Divorce Attorney Near Me Garden City, SC

Ricky Yun, owner of Budfields on Atlantic Avenue in Garden City, opened up shop last October, days after a King Tide flooded the low-lying street.

But about three weeks earlier, 3 inches of water poured into the shop from another King Tide, damaging the showcases in the newly-renovated space for his hemp dispensary business. When he leased the space in July 2025, he was never told the area is prone to high tide flooding.

“The major impact, of course, the water comes into the store,” Yun said. “But more than anything else, it just traps everybody.”

July’s King Tide event saw flooding Monday night, and it’s expected to flood again Tuesday evening during high tide, reaching 6.6 feet. Other parts of the county, like Cherry Grove in North Myrtle Beach, often bear the impacts of King Tides.

Visitors during Monday’s King Tide walked through the water barefoot, pushed golf carts through the inches of saltwater and created wakes, pushing water closer to the doorstep of the many businesses that have grown used to the frequent flooding.

July’s King Tide is just one of the many predicted annually for the area, and the number of such events have increased over the years because of sea level rise.

King Tides occur during a full moon or new moon, when the gravitational pull is stronger, resulting in higher than normal tides. In Garden City, proximity to the marsh worsens recurring flooding on Atlantic Avenue, Cypress Avenue, Dogwood Drive and the streets between.

Between 2025 and 2026, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts eight to 13 high tide flooding days to occur based on the nearest NOAA tidal gauge, located at Springmaid Pier. Two decades ago, the average number of high tide flooding days in a year was only two.

According to long-term sea level change data, the sea level at Springmaid Pier has risen 0.75 feet between 1957 and 2025. Along the southeast coast, it has risen 0.62 feet between 1993 and 2025. Levels are predicted to rise an additional 0.87 feet by 2050.

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services says over time, sea level rise can increase the frequency and impacts of King Tide events. Flooding worsens when a King Tide coincides with storms or high winds.

David Gee, a Garden City resident, said he hasn’t been able to tell a difference in frequency in the last 20 years, but notices the streets begin to flood when the tide reaches above 6 feet.

“People that live here know about it,” Gee said. “The people (that) are on vacation, they don’t know what it is, and they’re driving through salt water. I have seen vehicles stalled, especially golf carts.”

Gee said the flooding starts by coming through the drains, and once the marsh overflows, the streets are fully submerged. He said the events last for a few days, but flooding only occurs for a couple of hours at a time, typically during the evening high tide.

What is Horry County planning to help with high tide flooding?

Business owners and residents speculate how the county will improve drainage systems.

Construction along Atlantic Avenue will begin this September for the Garden City Streetscape project. The multiphase project will move overhead utility lines underground, build new sidewalks and upgrade roadside landscaping, but most notably it aims to improve drainage systems and reduce the impacts of high-tide flooding.

The storm drainage system will be improved with catch basins (drains designed to trap sediment) along Atlantic Avenue and Waccamaw Drive, as well as adding double 36-inch outlet pipes equipped with one-way valves to prevent inland backflow from the marsh at Holly and Atlantic avenues.

Road elevation will be raised with curb and gutters added to direct stormwater into drains along Waccamaw Drive and Atlantic Avenue. Pervious material will be used for the sidewalks to allow water to soak through and reduce runoff, and landscaping will be added to reduce erosion and sand washouts.

The existing road elevations are lower than the ocean and marsh sea levels when higher-than-normal tides occur, submerging the low-lying streets, and water gets trapped with nowhere to drain after high tides recede, county spokesperson Kimberly Clifford said by email.

“The conditions have always been an issue and will not be eliminated,” Clifford said by email. “The improvements will increase the drainage capacity in an attempt to drain the water faster than the incoming floodwaters enter the area.”

Once the project is completed, with an estimated completion date in 2029, the number of flooding events should decrease with quicker recovery periods, Clifford said.

GARDEN CITY, S.C (WBTW) — Construction has begun along South Waccamaw Drive in Garden City as part of a streetscape improvement project. Work started near the Georgetown County line and will progress north across five planned phases.

The infrastructure project includes moving overhead utilities underground and installing improved drainage systems to manage frequent flooding from high tides and heavy rain. Crews will also add new sidewalks, crosswalks, parking and lighting along the roadway.

