General Election Scheduled for November 8

Conway, South Carolina – The Horry County Registration & Elections Office reminds citizens that the General Election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 8.

The last day to vote absentee in the Horry County Registration and Elections Office is Monday, November 7, and the office will also open on Saturday, November 5, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for absentee voting as well. The Horry County Registration and Elections Office is located at 1515 4^th Avenue in Conway. (Absentee voting requirements are listed below.) Keep in mind that there is no EARLY voting in South Carolina.

Voters are encourage to review their voter registration information to confirm any changes prior to the upcoming General Election by going to www.scvotes.org under the “Voters” tab on the left.  Also, voters unsure of their voting location should contact their county voter registration office at (843) 915-5440 or log onto the State Election Commission website at www.scvotes.org.

Voters can now go on www.scvotes.org and pull up their own personal sample ballots.

1) Visit scvotes.org and click on "Get My Sample Ballot" in the My scVOTES section on the   right side of the page.

  2) Enter your county, name, and date of birth to access your voter

     registration record.

  3) Click "View Sample Ballot."

The direct link can be located at https://info.scvotes.sc.gov/eng/voterinquiry/VoterInformationRequest.aspx?PageMode=VoterInfo

Polls will open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. and registered voters waiting in line at 7 p.m. will still be allowed to vote. Registered voters will be required to show any one of five forms of identification in order to vote. Voters must show a voter’s registration card with a picture, driver’s license, a picture ID issued from the Department of Motor Vehicles, any military ID or passport. All forms of identification must be current.

Curbside voting is also available for any voter, because of a physical handicap or aged 65 or older who cannot enter the polling place may vote outside of the polling place in their car.

Unofficial results from the election will be posted on Horry County’s website at www.horrycounty.org immediately after the results are tallied. The results will be on the county’s homepage and will be updated every five minutes. In order to receive the latest information, users will need to hit their “Refresh” or “Reload” button. The polls will close at 7 p.m. and the results will then be tallied. Also, Horry County will open the Horry County Government & Justice Center multi-purpose rooms the evening of November 8, 2016, for public viewing of the results as they come in throughout the evening. Keep in mind that the polls close at 7 p.m.

Persons qualified to vote by absentee ballot:

• Persons who will be on vacation outside their county of residence on Election Day
• Members of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine, and their spouses and dependents residing with them
• Persons who, for reasons of employment, will not be able to vote on Election Day
• Physically disabled persons
• Persons sixty-five (65) years of age or older
• Persons serving as a juror in state or federal court on Election Day
• Persons admitted to the hospital as emergency patients on day of election or within a four-day period before the election
• Persons with a death or funeral in the family within three days before the election
• Persons confined to a jail or pre-trial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial
• Persons attending to sick or physically disabled persons
• Certified poll watchers, poll managers, and county election officials working on Election Day

Procedures for voting by absentee ballot:

Qualified voters may vote absentee in person or by mail.

In Person - Visit your county voter registration office and cast your ballot.  You may vote absentee in person up until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 7, 2016. (Horry County Registrations and Elections Office is located at 1515 4^th Avenue in Conway.)

By Mail – If you requested an absentee ballot to be mailed to your home, you can either return it by mail, or return your absentee ballot to your county voter registration office by 7:00 p.m. on the day of the election. 

City of North Myrtle Beach Hurricane Recovery Update

As of October 28 the City can record the following progress in post-hurricane cleanup:

1.       Ultimately, two collection passes will be made to pick up “vegetative/woody debris” (yard waste) and “construction/demolition debris” (C&D debris).

2.       First pass pickup of yard waste by City crews from public roads in Barefoot Resort began October 24 and has been completed.

3.       First pass pickup of yard waste by City crews from public roads in Windy Hill will be completed on October 29.

4.       First pass pickup of C&D debris in Cherry Grove Beach began October 25 and is ongoing. (The City has hired the private disaster response contractor Phillips & Jordan to assist in debris collection.)

5.       First pass pickup of yard waste debris by City crews in Crescent Beach between Highway 17 and the airport area (Timber Ridge, Airport, Pinewood Acres) begins October 31.

6.       First pass pickup of C&D debris by City crews from public roads in Windy Hill/Barefoot Resort begins October 31.

