Are you ready for a disaster?

Wind, rain, quakes — preparedness can ensure
Lakelands area residents would bounce back

October 23, 2005

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

For the past few months, Mother Nature has been wreaking havoc on regions around the globe.
The high winds and heavy rains of hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the U.S. Gulf Coast region. A magnitude 7.6 earthquake reduced parts of South Asia to rubble.
Torrential downpours in the Northeast U.S. forced officials to shut down roads and evacuate residents from their homes.
The latest natural disasters might have some Lakelands residents wondering, “What would I do if it happened here?”
Hurricanes, flooding — and yes, even earthquakes — do happen in South Carolina, and Greenwood insurance agents say the recent events have made some homeowners take a closer look at their insurance policies.
“We’ve had a few more calls,” said Countybanc Insurance President Ken Finch. “(Flood insurance and earthquake endorsements) are more in the forefront of everybody’s minds now than they were two years ago. People are more focused on it and they are asking more questions.”
Damage that results from wind or driving rain — the type of damage a home might experience during a hurricane or tornado — is covered under most standard homeowner policies in this area, Finch said.
But standard homeowner policies do not cover damage that results from floods or rising water, Finch said, a fact that some homeowners might not realize.
Finch said flood insurance policy prices can vary, depending on the size of the house, its location and the amount of coverage desired by the homeowners.
Homeowners who reside within federally designated flood zones are usually required to purchase the flood insurance policies in order to receive mortgages, said State Farm Insurance agent Frank Coyle.
“But people need to consider flood insurance even if it is not mandated by their banks,” he said. “In the course of a 30-year mortgage, there is a 26 percent chance that you will have a claim due to a flood. There is only a 4 percent chance you’ll have a fire claim.”
Though flood insurance is available to anyone, Coyle said most homeowners neglect to purchase the policies.
Since the 1980s, officials in Greenwood County have been studying and mapping federally designated flood zones near creeks, streams, rivers and on the shores of Lake Greenwood, said Greenwood City and County Engineer Larry Smith.
“But there are a lot of unknown flood zones out there,” Smith said.
He said it is important for builders to not only check flood zone maps before beginning construction of a home or business, but also to visually survey the land surrounding the building site.
“When you go out to look at a piece of property, if there is a drain, creek or stream nearby, you need to have concern,” Smith said. “Flat land areas adjacent to creeks and streams are suspect (flood zones) because most are created by the flooding of the creek or stream.”
Insurance agencies offer flood insurance through an agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency through the National Flood Insurance Program, said Coyle. The insurance is regulated by the federal government, but individual agencies are able to sell and service the policies for the government.
Some homeowners also might be surprised to find out that damage that results from an earthquake, such as broken windows or cracked foundations, is also exempted from standard homeowner insurance policies.
Earthquake endorsements can be added easily to homeowner policies, and usually are not very expensive, said Nationwide Insurance agent Mary Ann Smith, with the Mary Ann Smith Insurance Agency.
She said only a small percentage of her agency’s clients actually opt to add the earthquake endorsement to their policies.
“People just don’t think we’re ever going to have an earthquake,” Mary Ann Smith said, “but (adding earthquake endorsements) is not a bad thing for people to consider doing.”
According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources’ Web site, there are about five mapped fault lines in the Lakelands region.
Over the past 150 years, South Carolina has seen a number of earthquakes, including an estimated 7.6 tremor centered near Charleston in 1886 — the strongest earthquake known to hit the Eastern Seaboard — that killed 60 people and was felt over 2.5 million square miles. About 30 years later, a 5.5 magnitude earthquake occurred near Union.
More recently, Greenwood residents were shaken by the shockwaves of smaller earthquakes in April 2003 and August 2005.
Trish Clark, an agent with Burns & Burns Insurance, said it is important for people to make an appointment to see their insurance agents to review their policies so they can be aware of what coverage they have before a disaster occurs.
“We definitely recommend that people look at their policies,” she said. “A lot of people don’t even know what they’ve got.”

