results will be released on his body to determine a cause and manner of death The State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is investigating the shooting but hasn't released any information at this time READ MORE: Body found in Williamsburg Co. connected to shooting near Lake City Joye said a chase followed the shooting and the suspect ran inside of a home red car and a mobile home sealed off in yellow crime scene tape The car had been involved in a chase with the deputy and crashed near the home Highway Patrol is investigating what led up to the crash SLED will release any additional information or comments regarding the shooting a Florence County Sheriff's deputy attempted a traffic stop on Palmetto Street the vehicle reportedly did not stop and eventually crashed into a home on East National Cemetery Road identified by Florence County Coroner Keith von Lutcken as William Dwayne Rankin GALLERY: Videos & photos show plane landing on Highway 501 the deputy and an FCSO K9 followed him into the home where they found Rankin along with a second individual The K9 then reportedly bit the second person He was taken to the hospital by EMS where he succumbed to his injuries and the person bit by the K9 was taken to a medical center for treatment the deputy who shot the man has been placed on administrative leave Lutcken said an autopsy is scheduled for Saturday morning at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston this is the 18th officer-involved shooting in South Carolina in 2024 and the first officer-involved shooting for the Florence County Sheriff's Office this year (WPDE) — Crews responded to a house fire along the 400 block of Howard Street in East Florence Monday afternoon According to Chris Johnson with the Florence Fire Department (FFD) when crews arrived they found heavy smoke showing from the front of the home TOP STORY: Man sentenced to 36 years in Hartsville mass shooting at Mac's Lounge and a second engine was called in to assist with the fire Crews had it under control one hour after arriving on scene and the cause of the fire is undetermined by FFD Neighbors said you could all the black smoke billowing in the air from as far as the Martin Luther King rundown motel on Highway 76 in East Florence is coming down according to Florence City Administrator Randy Osterman Osterman said the acquisition of the property became a possibility in late 2021 and recognizing the opportunity to improve a significant gateway entrance into Florence the city worked closely with three great partners to address a corridor concern that had been highlighted in master plans for decades Bruce and Lee Foundation and McLeod Health A news release said Florence County Council approved funding to help cover a significant portion of the costs associated with demolition and City Council has dedicated additional funding to assist with these costs as well as provide for the expansion of Levy Park and associated gateway improvements NEW: 911 calls released in Florence crash with kids trapped in submerged SUV The City of Florence will own and accept future responsibilities for maintenance of the property when it's demolished Many people in the East Florence community said they're thankful the city is finally doing something with the property They should have done something a long time ago it's been a long time coming," said Eyvette Haynesworth A news release said the importance of the "E Palmetto Street gateway and recognize that redevelopment and beautification efforts at this location will create a better and more appealing entrance to Florence for travelers coming from Florence Regional Airport Francis Marion University and Myrtle Beach and for newcomers or new businesses desiring to relocate to the area The removal of the existing blighted property and park expansion will also enhance neighborhood beautification and the quality of life for the surrounding neighborhoods." from mobile home lots to the Florence Regional Airport Florence County officials hope a new plan will change that Officials hope that introducing more defined signage can improve the character of the U.S 76 corridor and create a sense of identity Florence County has identified three “catalyst nodes” to build a plan around FLORENCE COUNTY GATEWAY 76’S PROJECT: Florence County is planning an ambitious project to rezone a swath of the U.S 76 gateway into Florence to improve the corridor Florence County is launching an ambitious project to reshape the eastern corridor into Florence the corridor from McLeod Health to Francis Marion University has been peppered with weedy motels crumbling businesses and vacant lots hemmed in by barbed wire “This side of Florence has always been the last on everybody’s list,” said Brandon Rawlinson a business owner who has lived and worked in the area for years A recent report described the corridor as a “passthrough rather than a place.” That’s about to change — or at least officials hope it is With the introduction of major developments like Buc-ee’s and the electric vehicle battery plant economic development and planning officials expect to see East Palmetto Street take off Florence County is embarking on an ambitious project to reshape the eastern gateway into Florence and control the projected development The first step is a complex set of new zoning rules designed to improve how U.S The rules paint a picture of Eastern Florence as a bustling commercial area with people walking down the block beneath shade trees visiting restaurants and retail stores that boast new While the new regulations won’t immediately affect existing businesses they will shape what Eastern Florence looks like for years to come which has historically left most properties unzoned But the hands-on approach is necessary as residents deal with the positives and negatives of rapid growth “We have a lot of unzoned areas,” said Gregg Robinson CEO of the Florence County Economic Development Partnership “And we have to work with the people in the community to ensure that they get the right growth that they want.” A poor first impressionFor many visitors to Florence 76 gateway is their first impression of the city Officials often describe greeting potential investors at the Florence Regional Airport and then ushering them out the back to avoid exposing them to the run-down corridor The roadway features a confusing array of homes and businesses: restaurants and filling stations An elementary school stands next to a highway patrol office and an RV park there’s another business selling used cars or mobile homes The corridor also is home to staples of Florence life: the Florence Flea Market, the decades-old Sunrise Drive-In Restaurant and Memorial Stadium It’s bookended by McLeod Health and Francis Marion University According to a report commissioned by the county “land has developed in a somewhat haphazard manner with some property owners taking great pride of ownership while others do the absolute minimum required.” the roadway is neither attractive nor inviting “I wouldn’t