Storm and outage prep for Florence and Pee Dee homes
A little prep helps before rain, wind, flooding and days without power.
Storm and outage prep starts with your generator, AC, water lines and electrical panel. Quality Service Company, LLC put this list together for homes in Florence, SC and the Pee Dee.
HVAC, plumbing, electrical and generators. One company, one number.
From 1950 to 2020, Florence County logged 35 tornadoes, 276 wind events and 47 flood events. Those counts come from the SC State Climatology Office.
The steps below use guidance from CDC, FEMA, SC Emergency Management, NEMA, Trane, Duke Energy and Generac.
How do I get my home ready before a storm?
Check the generator, shut down the AC, find the water shutoff and know your flood risk.
- Generator. Check the fuel, oil, battery and transfer switch. Run a portable generator outdoors only, more than 20 feet from windows, doors and vents. Never run it in the house or garage, and keep battery CO alarms inside. An installed standby generator needs placement that meets the manufacturer’s instructions and local requirements.
- Never backfeed. Do not plug a generator into a wall outlet or wire it straight into your home. Generac warns that backfeeding without a transfer switch can electrocute utility workers and breaks the electrical code. Duke Energy says to use a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician.
- AC and heat pump. Turn it off at the thermostat and the breaker before the storm. Trane suggests hurricane straps and an HVAC surge protector. In flood-prone spots, Trane suggests raising the unit.
- Flood-prone homes. SC Emergency Management suggests raising the furnace, water heater and electrical panel. For low drains, it lists sewer check valves. Ask us about a backwater valve.
- Water shutoff. Find your main water shutoff now, before you need it in a hurry.
- Freeze. When a hard freeze is forecast, drip faucets and close vents. The City of Florence told residents to do both in December 2022. That freeze brought lows of 15 and 14 degrees. The city lost at least 20 million gallons of water. A main broke on Christmas Day, and homes, businesses and sprinkler systems leaked. Florence Regional Airport averages about 40 nights a year at 32 degrees or colder. It reached 8 degrees on February 2, 2026.
What should I check after a storm?
Floodwater can damage parts you can’t see. Check these before you turn things back on.
- AC or heat pump that sat in water. Do not restart it. Trane advises an inspection after flooding.
- Breakers and outlets. NEMA says water-damaged breakers, fuses, GFCI and AFCI devices, surge devices and wiring devices should be replaced.
- Generator. Keep it outdoors, more than 20 feet from windows, doors and vents, the whole time it runs.
Your tech will check what the water reached, then tell you what’s wrong and why. Your tech will quote any repair before starting.
How do I check my home’s flood risk?
Look up your address on the FEMA flood maps. See also SC DNR flood mitigation.
The City of Florence notes that flat terrain puts many areas at flood risk. Flood insurance generally has a 30-day waiting period.
What storms has the Pee Dee seen?
Here is what past storms did in and around Florence County.
- Ice storm, January 2004. A quarter to three-quarters of an inch of ice fell statewide. The National Weather Service reported power out countywide in Florence County.
- Winter Storm Pax, February 2014. About 144,000 co-op members lost power, most in the Midlands and Pee Dee. Most had power back in about eight days.
- Matthew, October 2016. Florence airport got 11.74 inches of rain in one day. That is the most in more than 120 years of records.
- Florence, September 2018. The Pee Dee River near Florence crested at 61.01 feet on September 21. Parts of Dillon, Florence and Marion counties had their third 100-year rainfall since 2015.
- Freeze, December 2022. A Christmas Day main break and home leaks led to a system-wide boil advisory in the City of Florence.
- Debby, August 2024. River flooding shut the City of Florence water plant. Low pressure and a boil advisory followed across the system.
Who do I call when the power or water goes out?
Your electric provider is named on your bill. Town service boundaries vary, so check the bill before you call.
Propane equipment needs a propane tank, set and filled by your propane supplier.
| Town | Electric: outage links and phones | Water/sewer | Gas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florence | Duke Energy Progress; MPD Electric Cooperative and Santee Electric Cooperative serve parts of the county Duke outage map, 800-769-3766 MPD outage map Santee outage map, 1-888-239-2300 | City of Florence (wells and the Pee Dee River) | Dominion Energy in parts of the county; check your address |
| Hartsville | Duke Energy Progress Duke outage map, 800-769-3766 | City of Hartsville | Dominion Energy; check your address |
| Darlington | Check your bill Use the provider links below after checking your bill. | Check your water/sewer bill | Check your address; propane is an option |
| Timmonsville | Check your bill Use the provider links below after checking your bill. | City of Florence (since 2013) | Check your address; propane is an option |
| Manning | Check your bill Use the provider links below after checking your bill. | Check your water/sewer bill | Check your address; propane is an option |
| Effingham | Check your bill Use the provider links below after checking your bill. | Effingham is unincorporated, with no town utilities; check your bill | Check your address; propane is an option |
| Sumter | Check your bill Use the provider links below after checking your bill. | Check your water/sewer bill | Check your address; propane is an option |
Duke outage map, 800-769-3766; or text OUT to 57801.
Need a generator, an HVAC surge protector or an inspection before hurricane season? Call (843) 920-2004 or Book Online.