7.       Once crews have completed the first pass pickup in a collection zone, it may be several weeks before collection resumes in that area if additional debris is placed at the roadside.

8.       Pickup of yard debris, and C&D debris, by our federally approved contactor Phillips & Jordan is not allowed in gated neighborhoods with private roads. However, the City has been working through the SC Emergency Management Division and FEMA to seek a waiver of this restriction. State and federal representatives toured private roads on October 28 to assess the amount of debris located there.

9.       As the yard waste debris and C&D debris collection processes move forward, we will identify the next locations to be picked up by City crews and the City’s contractor, Phillips & Jordan.

10.   City crews have cleared an abundance of fallen trees and other debris from public parks, and all parks are open to the public on normal schedules.

11.   City personnel have assessed 189 out of 196 dune walkover structures on the beach for hurricane related damage and assessment work will be completed November 1. The damage information will then be submitted to FEMA in hopes that the City may receive some funding assistance in rebuilding the damaged structures.

12.   During the hurricane and since its passing, City officials worked to provide the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with photos of dune and beach-sand losses. Immediately following the hurricane, measurements were also taken of the beach face and submitted to the Corps. The City is also working in unison with other Horry County jurisdictions to seek emergency beach renourishment funding, and, barring that occurrence, to make every effort to ensure that funding is included in the federal budget for the regularly scheduled 2018 10-year Grand Strand-wide beach renourishment project.

13.   City Messaging— Prior to, during and following the storm, the City issued many advisories, assessments and work updates to its property owners, businesses and the general public via social media, email news groups, websites, etc. Appropriate versions of these messages were also provided by the North Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce to its many audiences, including businesses, and traditional and prospective vacationers. 

1.       City information outlets:

1.       www.NMB.us

2.       www.Facebook.com/cityofnmb

3.       www.Twitter.com/cityofnmb

4.       Email News Group: Join for free and receive the same news releases that are sent to the news media. Send your email address to Public Information Officer Pat Dowling at pcdowling@nmb.us

Post-Hurricane Chamber of Commerce Messaging – “The Coast is Clear”— Following the hurricane, the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce launched a “The Coast is Clear” tourism marketing campaign for North Myrtle Beach primarily through social media with a mix of messaging and paid ads. Mindful of some initial safety concerns in portions of the city, and the initial lack of electricity in sections of the city, the Chamber’s campaign did not over-promise but reminded traditional and prospective vacationers in key markets that North Myrtle Beach was safe, beautiful, open for business, and quickly recovering. 

Howl-O-Scream Saturday, October 29 At Nmb Park & Sports Complex

North Myrtle Beach, SC – October 27, 2016 – You are invited to Howl-O-Scream Saturday, October 29 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex.

This is a safe, fun Halloween event for young children and their families. Activities include hayrides, games, entertainment, concessions, marshmallow roasting, face painting, trick-or-treating and more.

Scare-Free and Scare Zones offer a variety of excitement levels that are sure to satisfy all.

Cost of admission is $5 per vehicle.

The rain date for this event is Sunday, October 30.

The event is hosted by North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation Department and Coastal Carolina University’s Recreation and Sport Management Department.

For weather information and updates, call the Rec Check Line at (843) 280-5594 ext. 3.

SCEMD/FEMA Private Sector Advisory Hurricane Matthew (DR-4286-SC)

October 27, 2016

DR-4286 Hurricane Matthew

Private Sector Advisory # 01

FEMA Private Sector POC: Chad McCormick

SCEMD Private Sector: David Perry

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) encourage all of our Private Sector partners to share the following disaster recovery information with your membership, employees, families and friends who were impacted and sustained damages by Hurricane Matthew that occurred October 4 and continuing. 

South Carolina Survivors Urged to Register for Disaster Assistance

Homeowners and renters in three more South Carolina counties – Berkeley, Charleston and Chesterfield – are now eligible to receive Individual Assistance from FEMA to help them recover from flooding caused by Hurricane Matthew.

Individual Assistance is also available to homeowners and renters in these 21 counties: Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Calhoun, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Jasper, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Orangeburg, Sumter and Williamsburg. 

Assistance can include money for temporary rental assistance and essential home repairs for primary homes, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help survivors recover from the effects of the disaster.

Survivors can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362. Disaster assistance applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing should call 800-462-7585 (TTY); those who use Video Relay Service may call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

For additional information, please visit FEMA new release.