say it’s the best-looking road in Florence or anything like that,” said Brandon Sawyer a Southern lifestyle clothing store near the Florence Flea Market he can’t remember the corridor changing much because the corridor plays a key role in visitors’ introduction to Florence The highway is often trafficked by investors and as we continue to represent Florence as the hub of the Pee Dee we’ve got to clean those major corridors up,” Robinson said But when AESC announced in 2023 that it would build a multibillion-dollar facility just north of the highway It’s not just the plant itself — a more than 3 million-square-foot “gigafactory” that promises to employ 2,700 people The factory will likely attract numerous other businesses and workers Many of the workers may want to live nearby They’ll seek out subdivisions being built in surrounding farmland With homes come groceries and retail stores “With the introduction of the battery plant It’s really going to take off,” said Shawn Brashear improving the city’s gateways has become a major priority for the city of Florence and county In 2021, the city tore down a hotel off East Palmetto Street that they labeled a nuisance. In late 2022, the city formed a committee to look specifically at enhancing the corridor. Just recently, officials announced an $18 million project to revitalize nearby Levy Park They hope the work will be the spark the area needs The county hopes the rezoning project can shape that growth more effectively giving the corridor an identifiable character in the same way that Florence’s historic downtown district is a distinct area “What we’ve got on 76 now is just a hodgepodge,” Brashear said Robinson pointed to Highway 51 near the Medical University of South Carolina’s Florence campus as an example of what it could look like in the future The alternative could be a messy patchwork — a collection of businesses that don’t mix well A restaurant and a junkyard wouldn’t go well together Robinson said the proposed rules will give the county a leg up as it tries to attract high-value commercial uses Simple things — like removing some of the overhead wires or planting medians with trees — can increase the appeal of investing in the area you can make sure that you really capture a lot of the significant higher-end growth that everyone would like to see,” Robinson said Brashear acknowledged the new requirements will be more complicated and time-consuming But he said it’s worth it to ensure the county can grow responsibly But it will result in a much better environment,” he said the rubber is finally hitting the road as county officials unveil plans to reshape U.S Brashear said both staff and residents are anxious to see what happens as the county begins to take a new approach to guiding development staff have come up with three areas that will serve as the first seeds for the new plan Those areas are the Pee Dee Regional Airport Francis Marion University and the intersection of U.S 76 and Freedom Boulevard — where the Florence Flea Market is located The county is slowly passing a set of ordinances to rezone those areas and implement new rules Brashear said the county wants to have all of that work done within a year Foundational to the county’s plan will be a new set of highly detailed rules about what is allowed and what isn’t — all the way down to the color of a building’s signage The city used a similar strategy as it reshaped downtown Florence These rules will encompass properties that front U.S They will allow the county to prohibit certain businesses manufactured home sales and sand or gravel stockpiles They also spell out certain design do’s and don’ts unfinished concrete blocks won’t be allowed along the corridor earth tone or otherwise relate to appropriate historic building colors fluorescent and intense colors are prohibited landscaping such as trees and bushes must total at least 10 percent of the paved area Those rules will apply immediately to new development That means homes or businesses already established in the area will be allowed to proceed as normal if a property owner seeks to change the property’s use they will have to comply with the new rules someone who wants to turn a gas station into a restaurant would have to fall in line with the new requirements That means that the county’s plan may take years — even decades — to start making a difference It also presents challenges as officials reconcile their ideal use for a property with what’s already there Brashear said the county is exploring incentives to encourage property owners to adapt to the new rules sooner rather than later What those incentives will look like isn’t clear “Nothing’s gonna happen overnight,” Brashear said Some local business owners are cautiously optimistic Sawyer said he welcomes the interest in the area but he worries that the requirements might be too complicated Across the road at Booty Brothers Western and Work Boots whose family has owned Booty Brothers for 51 years is in favor of cleaning up the area and engaging in some beautification projects he chafes against the government telling him what to do — even if he agrees it’s what needs to be done especially from a business owner’s standpoint But that doesn’t mean I think they should do it,” he said He worries the stringent zoning requirements will make it harder for local businesses to get up and running people complain when the county won’t let them do what they want with their land they’re desperate for help when their neighbors are doing something they don’t like — like opening a dog kennel in a residential neighborhood the county has few options to control development A patch of farmland can be turned into a subdivision A business can be built in a residential neighborhood A strip club could be built across from the airport “You know the saying a fence makes good neighbors?” Brashear asked While Brashear emphasized that he respects property rights and that the county doesn’t want to force anyone to do anything he’s hoping the new rules will encourage new developments that improve the character of the area 76 will begin to feel like more of a place — and less of a passthrough East Florence’s Levy Park will see major changes in the coming years after city officials announced it had obtained the funding for an $18 million project East Florence’s Levy Park will receive an $18 million upgrade Local leaders said it is the next step in revitalizing the historically neglected neighborhood FLORENCE — Levy Park will receive a major $18 million upgrade part of what officials described as a “transformational” project to revitalize the historically neglected neighborhood of East Florence The Levy Park Reimagination Project could involve a wide range of improvements — everything from new sports fields to a dog park to a splash pad A conceptual plan prepared by the city may change depending on community feedback the project represents a large investment in what is one of Florence’s poorest “I hope it gives some hope to people,” said J a City Council