Vulnerability Analysis
Greenwood County population was estimated 68,000 July 2004 (US Bureau of Census). The population is projected to be close to 71,000 by 2010. In addition to the permanent residential population, thousands of tourists visit the Greenwood County each year. As the 19th most populated County in the state, combined with our tourist population, Greenwood County can experience a loss of life and property of catastrophic proportion
due to an array of hazards. Maps of the various hazards are contained in the Greenwood County Hazards Analysis and Mitigation Plan on file at the EOC. The following statistics illustrate the vulnerability of the Greenwood County's population:
HAZARD ANALYSIS
With the increased vehicle traffic, numerous vehicle accidents occur weekly. Increased population has increased the response of emergency services. Past occurrences of hazard events are likely predictors of future events. A review of the hazard history of Greenwood County, therefore, helps to provide a better understanding of what hazards the county is susceptible to. Below are summaries of the major events by hazard type based on information that was available during the development of this plan.
MAJOR HAZARD EVENT TYPES:
Flood
Greenwood County has two high-water periods each year, one in December-April caused by winter rains and spring showers, another in the fall when tropical storms may bring additional rain. Hurricanes/Tropical Storms have often brought flash flooding and river flooding.
Greenwood County has some streams that are subject to flooding during heavy rainfall periods. The majority of these streams have sufficient depth to their banks to prevent flooding that will endanger human lives or real property. The Saluda River, which marks the Eastern boundary of Greenwood County, has no significant history of flooding in the immediate area.
Recent Flooding Events
Flooding is experienced on many of the streams around the county during heavy rains and there is a least one recorded death that was attributed to flooding in recent history. This occurred in the spring of 1990 when a fisherman was caught by rapidly rising waters in the Saluda River near Ware Shoals and drowned. In August 1995, several homes were damaged and numerous bridges were closed due to heavy rains. Several smaller bridges were washed away by swift moving water.
Winter Storm
There were major Southeastern snowstorms in 1899, 1914, 1973, 2000 and 2002. Additionally, there have been many more localized winter storms. In January 1968 and February 1979 large ice storms paralyzed the County for several days. More recently in 1983 and in 2002 ice and snowstorms covered the county resulting in power outages and hazardous driving conditions. Greenwood County suffers an average of one to two winter storms each year.
Recent Winter Storm Events
In recent years, there have been several crippling ice and snowstorms in Greenwood County. In January 1978, a large ice storm paralyzed the county for several days. As a result of this storm, shelters were opened and some citizens had to stay in shelters for up to seven days while power and utilities were restored. A storm in the spring of 1983 resulted in power outages, school and business closings and frozen water supply sources. A bitter winter storm in December 1983 resulted in several major fire losses due to water supplies used to fight fires being frozen. On January 21-22, 1987, an ice and snowstorm covered the county resulting in power outages, hazardous driving conditions and the closing of schools and business. In December 1999, a large ice storm occurred resulting in scattered power outages and hazardous driving.
Tornado
Greenwood County has experienced several recorded incidences of tornado touchdowns in the past. The most recent tornado occurred in May 1998 when a tornado struck the county in late afternoon damaging several homes in the Hodges area and in the Creekside Subdivision. Major tornadoes include one in April 1944, which destroyed many homes in the county and caused major damage to the County Hospital. This tornado resulted in several deaths and numerous injuries. The year 1973 was the worst in recent history. On March 31, 1973 a tornado struck the county resulting in large property damage. Later in 1973, on December 13, three tornadoes where reported in the county resulting in two deaths in Ninety Six and 28 injuries. The damage was estimated in the millions. In 1989 a tornado touched down in the Country Homes Subdivision resulting in a large amount of damage.
Manufactured housing is particularly vulnerable to high winds, whether from a tornado, thunderstorm, or tropical storm. There were over 5,000 manufactured homes in Greenwood County in 2000. The City of Greenwood had approximately 500.
Structural Fires
Each fire has the capacity to spread rapidly, and that the fire might encompass hazardous materials which might be highly flammable and explosive. Citizen evacuation of a large number of people is a constant possibility on every fire call. Greenwood county fire departments respond on average 50 calls each month.
Wildfire
Forest fires are a serious problem in Greenwood County. Records indicate that humans cause a majority of these fires. In recent years there have been over 2,000 wildfires that burned over 10,000 acres. Other causes of fire include lightning, campfires, smoking, debris burning, incendiary equipment use, and railroads. In addition to the South Carolina Forestry Commission personnel, members of the Greenwood County rural fire departments assisted in extinguishing the fires, which have occurred.
Severe Thunderstorm
Greenwood County has numerous severe thunderstorms each year. These storms sometimes produce high winds, hail, lightning, and flash flooding. These factors can be made worse by the occasional tornado accompanying these events. The most recently recorded severe thunderstorm event occurred in May 2006 with a minor amount of hail and wind damage.
