Florence was built as a railroad junction, and today it sits where Interstates 95 and 20 meet, about 70 miles inland from Myrtle Beach. At roughly 140 feet above sea level, the county seat of Florence County is out of reach of storm surge, yet it still floods. The reason is mostly topography and pipes: much of the city's outlying land slopes only 0.1 to 0.2 percent, and the city's own October 2024 Stormwater Master Plan says most of its drainage infrastructure is more than 50 years old and likely was not designed for today's frequent high-intensity storms.
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Jeffries Creek, Middle Swamp and Six Other Watersheds
Rain that falls on Florence drains through seven watersheds. Jeffries Creek, a tributary of the Great Pee Dee that passes south of downtown, covers about a quarter of the drainage area; Beaverdam Creek and Middle Swamp account for roughly another fifth each, with Pye Branch, Gully Branch, McCall Branch and Eastman Branch making up the rest. The master plan identified 51 areas of concern, including South McQueen Street at Madison Avenue in the Gully Branch area, several intersections along Wisteria Avenue, Pennsylvania Street, and Cedar and McQueen Streets. Residents also flagged the Jeffries Creek corridor for inadequate or missing drainage, especially along state-maintained roads.
The plan names three main causes: trunk lines or channels that are too small, places with no pipes or inlets at all, and very flat terrain that lets water linger. It also notes that only 5 of the 12 major improvements recommended in a 1989 study were completed.
Matthew, PTC 8 and Fast-Rising Street Water
Hurricane Matthew in 2016 brought torrential rain and severe flooding to the city, according to the stormwater plan. A more recent example came on September 16, 2024, when Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 dropped about 5.5 inches in 24 hours and roads went under quickly as the system struggled to keep up. Storms do not have to be named hurricanes to cause trouble here: an intense summer thunderstorm over a clogged inlet can put water across a yard and against a foundation within an hour.
Wind adds to the risk. During Hurricane Ian in 2022, gusts reached 52 mph at the Florence airport and brought scattered trees down across the county, the kind of damage that opens roofs to rain.
Older Neighborhoods, Crawl Spaces and Slab Homes
Florence's housing spans more than a century, from homes around Timrod Park and the historic downtown to newer subdivisions on the edges of the city. Older houses often sit over crawl spaces, where runoff can pool unnoticed and keep the subfloor damp. Newer slab homes take water at doors and garage thresholds when yard drainage backs up. Inside, the usual culprits also apply: water heaters, washing machine hoses, ice maker lines and AC condensate drains that overflow during humid summers.
Professional water damage restoration in either kind of house starts with locating every wet material, not just the obvious puddle. Moisture meters and thermal imaging help find water that ran under cabinets, into wall cavities or across the crawl space.
Practical Steps When Street Water Reaches the House
- Stay out of moving water in streets and yards; even shallow flow can knock a person down.
- Shut off power to affected rooms if water is near outlets, and only if it is safe to reach the panel.
- Photograph water lines, damaged items and the street conditions for your insurer.
- Treat water that came in from outside as contaminated; keep children and pets away from it.
- Report clogged storm drains or ditches to the City of Florence Utilities Department so the problem can be logged.
Runoff from streets can carry sewage overflow and chemicals, so materials it soaked are generally removed rather than dried. If a sewer line backed up into the home at the same time, ask about sewage cleanup protocols before anyone starts tearing out flooring.
Pee Dee Humidity and Mold After a Leak
Florence has a humid subtropical climate, with roughly 48 inches of precipitation a year and hot, sticky summers. Indoor materials that get wet stay wet unless dehumidifiers and air movers are brought in. Mold can begin growing on drywall, carpet backing and crawl-space framing within a few days. Mold remediation should follow proper drying: remove affected porous materials, clean framing, and fix the source, whether that is a leaking pipe, a downspout dumping beside the foundation or poor crawl-space drainage.
Florence Neighborhoods and Surrounding Towns
Calls come in from across Florence, including:
- Timrod Park
- Downtown Florence
The same line also serves nearby communities such as:
- Quinby
- Effingham
- Timmonsville
- Darlington
- Lake City
- Johnsonville
Common Questions
Why does my Florence street flood in heavy rain even though we are far from the coast?
The city's 2024 Stormwater Master Plan points to undersized pipes and channels, missing drainage in some areas and very flat terrain. Much of the infrastructure is over 50 years old. When a storm like Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 drops 5.5 inches in a day, water backs up on streets and yards faster than the system can carry it away.
Does homeowners insurance cover water from a flooded street?
Usually not. Standard homeowners policies cover sudden internal events such as a burst pipe, while surface water entering from outside falls under flood insurance. Coverage is available even outside mapped high-risk zones, which matters in a city where much of the flooding comes from overwhelmed drainage rather than rivers. Check your address on the FEMA flood map and ask your agent about a flood policy.
Who can I call for help drying out my house in Florence?
Call (888) 317-9980. We will connect you with an independent restoration provider that serves Florence and the surrounding Pee Dee area. The provider can extract water, measure moisture in walls and floors, remove damaged materials and set up drying equipment. For drainage problems on public streets, contact the City of Florence Utilities Department separately.