member who represents the area Smith helped spearhead the project alongside council member George Jebaily Both men said it took many people to get the project off the ground A group of leaders gathered at Levy Park on April 1 to celebrate the announcement that the city has been approved to receive $9 million in federal grant funding to complete the redevelopment “It took a lot of people coming together to make this happen,” Jebaily said Predominantly Black and with a reputation as a high-crime area the neighborhood around Levy Park boasts a 60 percent poverty rate But it was once a bustling community at the heart of Florence “It’s an opportunity to bring attention to an area and a people that want what everybody else does,” Allie Brooks said of the plan Brooks is a former Florence 1 Schools superintendent and McLeod Health board member who grew up playing in the park Brooks said East Florence has a long history of being a hotspot of African American businesses and leaders He hopes the park’s redevelopment can change that — giving the community something to rally around and providing top-notch facilities that will attract not just neighbors Redevelopment of Levy Park builds on other revitalization efforts in East Florence such as demolishing dilapidated homes and building new ones The park will help revitalize the Highway 76 corridor from Francis Marion University into Florence “I think this is something we can be proud of,” Smith said The park redevelopment has been years in the making Bruce and Lee Foundation and Florence County — purchased and demolished a dilapidated hotel on East Palmetto Street known for being a place for illicit activity The destruction of the building paved the way for the expansion of the park council members announced they planned to completely redevelop the area — if they could get the funding The funding came through on March 27 when the U.S Department of the Interior announced the Levy Park project would be one of 14 that it intends to award funding to through the National Park Service’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership The grant amount will be nearly $9 million The rest of the money will be provided by a list of other funders the city convened each of whom have chipped in to pay for the upgrades A private donor led the way with an anonymous $3 million donation Duke Energy and the Florence County Convention & Visitors Bureau The city of Florence is paying $3.7 million for the project part of which was allocated as part of state appropriations Elected officials said they hope to see construction begin sometime in 2025 (WPDE) — The Florence County Planning Commission is reviewing findings from a study on the Highway 76 East Corridor in and around the Florence Regional Airport and Francis Marion University The county is looking to grow the area and make it more attractive at the same time "The whole purpose of the study is to try to determine what positive growth we would like to see in each of those three nodes Smart growth in those areas," said Florence County Administrator Kevin Yokim The findings from the study are listed on the Florence County website Officials said the study focused on the "balance between growth and the community’s desires for the future." and comfort for all modes of transportation coupled with the impact on adjoining land uses and the unique character of the area The 76 gateway corridor study final report summarized the strategic planning and design approach composed of five key steps: Yokim said now the planning commission is working on ways to grow the area Yokim said he thinks the changes and improvements will help with economic development Many community members are excited about the findings from the study and what's to come from it they want the county and city to enforce any ordinances that deal with dilapidated properties Several people said there are too many eyesores along Highway 76 East that make it unattractive and less likely to grow READ MORE:Horry County sees most HOA complaints filed in South Carolina They said it's just too much traffic in that area and an overall cleanup of the corridor could help boost economic development It's a lot of traffic on down through here especially coming from the airport The study's findings can be viewed here A Daily News Service of the North Carolina Coastal Federation More Articles More Articles More Articles More Articles More Articles 10/16/2023 by Special Report: Hurricane Florence five years ago forced new thinking about adaptation and resiliency especially in North Carolina’s most vulnerable coastal areas 10/12/2023 by Special report: Five years after Hurricane Florence battered and drenched Down East Carteret County 10/10/2023 by New series: The Down East Resilience Network brought together state agency representatives residents and advocates for a two-day community conversation on changes Down East since the 2018 Category 1 storm and how to prepare for the next Winner of seven North Carolina Press Association awards in 2024. © 2025 North Carolina Coastal Federation. All rights reserved.↑ (WPDE) — Leaders with a Pee Dee homeless shelter believe a lack of affordable housing is one of the leading causes of homelessness A Florence pastor is stepping up to help those who are struggling to find their permanent home had his dream come true in September with the opening of Hope Village which is a transitional housing subdivision for people in need TOP STORY: Council votes to demolish Myrtle Beach hotel with history of drug sales, prostitution Pastor Devon Long of Prayer Tabernacle Church has been working to bring the project to other parts of Florence "A family is about one paycheck away from being homeless," said Long He said he was inspired to build a village of his own called The Refuge in East Florence "Everything that a family would need to have some sense of home was there and we found that to be more economical," said Long Long reached out to Braddock to discuss the building process and eventually was gifted one of the original tiny home models Braddock said it's about paying it forward READ MORE: Man shares story of finding Myrtle Beach barrel 3,000 miles away on Ireland oceanfront "Nobody has got the market cornered on meeting all the needs of the homeless it's a team effort and we were happy to team up with Pastor Long," said Braddock The 2020 South Carolina State of Homelessness report said the Pee Dee and the Grand Strand reported 1,178 sheltered and unsheltered people Florence County ranked third with 184 people Both Braddock and Long believe these tiny home communities will be the difference in creating permanent change "We're not just looking for short-term solutions to helping the homeless in our community We're looking for a long-term solution," said Braddock "Let's put something together to get ahead of homelessness so we can curve that statistic," said Long Braddock also serves as a City Councilman for Florence and believes the city can play a role in this effort by making spaces available