Drought
The most severe droughts have occurred in 1977 and 1978. In 1980, 1981, 1986, 1992, and 1998, many crops were lost due to droughts. Crop and Livestock Feed Assessment reports confirm the droughts of the summer have devastated crops and pastures in the County. Soybeans and other crops have burned up due to extreme heat and below normal rainfall. Pastures and hay crops were extremely short with poor prospects for fall. There are few, if any, cases of livestock deaths due to loss of feed because most livestock would be sold at a loss before death. Many wells run dry and cause major inconveniences to people and some businesses.
Earthquake
There have been numerous earthquakes documented in Greenwood County over the years. Most significant were those occurring in August, October and November 1896. These earthquakes caused significant damage and were described in local records as “severe”. Earthquakes were also recorded in 1924 and 1945. Most recently a tremor measuring 3.0 was reported in the Cokesbury area in September 1991 and a 3.7 tremor was felt in on January 2, 1992. A smaller earthquake in August 1996 was located about one mile below the earth’s surface northwest of the city of Greenwood.
Hurricanes/Tropical Storms
Storms of this nature have impact on the county through high winds and flooding. Most of the storms of this type that have passed over Greenwood County have first struck the Gulf Coast and then proceeded north and east. The most significant hurricane to affect
Greenwood County was in 1989 when Hurricane Hugo struck the South Carolina Coast and caused damage as far inland as Charlotte, North Carolina.
Technological Hazards
Technological and man-made threats represent a category of events that has expanded dramatically throughout the past decades with advancements in modern technology. Like natural threats, they can affect localized or widespread areas, are frequently unpredictable, can cause substantial loss of life, and damage to citizen’s property.
These hazards can pose a significant threat to the infrastructure of any given area. Technological and man-made threats include hazardous materials and/or radiological incidents at fixed facilities or in transit accidents, power failures, other types of transit accidents, and structural fires.
The biggest threat to Greenwood County comes in the form of a potential transit accident. Transit vehicles and railroad cars carry many danger chemicals through Greenwood County every day. By the shear volume of this traffic it is prudent to consider the consequences should a vehicle crash or a train derails.
Greenwood County is threatened by natural and technological hazards. The threat posed by these hazards is both immediate (e.g., hazardous chemical spill, hurricane, tornado) and long-term (e.g., drought, chronic chemical release). These hazards have the potential to disrupt day-to-day activities, cause extensive property damage, and create mass casualties. Historically, the greatest risk was perceived to be from natural hazards (e.g., hurricanes, tornadoes, severe storms, floods, earthquakes); however, the continued expansion of chemical usage is raising the risk posed by technological hazards (e.g., hazardous chemical releases/spills) in the county. The presences of a rail system passing through Greenwood County to include the Cities of Greenwood and Troy posses increased hazard to this county. These hazards include:
Terrorism
While there have not been any successful acts of terrorism committed in Greenwood County. It is concluded that the risk of terrorist activity is slight. This rational is based on fact that the County has few critical and high-profile facilities, or high concentrations of population or other potentially-attractive venues that normally attracts terrorist activity. Recent nationwide terrorist activity and its possible threat continue to reinforce our potential dangers. All county policies and procedures take into account the possibility of terrorist attack, however remote. All county resources are vigilant for these potential possibilities.
Governmental presence, transportation routes, commercial entities, county infrastructure, cultural, academic, research, military, and athletic activities occurring in the surrounding counties may constitute ideal targets for terrorist attacks. These events would cause catastrophic levels of property and environmental damage, injury, and loss of life in the affected county. Greenwood County resources would be called upon to provide support and services to the affected county(ies) as they recovery from such an incident. Evacuation activities and sheltering services would be only a few of the many services the affected counties would be requesting from us.
Transportation
The county has a large transportation network consisting of highways, an airport, and railroads. In many locations throughout the Greenwood County, the potential exists that a major transportation accident causing numerous injuries and/or fatalities.
With the linear configuration of several highways, it is also important to note that a major transportation accident could occur in a relatively rural area, severely stressing the capabilities of local resources to respond effectively.
Civil Disorder
Civil disorder may occur at anytime in the county. However, civil disorder is often preceded by periods of increased tension caused by questionable social and/or political events such as controversial jury trials or law enforcement actions. Such actions are not historic in this county; therefore considered a slight possibility of occurrence. Civil Authorities consider existing law enforcement within the county and available state assets would be sufficient to handle any such events, if there were to occur in this county.
Dam Failure
At any time the Lake Greenwood dam may be threatened by upstream flash floods, earthquakes, neglect or any combination of the above, which can cause personal injury or death, significant water damage to property or additional failures to dams located downstream. A recent simulation of a dam failure concluded we are at minimal risk to loss of live and/or property Greenwood County citizens.