What to Expect After You Apply for Disaster Assistance

Registering with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the first step to getting federal disaster assistance. FEMA will ask you to provide information about the property damage you sustained from Hurricane Matthew, proof of your identity and residency, insurance and other documentation to help determine your eligibility.

For additional information, please see “What to expect after South Carolina survivors call FEMA”

---

SBA Opens Business Recovery Center in South Carolina

SBA representatives at the Center can provide information about disaster loans, answer questions and provide help in completing the SBA application.  The Center is located as indicated below and will operate until further notice:

Beaufort County Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce 1 Chamber of Commerce Drive Hilton Head, SC 29928   Days: Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sat 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Closed: Sundays

Florence County Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce 100 West Evans Street Florence, SC 29501   Opens: Friday, Oct. 28 @ 11 a.m. Days: Mon-Thur. 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday’s 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Closed: Saturdays & Sundays

Orangeburg County Small Business Development Center S.C State University Belcher Hall (Suite 353) 300 College Street NE Orangeburg, SC 29117   Days: Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed: Saturdays & Sundays

For additional information regarding SBA Business Recovery Centers (BRC’s), please visit news release.

Additional Information:

For more information on the State of South Carolina Hurricane Matthew recovery, go to fema.gov/disaster/4286 or visit the S.C Emergency Management Division site at http://www.scemd.org/. 

Also, we encourage all those with smartphone access to please visit your mobile app store and download the free FEMA App.  The FEMA App can provide you with information on preparedness, weather alerts along with shelter locations (Red Cross) or available Disaster Recovery Centers (FEMA DRC’s) DRC Locator.

Documents:

• FEMA-4286-DR, South Carolina Disaster Declaration as of 10/26/2016
• Disaster Assistance Flyer - Flier DR 4286 ENG-SPA Registration

---

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD).

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

Cherry Grove Dredging Discharge Pipe And Little River Neck Road

Beginning October 24, the discharge pipe for the Cherry Grove Dredging Project will be installed underneath Little River Neck Road. The casing will be left in place for future dredging operations.

The installation process was delayed by the hurricane. SCDOT had to put a hold on all encroachment work in state rights of way because all of their personnel were tied up dealing with hurricane and flooding issues. The stop work order has now been lifted.

The work will not interfere with vehicular traffic on Little River Neck Road. The construction work will occur well away from either side of the road.

Hurricane Matthew Debris Collection Starts Monday in North Myrtle Beach

Hurricane Matthew related debris pick-up will begin in the morning of Monday, October 24.

Please refer to the attached Zone Map when reading the following:

1. City Crews will begin vegetative/yard debris collection in Barefoot, Zone 5 and will move to Windy Hill, Zone 1.

2. Contractor crews will begin construction and demolition debris collection in Cherry Grove, Zone 4.

The City will update the schedule as progress occurs.

Cherry Grove Dredging Project Update

The two dredges to be used in the Cherry Grove Dredging Project should arrive in North Myrtle Beach at some point on Friday, October 21.

As a precautionary measure, the South Carolina Department of Transportation had stopped the trucks carrying the dredges at the South Carolina/Georgia border in order to first ensure that roads and bridges could handle the load following the flooding that impacted roadways in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. The trucks were released for transport today.

Much of the pipeline that will be used to transport dredged material to the spoils basin has been put together (attached photo).

A large crane (attached photo) will be used to launch the dredges and small barges carrying large booster pumps (attached photo). 

Depending on schedule availability of the crane operator, the dredges and booster pumps will be launched Friday and Saturday, or Friday and Monday.  

Basil’s Pizza Family Fun Run/Walk is November 3 at the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center

North Myrtle Beach, SC – October 18, 2016 – The North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center invites the public to participate in the 10^th Annual Basil’s Pizza One Mile Family Fun Run/Walk on November 3 at the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center. Whether you go for a jog or a light stroll, this event is designed to promote a healthy and active lifestyle centered on fun.

The Horry County School with the most participation will receive a monetary donation.

The $8.00 registration fee includes dinner, a medal and an event t-shirt. Additional dinner tickets are available for $5.00 each.

Onsite registration begins at 5:00 p.m. and the one mile run/walk begins at 6:00 p.m. If it rains, the event will be held inside the Aquatic & Fitness Center.