for more tiny homes in the future Long said he hopes to complete phase one of the refuge by next October This will be a three-phase project that will help meet the needs of the elderly and those recently paroled Long said he plans to build more than 30 tiny homes (WPDE) — Firefighters are responding to a house fire Tuesday afternoon on Pine Street in East Florence Florence Fire Department Fire Marshal Chris Johnson says the house was abandoned Community members are saying the fire looks pretty bad Some people say you can see smoke all the way up to McLeod Regional Medical Center The Florence Fire Department has been contacted for additional information The Family Interactive feature enhances An Amazing Life Authorized family members can securely access their loved one's memorial website settings at any time Please enter the name and email details so that we can send your friend a link to the online tribute No names or addresses will be collected by using this service Provide comfort for the family by sending flowers or planting a tree in memory of Florence J Please enter your question / comment below: A receipt has been emailed to the address provided Provide comfort for the family of Florence J "Flo" Conley with a meaningful gesture of sympathy Agreement with Policy and Continued Use of Site Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in this book PLEASE NOTE: The reproduction of any copyrighted images is forbidden without express written permission from the copyright holder any image in violation of any copyright laws you will receive two daily updates containing all new stories one week prior to the anniversary of death The email will only serve as a reminder should you choose to connect with the family at what will no doubt be a difficult time Please select your relationship to the deceased and add your email address before submitting (WPDE) — Police are at the scene of a wreck Tuesday morning at South Church Street and National Cemetery Road in East Florence One viewer told us the traffic is moving very slow around it We've contacted Florence Police to get more information about the crash We will bring you more details as soon as they are made available to us An official website of the United States government Hurricane Florence was still a dangerous Category 3 storm with 125 mph sustained winds as it continued to move closer to the coast of the Southeastern U.S This geocolor image from NOAA's GOES East satellite shows Florence's well-defined eye and outermost cloud bands as it approached the Outer Banks of North Carolina at 10:45 a.m The center of the storm was expected to make landfall along the coast of the Carolinas early Friday morning Florence was located about 435 miles southeast of Wilmington North Carolina and moving northwest at around 16 mph Hurricane-force winds extended up to 70 miles from the center of the storm and soon began reaching the coast of the Carolinas Hurricane warnings were in effect across the entire North Carolina coast and parts of northern South Carolina while flash flood watches extended inland away from the coast in both states The National Hurricane Center warned that Florence would slow down considerably late Thursday into Friday as it made landfall elevating the risk of "life-threatening storm surge" along the coast and high potential for catastrophic flooding as the storm dumped "heavy and excessive rainfall" across the Carolinas provides coverage of the Western Hemisphere the Atlantic Ocean and the eastern Pacific The satellite's high-resolution Advanced Baseline Imager provides optimal viewing of severe weather events In the unincorporated community of Florence-Firestone, AMCAL Multi-Housing, Inc. is wrapping up construction at a $48-million affordable housing complex The project, located at 1600 E. Florence Avenue consists of a five-story building which will offer 109 apartments above 10,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and parking.  Per a 2018 staff report to the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee the apartment complex will include a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments priced for households earning between 40 and 60 percent of the area median income.  Rents would range from $509 to $1,309 per month VTBS Architects designed the project which is composed of four levels of wood-frame construction above a concrete podium.  In addition to housing the development will include a 2,000-square-foot workforce development center on its ground floor Completion of the new apartment complex is on pace to occur this year The development site is located less than a block north of Firestone Phoenix, a smaller supportive housing complex now being built by A Community of Friends AMCAL is either in the midst of construction pre-development at additional affordable housing projects in Historic South-Central, Pomona, and Long Beach Looking for affordable housing? Visit lahousing.lacity.org/aahr Click here for additional affordable housing resources Lloyd Ashbury “Robbie” Ashley was born February 15 Gertrude Elizabeth Gregg Ashley-Taylor and the late Mr South Carolina and attended Wilson High School as a part of the Class of ’86 he was known as “Robbie,” and to his East Florence family as “LA”  Lloyd was a career cook and known as the “Grill Master” around Florence and for his family  He was last employed at Stefano’s Italian Restaurant of Florence Lloyd leaves to cherish his memories: three sisters Charon Taylor-Person (Najee′) of Florence South Carolina and Wanda Ashley of Columbia Arthur Kevin Taylor (Maxine) of Bridgeport Reverend Louis (Stephanie) Ashley of Florence  Joey  (Krystle) Taylor and Timmy Taylor (Stephine); six great nieces; three great nephews; one great-grand niece; host of family of the Grainger-Gregg-Burns Family Reunion; a friend for life Pamela May (Pam Mae) and his East Florence family Please keep the family of Lloyd Ashbury Ashley in your thoughts and prayers A block west of Metro's Florence Station, AMCAL Multi-Housing, Inc. is in the midst of construction on a low-income housing project The Florence Apartments located on a County-owned property at 1600-1616 E will consist of a five-story edifice featuring 109 residential units atop parking and approximately 10,000 square feet of street-fronting commercial uses The podium-type development will offer a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments upon completion.  According to a staff report to the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee the under-construction apartments will cater to households earning at or below 40 and 60 percent of the area median income with rents ranging from $509 to $1,309 per month VTBS Architects designed the contemporary low-rise structure which is slated to include an approximately 2,000-square-foot workforce development center on its ground floor AMCAL financed the nearly $48-million project in part with Affordable Housing Sustainable Community funds according to its website.  