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Recovering After Hurricane Irma

September 13, 2017

Evacuation Route Standing By Our Customers We missed the worst of the storm in West Columbia on Tuesday, with the highest impact being on the South Carolina coast, but our community is still recovering from the heavy rains and wind. During this time, we stand by our homebuyers. At McGuinn, we make every effort to ensure the safety and security of every home, and you can always depend on us to do the right thing. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this devastating storm, including those in Georgia, Florida, and the Caribbean. Our deepest condolences go out to the family of Arthur Strudwick, a City of Columbia employee who was killed on Monday on his way to help move a downed tree and all others who lost their lives during this tragedy. Community Updates While South Carolina may have been 200 miles away from Irma herself, our state was still pounded with pouring rain, rising floodwaters, downed power lines, and tornadoes. The Midlands experienced heavy rains and wind, as well as loss of power - as of Tuesday, power has still not been restored in some areas. Charleston is seeing record flooding after Hurricane Irma, according to the The Post and Courier. The Isle of Palms’ mayor, Dick Cronin, told the Post that he’d “never seen this much water on the island” in twenty years. CNN reports that Irma has been downgraded to a “tropical depression” as of Monday night, but that doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods yet. Thousands have been left without power, and Irma has left a path of devastation that could take weeks to clean up. Evacuees are beginning to return to their homes along the coast to assess the damage. Over 200 city employees in Charleston are hard at work cleaning up after the storm surge, while utility companies are working to restore power. As we turn to the recovery phase, many homeowners will begin to clean up the debris - but we encourage you to do so carefully. We’ve collected safety tips for storm cleanup here to make sure you and your family remain unharmed even after the storm has passed.

Storm Cleanup Tips

  • Never enter a building that seems unstable, or that you’re unsure of its stability. Debris can shift during a storm, making an area hazardous to access.
  • Avoid exploring your property at night, when you’re less likely to see potential dangers. Wait for daylight so you can see the full scope of the damage and hazards.
  • Keep away from downed power lines, watch for standing water near open electrical sources, and make sure power is shut off to your home before attempting to fix anything electrical.
  • As much as possible, avoid floodwaters and mud - they may contain toxic chemicals, sewage, or pesticides.
  • Wear protective gear, such as rubber boots, goggles, and gloves to protect yourself against chemicals in the water, broken glass that may have been spread by floodwaters, and more.
  • If you cut yourself either during the storm or while cleaning, be sure to check with your healthcare provider to see if you need a vaccination.
In the end, if you feel unsafe or have doubts about a building’s integrity, avoid the area as much as possible and contact a professional. We encourage everyone to stay safe during the recovery process as we come together as a community to put our state back together.

When You Have Questions
THE MCGUINN HYBRID HOMES TEAM HAS YOUR ANSWERS!

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We're local and have built more than 4,500 homes right here in the midlands since 1985.