DHEC offers tips after Ian

Below is a summary overview of the agency’s efforts, as well as key resources for residents.

Dam safety

DHEC’s dam safety team completed its assessment of regulated dams in the impacted areas of the state and has found no storm-related issues.

Private wells

If your private well was not flooded, the water is likely unchanged, and no action is necessary.

If your well was flooded, use bottled water or boil your well water before consuming it until the well has been properly disinfected and tested. You can use unscented household bleach to disinfect your well, and please be sure to test the well water to ensure it was properly cleaned.

For any questions on private wells, visit DHEC’s “Private wells: What to do before and after storms” page or call the hotline during normal business hours through Oct. 7: 1-888-761-5989.

Additionally, severe storms can result in standing water around the outside of the home. If you see standing water, safely eliminate it to prevent mosquito spread and breeding.

If your home was flooded or damaged by water, please to do not reenter until it is safe to do, as mold could be present on flooded floors, walls, furniture, appliances or clothing. Drying your home and removing water-damaged items within 24 to 48 hours is the most-important step in stopping mold growth, damage and potential exposure.

While DHEC does not perform remediation for mold, residents can call DHEC’s mold hotline at 1-888-815-3509 to receive resources and speak to a DHEC representative who can help answer questions about mold.

For more information, visit DHEC’s page on indoor mold.

Coastal recovery

After a hurricane, DHEC’s Ocean and Coastal Resource Management team assesses damages to beachfront structures within the state’s jurisdiction so that these issues can be resolved as quickly as possible.

Coastal residents should report damage to beachfront structures, including homes, pools, seawalls, revetments and dune walkovers at mycoast.org/sc. This is an online portal the agency uses to collect and analyze pictures and data about coastal events. Submitted reports can help DHEC efficiently analyze post-storm beachfront structures and expedite permitting and other regulatory decisions.