Completion is anticipated in 2020 AMCAL's project may represent the future of Florence Avenue following a recent update to the Florence-Firestone Community Plan.  The new plan, which was adopted in September 2019 establishes mixed-use zoning along Florence Avenue A block south of Florence Avenue, non-profit developer A Community of Friends broke ground on a $24-million supportive housing development in November 2019 Interested in finding affordable housing? Visit housing.lacity.org Second in a series Aerial photographs that capture ghost forests pilings jutting up from the water in Hatteras Inlet and oceanfront homes with waves lapping at the front steps were hanging in the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center on Harkers Island in late June 2018 as part of a multimedia exhibit showing climate-related change “Rising: Perspectives of Change along the North Carolina Coast,” featuring 15 photographs accompanied by firsthand accounts was on display when Hurricane Florence lingered over eastern North Carolina just a few months later in mid-September amplifying and exacerbating the changes focused on in the exhibit.  In the very room where the exhibit survived the storm its co-creator Ryan Stancil and a gathering of Down East residents community leaders and academics in September revisited that scene from five years ago when the storm hit and then Barbara Garrity Blake had collected the oral histories to accompany Baxter Miller’s photography for the exhibit funded by North Carolina Sea Grant this world changed swiftly,” Stancil said Sept 13 to those participating in the two-day community conversation coordinated by the Down East Resilience Network advocates and others invested in adaptation and resilience was formed three years ago to raise awareness of the environmental changes taking place in the region “Florence sank her teeth into Down East – gnashing at the banks shoving water up through the marsh and into the 13 unincorporated villages,” Stancil continued “She dumped nearly 30 inches of rain and left in her wake damage and flooding like we’ve never seen business at a standstill and livelihoods in jeopardy.” The North Carolina coast is spectacular! When you purchase a North Carolina Coastal Federation license plate, you help keep our coast healthy and beautiful, and support the nonprofit journalism you’re reading now. Learn more People Down East were battered and bruised self-reliant and resilient,” and in the days “So much has changed since Florence came ashore,” Stancil said we were asking what was happening around us Stancil said that the museum’s executive director has said that “Rising” had inspired the community conversation ‘Rising’ might play a small part in why we’re here today today’s conversation was inevitable,” he continued “There is a different sort of storm brewing – one of eroding shorelines And Down East is smack-dab in the middle of that storm’s path,” Stancil said “The people who live here aren’t the only ones who know it.” Down East has attracted the attention of most of the state’s academic institutions and state agencies and there’s at least a dozen research projects taking place in the communities “I’m grateful to see the interest and engagement of so many researchers as we all work to open doors of communication We must work together to better understand the science and its intersection with place and people and policy I believe the work we are doing here today can be a foundation for resilience building in unincorporated communities across North Carolina and beyond,” he said The fishing industry is having to navigate changes in water quality development and once-reliable species migrating said he had been told several times long ago by an Ocracoke fisherman that fish populations are controlled by natural cycles and are influenced by climatic events — hurricanes droughts — many things that are in the natural world that affect these fish over and above regulations by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries Fish also are influenced by environmental factors like pollution When you have a big rainstorm in coastal North Carolina herbicides and fertilizers wash off the farmland into sounds and rivers owner of Harkers Island’s Core Sound Oyster Co. said one of the biggest challenges on the coast he’s seeing is development and hardened shorelines are an effective way to protect the coast and promote resilience Tyler said there’s a marshy property a half-mile from the water under development in Carteret County that he knows won’t perk Tyler said he didn’t know how that could be allowed “And then I asked one of the guys who built the home down here ‘When you know the right developer and you got enough money anything can be done.’ That conversation was about six weeks ago,” Tyler said in mid-September Adding that the commercial fishing industry “always get blamed for everything,” Tyler said it’s not responsible for all the coastal environmental damage I’m not saying that we don’t bear some burden there It’s the people coming in here backfilling these marshes and destroying the ecosystem Tyler said his frustration with regulatory agencies encouraged him to transition to oyster farming to keep himself on the water and instill in his son the proud Down East heritage Raleigh’s Locals Seafood Market owner and co-founder Ryan Speckman said he’s seen the shrimp fishery change since 2010 and the company has been having a hard time getting the popular bottom fish — snapper triggerfish — that used to be reliable almost year-round they’d get their bottom fish from the southeastern part of the state but he’s seen more triggerfish in waters north of Hatteras than in the southeast during the last two years Because the Raleigh-based company sells fresh local seafood bought almost daily from fishermen along the coast including that some species once abundant on the North Carolina coast have moved north Ghost forests are another visible environmental change Down East Duke University professor and ecosystem biologist Emily Bernhardt explained that these dead and dying trees are “an iconic symbol of rapid change” on the coastal plain “There’s always hurricanes blowing salt onto the landscape those trees would come back,” Bernhardt said “What we’re seeing now is that we’re having a lot of ghost forests forming and the trees are often not growing back.” and can’t grow back because the soil is too salty or too wet for trees to grow it is a fundamental change to the ecosystem “The big question I’m interested in is what is going to happen to the ecosystems and communities of the eastern coastal plain over the next century What makes these systems and people and communities vulnerable What is the impact that we’re already seeing what is going to happen next?” Bernhardt continued The conversation about rapid environmental change taking place in this country implies it’s going to happen in the future but there are areas already subject to widespread tidal flooding “We don’t have to wait for these changes.” areas Down East are extremely vulnerable to