Most of S.C. Declared Federal Disaster Area

As Governor Mark Sanford requested, all but 2 counties in South Carolina have been declared a federal disaster area due to the extreme drought. This will make it possible for farmers to receive low-interest government loans to help with their losses.

The 2 counties unaffected by the drought are Charleston and Georgetown.

Despite a recent increase in localized rainfall in certain areas affected by the drought, the amount of rain has not been enough to lift those areas out of the extreme drought status.

Spartanburg County, for example, is still over 11 inches behind normal rainfall for the year.

The drought has hit farmers hard, ruining crops and making it difficult to feed animals. Horse farmers, for example, have been forced to bring in hay from areas outside the state, driving up their costs and bringing some to the brink of losing their farms.

This is the scenario that the federal disaster designation is intended to prevent.