Google provides funding for weatherization of low-income homes  

SOUTH CAROLINA. - (December 12, 2024) The South Carolina Office of Resilience has received a $1 million dollar contribution from Google to support the weatherization of homes for families impacted by Hurricane Helene.  

Hurricane Helene made landfall in late September, bringing destructive winds, flooding, tornadoes, and extensive damage to utility infrastructure and homes in South Carolina. The storm impacted over half of the state in some way, with 28 counties receiving a disaster declaration for FEMA Individual Assistance. As of December 2nd, over 430,000 households have registered for FEMA assistance. 

SCOR projects the unmet housing need across the State to far exceed that of the 2015 Flood, 2016 Hurricane Matthew, and 2018 Hurricane Florence combined. For those 3 disasters, SCOR repaired or replaced 3,459 homes for low-to-moderate income South Carolinians. Google’s contribution will allow SCOR to jumpstart their work to rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Helene in some of the most heavily impacted areas in the state.  

“We want to thank Google for their commitment to improving quality of life in our state, especially for those whose homes were destroyed in Hurricane Helene. Public-private collaborations like this help us get funding on the ground quickly so we can get to work assisting those who need it the most,” said Ben Duncan, Chief Resilience Officer, SC Office of Resilience. 

The funding from Google will specifically support weatherization efforts and features in rebuilt homes. Weatherization efforts, which include insulating exterior doors, installing Energy Star appliances, HVAC efficiency testing, and double pane windows, make these homes more comfortable, more resilient, and more affordable. 

“Google is a great ally to South Carolina– helping preserve our natural beauty and foster resilience through their donation to protect one of our last remaining undeveloped barrier islands, and now by assisting the families hit the hardest from Hurricane Helene,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “Weatherizing homes creates long-term solutions helping families rebuild and lower energy costs. I appreciate Google’s commitment to conservation and resilience efforts in our state.”  

“Google has long been committed to the people and communities of South Carolina, a state we’ve called home since 2007,” said Utaukwa Allen, Google’s Head of Data Center Economic and Community Development. “In the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, it is more important than ever to give back and enhance the lives of those impacted by the storm. Weatherization of homes provides a long-term solution for families by increasing energy efficiency, reducing utility bills, and providing a more sustainable environment for current and future generations. Google looks forward to working with the South Carolina Office of Resilience to support their ongoing recovery efforts.” 

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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.