COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina ETV and Public Radio (SCETV) will mark the 10-year anniversary of the historic “thousand-year” flood of October 2015 through a special initiative combining community storytelling, broadcast programming and in-depth reporting.
“Voices Collected,” will help preserve the voices and memories of those connected to the flood. This community storytelling project launched earlier in 2025 to collect stories of those impacted by the tragedy at Mother Emanuel church in Charleston and will expand to document the stories of those impacted by the flood. The initiative invites South Carolinians and others across the country to share personal reflections through audio, video or image submissions. These collected stories will be curated for use in broadcasts, podcasts, social media and educational materials. Submissions may be shared online through the SCETV website.
As part of the initiative, SCETV will premiere Weathering the Flood: South Carolina 10 Years Later on Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. on ETV. This 30-minute broadcast special revisits the catastrophic event, reflecting on its widespread impact, the recovery efforts that followed and the lessons learned. With rare archival footage, expert analysis from SCETV Chief Meteorologist Tim Miller and Senior Meteorologist Megan Borowski, and first-hand accounts from survivors, the program explores how the storm reshaped South Carolina.
The initiative also features companion reporting through This Week in South Carolina and the South Carolina Lede podcast. Both will provide additional context, examining how the disaster changed emergency operations, infrastructure planning and resilience efforts across the state.
In October 2015, relentless rainfall, fueled in part by Hurricane Joaquin, triggered record flooding that devastated communities across South Carolina. Entire neighborhoods were submerged, critical infrastructure was compromised, and lives were lost. Stories of courage and unity— from neighbors rescuing each other to emergency crews building temporary dams by air— remain lasting reminders of how South Carolinians came together during one of the state’s most destructive natural disasters.
SCETV’s weather-related reporting and emergency response communications efforts extend across the state. SCETV closely monitors evolving weather conditions, ensuring timely updates during weather events through statewide, multiplatform coverage. Leveraging the South Carolina Emergency Information Network (SCEIN), a partnership with WUFT in Gainesville, FL, SCETV regularly delivers critical updates across its broadcast television and radio networks, on social media and online. Additionally, in collaboration with the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) and the Governor’s Office, SCETV broadcasts and livestreams statewide press conferences and provides the latest information on state government office closings. For weather updates and preparedness resources, visit SCETV’s dedicated weather page at SCETV.org/weather.
To learn more about how to submit a story to the “Voices Collected” initiative or to explore upcoming SCETV programming around the “thousand-year” flood, visit SCETV.org/1000yearflood.