William ‘Billy’ Burdette

WATERLOO — William Alton “Billy” Burdette, 65, of 231 Cannon Road, died Friday, Oct. 21, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Laurens County, he was a son of the late John Dewitt and Mattie Genell Gambrell Burdette. He was retired from Springs Mill in Lancaster and of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include a daughter, Tonda Burdette of Old Town, Fla.; two sons, Charles Burdette of Waterloo and Jody Steadman of Gaffney; two sisters, Delores Shealy of Batesburg-Leesville and Helen Leopard of Saluda; three brothers, Melvin Burdette, Julian Burdette of Waterloo, Donnie Burdette of Greenwood; and six grandchildren.
Services are 3 p.m. Monday at Harley Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Grady Lothridge Sr. Visitation is 1-3 Monday at Harley Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of his son, Charles Burdette, 263 Cannon Road, Waterloo.
Memorials may be made to the Billy Burdette fund, c/o Harley Funeral Home.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

John Hayward Coates

John Hayward Coates, 68, of 1044 Phoenix St., died Friday, Oct. 21, 2005.
Born in Saluda County, he was a son of J.B. Coates and the late Beaulah Ethel Graham Coates. He was a member of the Lockhart Baptist Church, Saluda, where he was a member of the Trustee Board, the Senior Choir and a former Sunday School Teacher. He was a retired owner and operator of John’s Body Shop a 1955 graduate of Riverside High School and an Army veteran.
Survivors include his father of Saluda; two brothers, Willie James Coates, Philadelphia, Pa. and George Coates, Saluda; four sisters, Marcella Dean and Leona Coates, both of Saluda, Sallie Durrant, Philadelphia, Pa. and Ruby Coates, Norristown, Pa.
Services are 1 p.m. Monday at the Lockhart Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Willie C. Bryant. The body will be placed in the church at noon. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are nephews. Flower bearers are nieces.
The family is at the home of his father, J.B. Coates, 436 Henley Road, Saluda.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home, Saluda, is in charge.

Ophelia Cunningham

PLUM BRANCH — Ophelia Cunningham, 69, of 465 Gilchrist Road, died Friday, Oct. 21, 205 at Aiken Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include five daughters, Delores Jones and Elaine Anderson, Edgefield; Margaret Wideman, McCormick, Lucinda Coats, Greenwood, Renee Saunders, Schensville, Pa.; eight sons, Larry Cunningham, Walter Cunningham and Stevie Cunningham, Edgefield; James A. Cunningham and Clement Cunningham Jr., Greenwood, Franklin Cunningham, Abbeville, Jesse Cunningham, Norfolk, Va. and Kevin Cunningham, North Augusta; three sisters, Effie Stevens, Plum Branch, Emma Gilchrist, Edgefield and Daisy Reed, Washington, D.C.; two brothers, Curtis Outz, Plum Branch and Willie Outz Sr., Edgefield; 27 grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by G.L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary, Edgefield.