storm surge which can bring not just water but also salt Storm surge is a big component of how salt gets delivered to the system which is a very confusing problem to explain to people Salt can penetrate the ground when it’s arid and when it’s extremely wet and both are a risk for saltwater intrusion “We focus a lot of attention on hurricanes because they’re acute But what we’re looking at with ghost forests is kind of more of a slow disaster Those hurricanes might push you over the edge but it’s a disaster that’s building over time as a result of the accumulation of salts in these exposed and vulnerable landscapes,” Bernhardt said Scientists have evidence that water levels are rising another change affecting Down East now and in the long term “We’ve been measuring water level in many different ways water levels are rising,” said North Carolina King Tides Project founder Dr a retired coastal scientist from University of North Carolina Institute of Marine Sciences “Part of the whole sea level rise story is just the thermal expansion of water,” she continued federal agencies published a report saying that water levels are expected to rise within the next three decades “That difference for the East Coast is about 10 to 14 inches And that’s kind of hard to comprehend,” said Voss King tides have always happened and are predictable taking place when the moon is at its closest distance to the Earth “We use those high tide events to help us visualize what future higher sea levels will look like It’s kind of giving us a glimpse of what future higher sea levels will look like,” Voss said federal officials forecast sea levels up to a foot higher.  Voss said other visible changes are related “We’re having more and stronger tropical storms,” and know that these will be stronger.” is that the changing environmental conditions are basically integrated into the coastal landscape “and I’ll say in your seascape as well You are the communities seeing these changes And there’s a lot of complexity,” she said referring to the numerous changes happening at once including warmer temperatures and sea level rise Katherine Arnade is co-leader of the Sunny Day Flooding Project which aims to monitor how often land is flooded due to sea level rise Project scientists are measuring water levels and storm drains using special gauges they have developed The sensors also take photos of the roadway and can measure flow in stormwater systems including the contributions from rainfall and groundwater.  The first installation was in Beaufort in 2021 “We’re committed to learning about flooding in Down East and collecting data that’s useful to your community for as long as long as we can,” Arnade said adding the sensors will be there for at least five years there are only four sensors in use but the program could expand Realtime sensor data is available online a geology professor and director of the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines at Western Carolina University has been part of the Down East Resilience Network since its inception three years ago Young recently worked with Cape Lookout National Seashore officials to assess its villages’ and historic buildings’ vulnerability and has piloted a program for vulnerability assessments of private homes Down East “I can’t tell you how many times in the last 24 hours I’ve had people come up to me frustrated with the nature of the new development that’s going on Down East building in places where we know that septic systems cannot possibly be perking,” he said the second day of the conversation These folks who are generally suspicious of regulations while they see others not be held to the same standards And elected county officials – the only local government representation residents of unincorporated Down East hamlets have – and county management were absent a lot of the people who might answer some of those questions for us at the county level are not with us for these two days to help us find solutions or have that discussion I don’t know how to fix that either,” Young said Young said his priorities are how to keep residents from being displaced by flooding how transportation infrastructure and utilities will be maintained in the future and how to deal with the public health implications of failing water treatment and septic systems is trying to understand how we tap into some of those infrastructure dollars that have become available over the last couple of years that just don’t seem to make their way Down East,” Young said “How can we tap into all of the new sources of funding available from the federal government that comes to the state and find a way to get some of those funds into a place like Down East We have to stop talking and start doing stuff And we need our elected officials to really engage and help make that happen.” Jennifer Allen graduated from Appalachian State University in 2002 and picked up a second degree from UNC-Charlotte the following year She joined the staff of the Carteret County News-Times in Morehead City in 2005 and completed her master's at UNC-Wilmington in 2008 Jenn spent nine years writing and editing at the News-Times before joining the staff at the Town of Beaufort in 2014 where she served as public information officer and town clerk Jenn came aboard as assistant editor for Coastal Review She has also written for Our State Magazine and other regional and statewide publications She lives in Morehead City with her husband James and their pups Last in a series The week after Hurricane Florence devastated eastern North Carolina in September 2018, Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center Executive Director Karen Willis Amspacher wrote in an online message to members and patrons that throughout the 13 unincorporated communities making up Down East and the entire county But “in the midst of the damage and pain throughout Down East the Museum has suffered far more damage than originally seen.” She continued that there were significant leaks in the facility floors were buckling and drywall was crumbling.  after the $3.4 million in repairs were completed.  Hurricane Florence’s impact on Down East initially grabbed the attention of researchers advocates and others invested in adaptation and resilience They’ve formed the Down East Resilience Network to raise awareness and create a better understanding of the environmental changes to the area and find solutions.  the network hosted a two-day community conversation Sept 12-13 at the museum on Harkers Island to discuss Down East since the 2018 Category 1 storm and how to prepare better for “the next Florence.”  Over the course of the two-day conversation attendees were given tours of Cape Lookout National Seashore and Down East communities they heard the science behind ghost forests and king tides had discussions with representatives from the North Carolina departments of transportation and insurance There also was time for residents to voice their concerns including the everyday flooding plaguing Down East the poorly maintained ditches throughout the area and frustrations with new development.  