Georgetown Mayor’s Forum: Mayor Doyle provides update on stormwater and flooding concerns
October 25, 2026
Georgetown Mayor Jay Doyle provided an update on Thursday evening to approximately two dozen residents and business owners gathered to learn how the city is managing an aging infrastructure system while responding to increasingly frequent flooding events. Mayor Doyle announced that the city is initiating a new study to assess stormwater and flooding incidents citywide.
“The biggest causes of flooding in Georgetown are rain events and tides,” Mayor Doyle explained. “Another challenge we face is that the SC Department of Transportation owns most of the storm drains, and if you touch or repair a DOT drain, the ownership of the drain would transfer to the city.”
This ownership transfer could create a financial hardship the city is unprepared to manage.
To help secure external funding, the city has hired a full-time grant writer tasked with researching and applying for state and federal programs. Approximately $400 million in grant funding is available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for flood mitigation, alongside a $10 million grant pool from the state Office of Resilience. City staff will work to identify potential matching funds required for these grant applications.
Despite recent work completed in the historic district over the past year, significant flooding occurred at the intersection of Front and Orange Streets two weeks when high tides prevented water from discharging through outfall pipes into the river. As a temporary solution during major water events, Mayor Doyle suggested purchasing a mobile pump to clear the roadways.
Mayor Doyle also addressed monthly stormwater utility fees. Due to a billing error, approximately 25 percent of water customers were not being charged for stormwater services; the city is currently correcting this. Additionally, the US Department of Agriculture has reached out to city engineers regarding funding opportunities for water and wastewater projects.
During the Q&A session, residents raised concerns regarding aging drainage infrastructure, the need for more frequent storm drain maintenance, and replacing legacy terra cotta pipes with durable modern materials. One resident also asked the city council to revisit proposed eight-foot bulkhead requirements for the potential redevelopment of the former Independent Seafood and Tarbox properties.
The informational session highlighted the city’s active strategy to address infrastructure challenges by securing grant funding, correcting utility billing, and collaborating with federal and state agencies.