Whether you enjoy a jog or a light stroll, this popular annual event is designed to promote a healthy, active lifestyle.

The event is sponsored by Basil’s Pizza, North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center, Basil’s Realty McLeod Seacoast, Sandhills Bank, RIOZ Brazilian Steakhouse, ReMax Southern Shores-Roz Murray, Greg Norman’s Australian Grille, and State Farm-Callie Wise 843-272-9990.

For more information, call Heather Smith at 843-281-3737.

RESULTS: October 17 City Council Meeting

North Myrtle Beach, SC – October 17, 2016 – During the regularly scheduled October 17 North Myrtle Beach City Council meeting, Mayor Marilyn Hatley presented a Proclamation in support of the October 23-29 General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) “Advocates for Children Week.” The North Myrtle Beach Woman’s Club is a GFWC affiliated club.

Since the early 1900s, GFWC members have played an intricate role in advocating for the health and well-being of children with prominent clubwomen such as Jane Addams and Julia Lathrop paving the way for the implementation of improved child labor and juvenile court laws. GFWC members also educate, advocate and engage in projects concerning the well-being of children via health, social and safety programs by working to ensure that children are protected from harmful situations, and by encouraging healthy physical and emotional lifestyles.

The GFWC North Myrtle Beach Woman’s Club advocates for children by supporting Tools for Schools, the Children’s Recovery Center, the Autism Foundation, the USO United Through Reading Program, and more.

Employee Longevity Awards were presented to Parks & Recreation Operations Director Gregg Barnhill (35 years of service), Utility Billing Supervisor Darwin Reed (20), Custodian Carolyn Moody (15), and Records Clerk Jessica Holt (10). Longevity Awards are provided in five year increments to those city employees who consistently achieve excellence in customer service.

City Council passed second (final) reading of an ordinance rezoning one lot of about 13,409 square feet located at 404 Hillside Drive from R-2 (Medium Density Residential) to R-2A (Mid Rise Multifamily Residential).

Council tabled until its November 21 meeting second reading of an ordinance to amend the Bahama Island Planned Development District. The ordinance proposes to modify a portion of the total development to allow an RV campground along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. The delay between readings allows for work to be completed on a related development agreement.

City Council passed second reading of an ordinance to amend the Barefoot Resort Commercial (a.k.a. Barefoot Landing) Planned Development District (PDD).

The Barefoot Landing PDD offers several important public benefits. The developer will donate to the city or the South Carolina Department of Transportation via a limited warranty deed about 1.78 acres of land for the expansion of the 48th Avenue South intersection improvements with turning lanes into and out of the Barefoot Landing project, as well as improvements to the southernmost entry into Barefoot landing.

The developer will also contribute funding not to exceed $200,000 and dedicate any required easements

for the relocation of the existing sewer pump station located adjacent to Dick’s Last Resort parking lot. The new location will be mutually acceptable to the developer and the city.

These public benefits will be binding on the current and future owners of Barefoot Landing until they are fulfilled. The donation of land for right-of-way and the pump station relocation will be completed prior to the city issuing a certificate of occupancy for a new restaurant to be located on the Intracoastal Waterway between T-Bonz and Greg Norman’s Australian Grille.

The revised site plan for Barefoot Landing adds 70,620 square feet of new building product. When added to the existing 244,380 square feet of commercial space, the new total is 315,000 square feet or a 29% increase.

Plans also call for the private, internal roadway system to receive a major update. Most notably, the existing roadway along the Waterway would be relocated and redesigned to allow for a better traffic circulation pattern. A pedestrian plaza is also planned to connect future uses with the Waterway.

The architectural style for Barefoot Landing could change from the current colors and building materials to one “inspired by great coastal towns along the eastern seaboard”, combining the “character and authenticity of historic main street with the natural beauty of the waterfront in the reimagined shopping and dining experience.”

Redevelopment of the property would be accomplished over time and based on market demands.

Scammers impersonating Santee Cooper are targeting business and residential customers

Scammers are targeting business and residential customers, and Santee Cooper don't want you to become a victim of fraud.

Many businesses and residents in the area are being hit by scammers identifying themselves as representing Santee Cooper.

We ask you to be on high alert! Never pay if you are called and asked to pay within a specific time frame or with a specific type of payment (card). 