Department of Transportation Assistant State Hydraulic Engineer Matt Lauffer Division 2 Engineer Jeff Cabaniss and Division 2 Deputy Engineer Jeremy Stroud explained during the conversation that the state agency is preparing for climate-related change Division 2 is responsible for eight counties bridges and ditches and culverts along state routes.  Cabaniss said the agency is one of the largest landowners in the state because it owns rights of way.  NCDOT’s responsibility when it comes to drainage is two fold First is to keep water off the road if possible and the other is to divert through pipes culverts and bridges the water that is coming Since the department owns facilities in all communities but we can’t make (the water) go away from the road because that goes off the right of way the funds or the people to make that happen,” he said.  NCDOT removes debris from the roadways and to restore the network after emergencies and other catastrophic events especially Down East where artificial drainage can also funnel water onto land as well as roadways To prepare for how environmental changes will affect transportation infrastructure Lauffer said NCDOT is working with climate scientists to design projects that consider more hurricane surge and sea level rise and the implications of those on a proposed facility Planners are also beginning to incorporate resilience methodology in new projects.   “We’re definitely looking at the hazards that can adversely affect that facility,” he said The agency is using past flooding data for vulnerability assessments An assessment that is nearly complete is for U.S Highway 70 between the state ferry terminal at Cedar Island and Raleigh that will look at the vulnerability of that major corridor a 24-inch pipe in Davis was replaced with a 55-inch by 72-inch pipe.  Stroud added that they get recommendations from the hydraulic unit for every pipe that is replaced a requirement now for projects that receive federal funding.  we can show that we brought it up to the current standards,” he said “Hopefully there is no damage to that structure it’s not because we put an inadequate pipe size in that would not meet the criteria for that event.” Lauffer said that after Hurricane Florence there was a huge realization that NCDOT could do better to know what to expect during major storms and how they affect the larger transportation network NCDOT has partnered with other state agencies and researchers who have tools and programs in place to measure flooding across the state NCDOT is using that data to project what roadways could be inundated based on the forecast for a particular storm The agency also has a system that continually monitors 15,800 major bridge structures and culverts statewide.  “We have a better understanding of the vulnerability of our facilities and structures,” Lauffer said which they’re trying to get a better handle on “so that we can potentially recover faster and potentially save lives by knowing these things are coming.” manager of energy services and corporate communications with Tideland Electric Membership Corp. field engineer with Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative’s resilience planning both said the utilities they represent are working to prepare smarter.  “We’ve just obviously had a lot of hurricanes Practice doesn’t necessarily make perfect but you get smarter and smarter each time around there’s always lessons to be learned,” Smith said Horne said that flooding is always a big issue especially because it makes reaching lines when they’re down more dangerous and difficult but Carteret-Craven Electric Co-op is going to be better with the next Florence starting with upgrades to the main office in Newport.  A new fuel system that holds 10,000 gallons of diesel a new radio tower for better communications, “because we always have problems communicating from Newport down to Cedar Island especially when the towers are down,” he said The co-op is working on improving response to outages and talking about bringing in different contractors with specialized equipment for hurricane response Smith said there’s a lot of challenges for underground infrastructure especially for places like mainland Hyde County that are losing population.  but “Here’s what I’m going to tell you We’re getting people back on faster than ever before it is more inconvenient but what is shocking,” she said she saw communities flood that had never been flooded before.  you’re better prepared than if you haven’t been,” Smith continued She explained that she witnessed 900 of 2,000 homes in a community flood and “people literally died sooner because of that because they’ve never been through it before They didn’t have the mental infrastructure They didn’t have the physical infrastructure They didn’t have the family infrastructure –nothing to make them through it Preparation helps us emerge and resume our lives much more quickly regional director for coastal northeast North Carolina with the state Department of Insurance said the department has many services and is available to answer any questions.  “We’re there to help you understand it, help you make sure you’re getting exactly what you need, and you’re not being overcharged, and you’re not being double-covered.” She reiterated that experts in the department answer the calls, not a recording. There are also resources on the department’s website to prepare and recover from catastrophic events.  told those in attendance that if you run across issues in making a claim “Most companies will exclude wind and hail so then you have to chase the wind and hail policy down” and if you have a federally underwritten loan they’re going to require you to carry flood insurance on your home as well “Those are the challenges you’re having to face here.”  He added that it’s important to make sure your coverage is in sync with the current real estate market and adequate for your dwelling – don’t just base it on your tax records you’re having a multifront attack on your property You’ve got water coming up from the ground to flood and then you’ve got the wind assault from above,” he said and the insurance company is going to have to determine how the damage occurred and there’s a saturation line coming up the wall the insurance company’s going to say that’s flood related and will have to go through the flood policy.  “The home policy is a covered-peril policy,” Crawley said.  That means it only covers those perils that are expressly stated in the policy.  