Residents and visitors frequently encounter road flooding in the area. Jeffrey Wackowski, a resident of Horry County, visits Garden City at least five days a week and noted the need for infrastructure upgrades. “Definitely they need drainage improvements 100%,” Wackowski said. “They need that here because this place floods every year. Like I say, I’m here five days a week at least. I’m definitely here at least five days a week. And anything they do crosswalks, the pavement, more parking. That’s all. Something that’s going to benefit this area and make it easier for all of us.”

High water levels often force drivers to navigate hazardous conditions. Valerie Herrera, a visitor to Garden City, recalled how high water impacted her family during a trip to the coast. “They decided since there was a lot of flooding, that they were going to take their Bronco and drive through the water,” Herrera said.

Area businesses also monitor the impact of rising tides on customer access. Kyle Fauble, manager at The Lineup, explained that a better drainage system would help protect the community during extreme tidal events. “We’ve seen plenty of, like, high tides affect down the road a little bit,” Fauble said. “And I think that if it were to surpass that at some point, a better drainage system would be super helpful. And obviously something that would really just ease our minds a little bit more.”

In addition to drainage, parking remains a primary concern for coastal visitors and local establishments. Fauble noted that additional parking spaces would improve access during busy tourism periods. “It’ll allow more customers or more people in general to be able to park locally around here because parking is like a huge issue as of now,” Fauble said. “Just come down this road like in the middle of the summer, you can’t find a parking spot.”

The entire Garden City streetscape project is expected to be completed in 2029.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WBTW. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat information into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WBTW staff before being published.

GARDEN CITY, S.C (WMBF) - The Grand Strand beach renourishment project is complete after nine months of work along the coastline.

The project is intended to help protect the communities behind the beach.

Grand Strand resident Jack Vanhousen says he appreciates the work that was done.

“It goes out about 12 feet in the water, which is no problem for that thing. Replace all the sand; it’s quite a project. It’s really worth seeing. There’s a lot more sand. But that’s the whole idea of beach renourishment,” Vanhousen said.

Visitor reaction

Beach visitor Albert Nastasi said he is glad the project was completed and glad the beach is back to normal.

“Sure, you know, when I first got here there was a lot of pipes and a lot of digging, and not a lot of beach room. It’s beautiful today; I’m looking at it so I’m guessing they got it done. This is the best I’ve seen the beach look in a long time, and I am happy to be here,” Nastasi said.

Impact on tourism

Vanhousen said the project will help keep the area beautiful and continue drawing in tourists.

“Well, we talk about it; they do it all the time. Which is a good thing, you know. Know they like to take care of the beaches. But that’s for the tourists. And without the tourists we don’t have anything down here. We’re good,” Vanhousen said.

The renourished beaches can be found along the 28 miles of coastline in the Grand Strand.

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GARDEN CITY, SC (WMBF) - Phase one of the Garden City streetscape project began Tuesday, with road closures starting throughout the southern part of town.

The project plans to improve road safety and make the area more flood-resistant. It will move power lines underground, add new sidewalks and improve drainage in the area.

Work underway near county line

In phase one, crews are working near the Georgetown County line up to Magnolia Avenue.

Flooded roads have been an issue in Garden City for years. During low tide, Waccamaw Drive was not flooded, but the road would likely flood during high tide, before the streetscape project addresses the issue.

Jim Allison, who lives in the area, said the project has been anticipated.

“It’s been a long time coming. The beach communities are evolving and we’re a little bit behind. And it’s coming,” Allison said.

Allison said construction has caused some inconvenience.

“It’s a hassle because we have to negotiate the traffic barriers... but they’re not doing it in the summer, and I think that’s the win,” Allison said.

Allison said he expects the finished project to make a difference in the area.

“Well, I think when it’s, when it’s finished, the, the way it’s gonna be dressed up and the way it’s gonna be usable is gonna be such a huge difference, and you’re gonna see that it’s gonna be so evident when it’s complete and the, the beach is gonna be more accessible and more usable,” Allison said.

Phase one is the first of five phases planned for the project. Construction is expected to continue for several years, with a completion date not expected until 2029.

Year-round residents describe worsening flooding

Not everyone leaves Garden City for the summer. People living and working in the Garden City area year-round said they have seen flooding issues for multiple years.

Rickey Bass said the flooding follows a pattern.

“It’s definitely cyclatory... we went for a long time with no issues. And then for the last 11 to 13 years it had gotten worse with flooding and hurricanes,” Bass said.

Bass said he hopes fixes to the city’s drainage system can help reduce flooding on his property.

“If they could come in and just do something to the Atlantic Avenue and Cypress... they could just raise those and it would stop that water from entering the road systems and then just traveling right in through our property,” Bass said.

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