Are storm drains clogged in the City of Myrtle Beach and other municipalities even before Tropical Storm Debby’s full strength arrives in the Grand Strand?
The simple answer to that question is no, according to city spokeswoman Meredith Denari.
And how about for North Myrtle Beach?
Their city’s spokeswoman, Lauren Jessie, said on Tuesday, “They are doing great.”
“We started cleaning them twice a day at each low tide cycle,” Jessie said to The Sun News via text message. “We send crews out who inspect each drain to clear out any debris that may be collecting. They are also inspecting each outfall ditch to ensure no blockages.”
For Myrtle Beach, Denari said the city’s Public Works Department has roughly 9,500 drainage structures on a maintenance program, which equates to 185 miles of storm drains.
Denari added that the South Carolina Department of Transportation is responsible for all drains along state roads, but that the city’s crew cleaned some of them up on Monday in preparation for the storm.
“Many cities do not have a vactor truck to clean storm drains, we are lucky enough to have one,” she said via email. “With that said – in addition to our maintenance program, we of course rely on residents to report clogged storm drains when they see them. “
Vactor trucks are designed vehicles that provide municipalities and contractors with industrial vacuum truck services, and also assist with cleaning and excavation tasks like sewer and storm drain cleaning, according to the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles.
According to Denari, Myrtle Beach’s Public Works Department has roughly 160 full-time employees who are part of various subdivisions of the department.
She said that if residents see something wrong with a storm drain in their neighborhood, they should feel free to notify them of the issue. People can contact the Department of Public Works at their phone number at 843-918-2000.
“It helps greatly when a pair of eyes from one of the city’s 40,000 residents sees an issue and calls it in,” Denari said. “That storm drain is then investigated by the Stormwater Team and added to the next round of maintenance.”
She explained that the city’s consistent drain maintenance helps keep flood insurance rates low for residents who have it. That system works similarly to the fire department’s Insurance Services Office rating.
Source Agencies
