Heavy rainfall today raises safety concerns

According to the Department of Health and Environmental Control, owners and operators of reservoirs across South Carolina should check their dams immediately and during the next several days for possible problems caused by heavy rainfall. John Poole of DHEC says, “Owners who have the ability to lower their reservoir’s water level should safely do so to provide additional storage for the anticipated rainfall. If there is a dam downstream of your dam and you are lowering your water level, please contact the owners of the downstream dam and advise of your actions. Before and after the storm has passed, any accumulated trash and debris should be cleared from spillways.” For more information about dam and reservoir safety, see DHEC’s webpage at http://www.scdhec.gov/damsafety.