James Thomas ‘Tom’ Gilchrist

McCORMICK — James Thomas “Tom” Gilchrist, 85, of 287 Sandrock Road, died Thursday, Oct. 20, 2005 at the HospiceCare of the Piedmont Inc. in Greenwood.
Born in Edgefield County, he was a son of the late Sam Sr. and Mary Eliza Price Gilchrist. He was a member of the Liberty Spring Baptist Church and a retired mechanic for Miranda Fuel Company of New York.
Survivors include his wife, Carrie Brown Gilchrist, Cincinnati, Ohio; three sons, Alonza Gilchrist, Detroit, Mich., James Gilchrist, Cincinnati, Ohio and Victor Black Gilchrist of Bronx, N.Y.; four daughters, Mary Ann Davis, Atlanta, Ga., Barbara Black, Manhattan, N.Y., SSG Juanita Black, Laurel, Md. and Josephine Bell, Honolulu, Hawaii; a brother, John Henry Gilchrist Sr., Edgefield; five sisters, Juanita Coates and Geneva Herring, both of McCormick, Maggie Gordon, Edgefield, Pauline Johnson, Temple Hills, Md. and Callie Brown, Indian Head, Md.; 28 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Services are 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Liberty Spring Baptist Church, Edgefield, conducted by the Rev. Henry R. Merriweather, assisting Revs. Henry Gilchrist, Sloan Gordon, Ernest Gordon and Doris Merriweather. The body will be placed in the church at noon. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are Keith Gordon, John H. Gilchrist Jr., Fred Coombs, Sam Gilchrist III, Wilbur Gordon Jr. and David Gilchrist.
Flower bearers are granddaughters and nieces.
The family is at the home of his sister, Mrs. Wilbur (Maggie) Gordon, 54 Gordon Town Road, Edgefield.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home, Saluda, is in charge.

James Marion Hackett Sr.

James Marion Hackett Sr., of 114 N. Bethune St., died Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005 in Greenville.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Parks Funeral Home.

Billy Wayne Johnson

Billy Wayne Johnson, 66, of 232 East Cambridge, Apt. 3, died Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005 at his home.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home.

Phillip Wayne Morris

Phillip Wayne Morris, 49, of 230 East Cambridge, Apt. 213, died Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home.

George Pressley Morton

Services for George Pressley Morton are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Cross Road Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Joseph Caldwell, assisted by the Revs. Willie Evans, William Pilgrim and Minister Charles Williams. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are nephews, cousins and friends.
Flower bearers are nieces, cousins and friends.
Visitation is Monday evening at the home of his sister, Lila B. Dansby, 815 Whitehall Road.
Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc. is in charge.
Online condolences can be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com

M.B. Watson

ABBEVILLE — M.B. Watson, 63, died Friday, Oct. 21, 2005 at Abbeville County Memorial Hospital.
Born in Abbeville County, he was a son of Sadie M. Watson Johnson and the late David Johnson. He was a member of Mount Ollie Baptist Church and a retired employee of Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Greenwood.
Survivors include his mother of Abbeville; two sisters, Mary L. Coates of the home, Catherine Hancock of Washington D.C.; two brothers, John Johnson of Abbeville and Joseph Johnson of Hawaii.
The family is at the home of his sister, Mary L. Coates, 43 Redwood Road, Abbeville.
Services will be announced by Brown and Walker Funeral Home.