Please go to a local office or call Santee Cooper's local number (843-249-3505) to verify or make any payment.

Remember, Santee Cooper will NEVER:

• Ask you to supply your credit card number unless you are applying for new service and require a security deposit
• Request banking information unless you initiate the conversation
•  Email or text you and demand payment
• Ask you to pay through a money transfer or with a prepaid credit/debit card
• Make forceful demands for immediate payment and threaten to show up at your business or residence

If you happen to receive a call and feel pressured, hang up and call one of Santee Cooper's Customer Care representatives at 843-249-3505. Do NOT use the number provided to you by the caller.

Hurricane Debris Removal Update

City of North Myrtle Beach, SC - Oct. 17, 2016

The City has selected a debris collection monitoring firm and a debris collection firm. They should begin to mobilize gradually toward the end of this week, as both contractors hire personnel and they learn the federally required collection and monitoring system. They should be out in full force early next week.

Toward the end of this week we have meetings scheduled with both contractors and should emerge with a basic collection schedule. We believe at this point that the contractors will probably work 12 hour shifts.

Again, the debris collection contractor is not allowed to pick up bagged yard debris. However, the City will ultimately collect the bagged yard debris they leave behind. If you are still moving yard debris to curbside, please do not bag it.

Thanks for your patience. This process has to be accomplished in accordance with federal guidelines, which in the end ensures accountability and protects everyone involved.

Private Roads and Storm Debris Pickup

City of North Myrtle Beach, Sc - October 17, 2016

We have been asked if private roads will be included in storm debris pickup through the federal program, and the answer at this time is no. HOWEVER, the city of North Myrtle Beach has applied to the federal government for a waiver that, if granted, would allow private roads to be included in the storm debris pickup. We will let you know of the federal government's decision once we have received it.

North Myrtle Beach Paving Improvements Begin Monday, October 17 on Selected Roads

The City has an existing paving contract with Palmetto Paving for paving improvements on the following streets:

·       Nixon Street from 20^th Avenue North to 34^th Avenue North

·       31^st Avenue North from Nixon Street to the marsh

·       Lake Drive from 39^th Avenue North to 53^rd Avenue North

·       52^nd Avenue North

·       53^rd Avenue North

·       59^th Avenue North

The paving is scheduled to begin Monday October 17 and must be completed by the end of November to meet SCDOT pavement restrictions.

Prior to Monday, the City will clear ALL debris along the rights-of-way of the streets to be paved in an effort to preserve the new pavement from being damaged by the large trucks that will soon be used for debris removal under the federal disaster declaration.

Guidelines on Placing Debris at Curbside in North Myrtle Beach

Following FEMA regulations, the City of North Myrtle Beach is in the final stages of hiring a debris monitoring contractor and a debris collection contractor. The former will monitor the latter as it picks up hurricane related debris in North Myrtle Beach.

The process entails a slight pickup delay, but the general result is that FEMA may absorb about 85% of debris collection costs that occur within the first 30 days following the start of the hurricane event (the October 4 evacuation order). The city pays the remaining costs.

We will soon put out the collection schedule.

In the meantime, please see the attached graphics provided by the firm that will be collecting debris in North Myrtle Beach. They show how and where to place debris.

North Myrtle Beach EOC Public Phone Line To Be Disconnected at 5 PM October 13

City of North Myrtle Beach

The North Myrtle Beach Emergency Operations Center public phone Line (843-281-3705) will be disconnected at 5:00 p.m. October 13.

After 5:00 p.m., people may call the regular Public Safety dispatch phone at 843-280-5511 for non-emergencies.

Call 9-1-1 for emergencies.

U.S. Small Business Administration Announces Disaster Declaration for Horry County

The U.S. Small Business Administration has added more counties to the disaster declaration in North and South Carolina affected by Hurricane Matthew that began on Oct. 4, 2016.

The disaster declaration now covers the counties of Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Edgecombe, Hoke,Johnston, Lenoir, Nash, Pitt, Robeson, Wayne and Wilson in North Carolina, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA.  Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Brunswick, Chowan, Craven, Duplin, Franklin, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hyde, Jones, Martin, Moore, Northampton, Pamlico, Pender, Richmond, Sampson, Scotland, Wake, Warren, and Washington in North Carolina; Dillon, Horry and  Marlboro in South Carolina.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA's secure website.

