City of Dillon, SC – The South Carolina Office of Resilience (SCOR) is pleased that the City of Dillon Stormwater Improvement Project began construction on July 17, 2025. Following a Notice to Proceed on June 16, 2025, construction crews will install infrastructure improvements in phases over a 14-month period. 

Flooding caused by hurricanes and high-intensity rain events is a common issue in the City of Dillon. The City’s comprehensive Stormwater Master Plan identified the extent of flooding issues and potential solutions. The City of Dillon applied for, and received, a Community Development Block Grant- Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) grant from SCOR to design and construct stormwater improvement projects in several areas identified by the Study as high priority areas.

The designed stormwater improvements are now being implemented for the Lucius Road Outfall and Channel Improvement project area, the Railroad Crossing area, and a portion of the Dargan Street project area. These improvements are designed to reduce repetitive damages to residential and commercial structures, minimize traffic disruptions, and improve mobility to key municipal facilities during hazardous flooding events.

“This project underscores the importance of thoroughly studying the causes of flooding in a community,” explains S.C. Chief Resilience Officer Ben Duncan. “By developing solutions through a rigorous planning process, the City was able to identify multiple solutions that work in tandem to reduce the community’s flood hazard risk.”

The City’s highest-prioritized solution will improve infrastructure in the “Lucius Road Outfall and Channel Project Area.” Approximately 10,400 linear feet of an existing channel will be cleared, widened, and deepened. Additionally, an extra 90 linear feet of existing storm drainage will be removed and upsized. Re-grading the channel will allow for better capacity to move water out of populated areas around the City during storm events.

The construction of stormwater improvements in the “Railroad Crossing Project Area” includes 1,200 linear feet of storm drainage upsizing along South Railroad Avenue. The stormwater improvements in the “Dargan Street Project area” include the installation of a box culvert from Lucius channel into a double junction box near Highway 301.

Senator Kent Williams, SC District 30, comments “I am glad to see this product of collaboration between the City of Dillon and Office of Resilience come to fruition. This infrastructure investment will not just protect against flood risks, but will promote the community’s overall resilience and wellbeing.”

The project is funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT), through the Office of Resilience. In addition to the almost $9.9 million awarded by SCOR, the City of Dillon has provided $8,000 in local cost share. 

“This initiative stands as one of the largest flood relief efforts in the history of our city, representing an $8 million investment in enhancing Dillon’s stormwater system to tackle flooding and related challenges,” states Tally McColl, City of Dillon Mayor. “This long-awaited project has required considerable effort and dedication. It serves as a true testament to what can be achieved when local and state representatives collaborate effectively. I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone involved in this initiative. It will undoubtedly provide significant benefits to the City of Dillon and our surrounding community.”

“Projects like this demonstrate the importance of prioritizing critical infrastructure improvements that directly affect the safety of our communities,” comments Representative Jackie “Coach” Hayes, SC District 55. “I applaud the work done to reach this milestone, and look forward to seeing its positive effects upon completion.”

To date, SCOR has committed over $99 million in CDBG-MIT funds to public infrastructure projects to reduce flood risks. These projects can range from storm sewer installations and upgrades to retention ponds, waterway and wetland restoration.  

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About SCOR: The South Carolina Office of Resilience (SCOR) is committed to enhancing the state's ability to anticipate, absorb, recover, and thrive when presented with environmental changes and natural hazards by planning and coordinating statewide resilience, long-term disaster recovery, and hazard mitigation. In addition to serving 3,459 homes in our Disaster Recovery Program, SCOR has 81 active flood mitigation projects, including voluntary buyouts, stormwater infrastructure, and plans and studies, across the State. SCOR continues to implement and maintain the Strategic Statewide Resilience and Risk Reduction Plan, which provides a framework to guide investment in projects, programs, and policies to protect the people and property of South Carolina from the damage and destruction of extreme weather events.