Jacobs going out on her own terms

October 23, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

Tracy Jacobs entered this volleyball season determined to leave the court on her own terms.
One week before the start of the 2004 season, the Lander University two-sport star, fresh off her second knee surgery, decided to forgo her volleyball career to focus on what might have been viewed her best sport: basketball.
After completing the 2004-05 Lady Bearcats basketball without incident, the senior from Shaker Heights, Ohio decided to return to the sport she loves for one last go of it.
“Not a lot of people know that I like volleyball more than I do basketball,” Jacobs said. “I just wanted another chance to play volleyball before it was all over, before I had no more eligibility left.
“I had the knee surgery and I wanted to play real bad, but I couldn’t. I just wanted to give it one more try and see how it goes.”
It’s something that volleyball coach Doug Spears, who is coaching her for the first time, admires.
“It’s a real credit to her to come back from not one but two knee surgeries, one to each knee,” said Spears, who is in his first season back as the Lady Bearcats’ volleyball coach. “To even want to play a fifth year of sports in college after that says a lot about the type of person she is.”
But Jacobs, who is in her third year at Lander after transferring from Gulf Coast (Fla.)
Community College, soon found out that wanting to play and actually getting on the court were two different things.
Despite leading her team in several individual statistics, Jacobs saw most of her numbers from drop from her first-team All-Peach Belt Conference year in 2003-04, including a scoring average drop of 18.1 point per game to a team-high 12.6 and 80 steals to 44.
“I knew I’d be back, but I knew I wouldn’t be at the same level as I was,” Jacobs said. “I knew I wasn’t going to be able to jump like I did before.
“I did see my speed slow down … a lot. For me not to be able to move as fast from side to side, that was awful for me because I couldn’t play defense the way I wanted to play.”
But the most serious effect of the two knee injuries wouldn’t be as damaging on the basketball court as it would for volleyball.
The 5-foot-6 Jacobs lost 16 inches off her vertical leap, something the diminutive senior needed as an outside hitter, a position generally filled by taller players.
“That (jumping) was my strongest point in being an outside hitter,” Jacobs said. “It’s not anywhere the same as it used to be. Before, I didn’t really mind jumping around anywhere. Now, I have to think about everything I do because I don’t want to re-hurt myself.
“So, when it was taken away, I knew I had to get better in my other skills.”
But not only would Jacobs have to develop her other skills, but by her own design, she would also have to master a new position.
Before the start of the 2005 season, Jacobs went to Spears and asked to be moved to the back row.
“I just didn’t want any more problems,” she said. “It was hard to accept because I felt like I had an advantage. It was a difficult thing to do because I’ve been so used to playing the whole court.
“But it’s better to be in the back row than to be in pain.”
So, instead of putting up numbers like 357 kills and 47 blocks like she did in 32 games in 2003, Jacobs has filled her role, having 16 kills and three blocks in 24 games this season.
“She’s done a great job as a back-row player,” Spears said. “She is the total team player. She’s never complained about anything we’ve asked of her.”
But Jacobs is learning that dealing with a giving up a position she’s played for almost 16 years has been more difficult than understanding the new one.
“I do miss the front row and hitting,” Jacobs said. “I just miss it. I miss that I was so good at it and I like showing people that I could get so many kills in a game.
“It’s been a learning experience.”

Little ‘giant’ should be in County Hall of Fame

October 23, 2005

The nomination form for the Greenwood County Hall of Fame Award calls it the highest award the Greenwood Area Chamber of Commerce can bestow on a citizen of Greenwood County.
It is intended, the form says, to recognize individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the economic well-being and quality of life of Greenwood County, led exemplary lives both socially and spiritually, and, through their careers, have brought recognition and honor to their community.
The late E. L. Caldecott should be in the hall. This diminutive man may have been small in stature, but he was a giant in the life of this community.

HE WAS BORN IN ENGLAND, but the vagaries of war – WWII – brought him to Greenwood. He was active in business and earned the respect of his peers through his E. L. Caldecott Garnetting Company. He was one of the driving forces in the creation of Alliance Francais, the French Club, and that became a popular social and learning group.
Lewis Caldecott, though, contributed more to this community than some can even imagine. When his wife Phelia developed cancer, Caldecott saw a great need for some way to help cancer victims and their families. So, he spearheaded the creation of an organization to do that. The good work that led to needs no explanation. After Phelia died, he married again, and he and the late Avis Caldecott continued as hosts of the French Club.
There was another way, though, that Caldecott served the people of Greenwood, and he did it almost by himself and by spending his own money. That was the thankless and never-ending task of rescuing and treating homeless dogs and cats and, once in a while, something bigger.

HE PRETTY MUCH WAS, single-handedly, the animal shelter and Humane Society for Greenwood. He also assumed the awesome responsibility of deciding which animal could not be saved. That, as might be imagined, took a terrible emotional toll on this sensitive man. He was known to cry unabashedly after so many had to be “put to sleep.”
Men with the character of an Edwin Lewis Caldecott don’t come along very often. When they do, it’s not uncommon for their deeds to be overshadowed by their gentle demeanor. That, perhaps, describes Lewis Caldecott best. He was, without question, a survivor, and that requires an inner strength and courage that too often is kept inside. He was strict when humane treatment for animals was concerned. Still, he was a gentleman, and that says it all.
The Greenwood Hall of Fame should honor him, but the reality is, his name would add honor to that hallowed list.