Folly Beach, S.C. – Early-morning heavy rainfall on Saturday led to significant flooding and multiple road closures on Folly Beach, impacting residents, businesses, and beachgoers.
Residents reported streets with two to three feet of water, making driveways and homes inaccessible. Streets between Eighth and Third Streets were particularly affected, and Center Street between Ashley and Arctic Avenues experienced heavy flooding, though the intersection has since reopened.
“It was really coming down this morning… they canceled our surf class and the yoga sessions we were going to go to,” said local resident Kieran O’Riley.
Several businesses were impacted, including Sand Dollar Social Club, which had to postpone opening after being fully flooded. “It was all the way up to here, probably up to my waist. People were walking in it knee-deep,” reported Dondre Williams, a local resident.
Residents also shared the difficulty of navigating through flooded streets. Walker Jackson said, “I’m tired of walking with my surfboard a mile and a half to get to the spot. Hopefully the drainage on the roads is a little better.”
In response, the City of Folly Beach has launched the Folly Beach Center Street Stormwater Improvement Project, aiming to enhance drainage, reduce flooding, and increase the capacity of the local stormwater system.
Local residents are hopeful that ongoing infrastructure improvements, combined with regional cooperation with Charleston, will address the recurring flooding issues. “Hopefully, Charleston and Folly Beach can all come together and work on solutions to the flooding,” O’Riley added.