so I’ve got everything from hurricanes to lightning to my kid drawing all over the house with crayons It is written as a covered-peril policy for a very specific reason,” Crawley said Then there’s also the language used in homeowners policies The word ‘repair’ is first for a very specific reason: They’d rather put X-number of shingles on your roof than have to (replace) your entire roof.” president of Insight Planning & Development consultant services said he defined a natural flood as moving water covering two or more properties and that could be your property and the road “If the road and your property are flooded but that is the definition of a natural flood,” he said Your insurance agent is also a great resource to find out if you have the right coverage “Once the claim is filed with the insurance company it’s the adjuster that’s driving the bus at that point,” he said adding that the agent has to step aside to let the claims organization take over Crawley said he tells everybody before any storm that their smartphone is their best tool He encourages residents to take photos of their insurance policies and expensive or bigger items like bedroom and living room furniture and electronics and make sure those are saved in online storage.  the faster you’re going to go through the process,” he said so have your policy information ready when you file a claim Cox added that just because you are not required to have flood insurance it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get flood insurance Many residents don’t get flood insurance because they’re not in a special flood hazard area A 100-year floodplain means there’s a 1% chance of annual flooding or a one-in-a-hundred chance every year that an area could flood.  It can happen in the western part of the state for flash flooding It can happen in the central part of the state through flash flooding or hurricane It can happen either here from storm surge or it can happen as a combination of storm surge and riverine flooding,” he said which is when water from the ocean or sound – storm surge – and riverine flooding meet.  He encourages residents to have flood insurance “the worst is having to tell somebody that there’s nothing I can do for you because you didn’t have flood insurance,” Cox said Organizers spent the weeks after the community conversation compiling notes collected during the two days of programming to identify concerns and what actions are needed.  The following are some of the comments provided to and compiled by organizers and shared in a spreadsheet with Coastal Review:  “One person says that recurring flooding Down East is driven not only by sea level rise but also by poorly maintained ditches – not enough “The tours through Down East communities were eye-opening and having residents leading the way gave me a lot of perspective on the issues they’re facing.” “I’ll admit that when I first heard about global warming thirty years ago I thought I’d never live to see it or feel it And one comment said the realistic expectation is that it’s not possible to be able “to protect every parcel” but they “don’t have to run for the hills.” “Environmentalists aren’t going to let us dump [referring to water] into Sound” later goes on to say that she understands that it may impact sea life The spreadsheet also detailed notes where action was needed such as Down East needs to look at all the options for community sustainability and have a “seat at the table” when it comes to planning for roads and other infrastructure recovery plan to work it has to be developed with the community.  Amspacher told Coastal Review after the event that she believed everyone who participated went away feeling that the conversation was positive for all involved “The community learned about resources for adapting to the changes and the researchers and agencies gained a firsthand look at the issues Down East residents live with every day,” she said “These two days were the beginning of many more conversations that have taken place since this gathering and more are underway for the immediate and long-term future Those who helped plan see it as an excellent first step in connecting needs and resources.” Among those who helped plan the conversation were North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency Resilience Planner Holly White Western Carolina University geology professor Rob Young and lifelong Down East resident Chris Yeomans White told Coastal Review that resiliency staff attended the recent meetings of community leaders Down East to listen to their concerns about flooding issues and other hazards impacting these areas.  “We want to understand the local perspectives as a continuation of NCORR’s recent community work in the eastern half of the state through a disaster resilience program called RISE Through hearing the perspectives of those that live in the region we hope to determine if NCORR or other partners can be helpful in increasing the resiliency of the communities,” White said who is director of the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines at Western told Coastal Review that he became involved in the network three years ago when he met Amspacher.  She shared with him the issues she saw for Down East and how the unincorporated areas of the counties seem to have trouble getting resilience funding and organizing for projects “Even though it is clearly one of the most exposed areas to coastal hazards in the state,” he explained Areas like Down East have a lot of trouble developing projects and getting resilience funds because it’s not an incorporated municipality It’s really easy for the state to work with a municipality that has lots of capacity “but working with an area that doesn’t have any of that And if the county is either not interested or if the county doesn’t have the capacity then those folks end up at the end of the line.” Young said meetings like the community conversation are important “even though we didn’t walk out of there with the projects developed and money on the way” and because the state agency representatives showed up and listened they were reminded what and where the needs are “because ultimately they are going to have to drive some of these solutions” by working with county governments spoke to Coastal Review in a follow-up interview from the front porch of his daughter’s home on Harkers Island that she just purchased He was helping with odds and ends that needed fixing.  He said he sees how vulnerable Down East is to storms and sea level rise.  “The water is higher than it was 20 or 30 years ago,” he said Adding it’s the changing environment is just part of nature “but I think we humans have sped up that process.”  which appears to be on the minds of most Down East residents is “How can locals maintain their heritage and maintain where they live When he was a young boy growing up on Harkers Island before Down East was “discovered,” he could see development coming what gets his attention is development in the unincorporated communities and the associated septic systems and well water especially in low-lying areas where there’s sea level rise When does development maximize our ability to sustain the natural environment and human interaction runs parallel to Down East resilience efforts.  And I want to see it protected as much as we can with the changes that are happening,” and those changes need to happen responsibly and in a way that protects the environment and the Down East heritage