To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, applicants should register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by mobile device at m.fema.gov.  If online or mobile access is unavailable, applicants should call the FEMA toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-3362.

Additional details on the locations of Disaster Recovery Centers and the loan application process can be obtained by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. 

Cherry Grove Dredging Project Update

City of North Myrtle Beach, October 12, 2016, 12:05 P.M.

Although interrupted by Hurricane Matthew, work on the Cherry Grove Dredging Project has resumed. Orion Marine Group’s employees are back on site and are again working on putting together the pipeline.

Also, highway transport permits for hauling the two dredges that will be used in the project have been issued. On October 17, the company will begin transporting the dredges from Louisiana to North Myrtle Beach. They should arrive in North Myrtle Beach by the end of that week.

Weekend festivities throughout the Grand Strand to go on as scheduled

Despite ongoing Hurricane Matthew recovery operations, the Myrtle Beach Area is bouncing back and welcoming visitors. Mike Bettes of the Weather Channel said during a live broadcast from the Boardwalk yesterday, "It's sunny and beautiful and business as usual here in Myrtle Beach ... why not come on out!"

Great events taking place this week/weekend:

Pawleys Island Festival of Music & Art - Thursday, Oct. 13-Saturday, Oct. 15

Georgetown Boat Show - Friday, Oct. 14-Sunday, Oct. 16

Myrtle Beach Seafood Festival - Saturday, Oct. 15

See more Grand Strand events here.

"Myrtle Beach is back in business and it's going to be a great weekend," says Brad Dean, president and CEO of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. "Myrtle Beach is known for its resilience. Power crews have been working around the clock and have done such an amazing job that it's hard to imagine just a few days ago we were dealing with a huge storm, now we're welcoming back visitors. But it's not just about the visitors. We know a lot of people depend on tourism for their jobs and livelihoods, so getting our economy back up and running is good for everyone."

A Survey conducted by the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce showed that many businesses are open or well on their way to being open for business! For an updated list of business openings visit the chamber website.

What's the power situation in North Myrtle Beach?

City of North Myrtle Beach, October 12, 2016, 11:15 A.M.

That’s today’s trending question. The answer is: Getting better by the hour. We still have spotty outages, and four traffic lights are still out with locations on Main Street and Sea Mountain Highway.

About 38,000 customers in Santee Cooper's service location from the Town of Briarcliffe Acres, north to Little River originally lost power due to the hurricane, and about 2,300 customers are still without power as of this writing. So, Santee Cooper is working hard and effectively to get things back to normal.

City of North Myrtle Beach Storm Debris Collection Update

City crews have worked since Sunday morning (October 9) to open streets and remove debris (fallen trees and other materials) from public rights-of-way. Road clearing operations (emergency protective measures) are only allowed on public roads under FEMA guidelines, and we are on schedule to complete those operations today (October 11). It is important that we get this work done by the end of today because there is a 72-hour window starting from the end of a hurricane for inclusion of these efforts (time and materials) for potential reimbursement to the city by FEMA.

Crews have also been working to clear public parks, which hold many downed trees and branches.

The City is running its normal collection schedule for garbage and recycling, HOWEVER, we are not running the normal yard waste collection route, since these crews must continue to assist with the road clearing operation until it is done. We are aware that property owners have placed lots of yard debris at curbside after our initial road clearing operations passed by, and be assured that the City will pick up this debris as soon as we can get to it over the next few weeks.

Currently, we are not going to collect the large quantities of homeowner-placed storm debris until the following issues are confirmed for us at the County level:

1. A Disaster declaration

 2. A Debris removal contractor

 3. A Debris management site

Once these issues are decided (there are protocols and procedures the County must follow, some of which are beyond its immediate control), the City will initiate its plan for collection of storm-generated debris placed at curbside by private property owners, and we will communicate our schedule to you.

Some have asked us why City crews have "skipped" some trees that fell in some rights-of-way. Those trees actually came down on power lines and the lines are still entwined in the trees. Santee Cooper must first remove the power lines from those trees, and then our crews will remove the trees from the rights-of-way. Of course, Santee Cooper is working hard with its own and many outside crews to restore power everywhere.

In instances where trees have fallen on private power lines, neither property owners or contractors should attempt tree removal. Contact Santee Cooper and inform them of the situation.