Before the Next Flood: Constructing a Narrative of Flood Preparation and Recovery in Marion County, SC

Marion County, South Carolina, is located between the Great Pee Dee and Little Pee Dee Rivers. Its low-lying topography and poor drainage make it prone to riverine flooding following large scale rain events such as hurricanes, and the county suffered successive record-breaking floods during Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Florence in 2018. Despite the significant flood risk, a 2020 survey conducted by the South Carolina Floodwater Commission revealed gaps in residents' knowledge of and access to flood mitigation techniques and flood insurance. However, the results of that survey provided little insight into the underlying barriers that residents face in addressing flooding. This study uses Constructivist Grounded Theory to examine in depth the relationship between Marion County residents and flooding, building a collective narrative through the analysis of long-form interviews with residents, business owners, and local leaders. The resulting narrative provides valuable insight into the residents' and communities' experiences with flooding, allowing for the recommendation of more effective public policy and establishing a precedent for the use of Constructivist Grounded Theory in understanding the experiences of communities affected by natural disasters.