Columbia, South Carolina – South Carolina will receive federal disaster support after President Donald J. Trump approved Governor Henry McMaster’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration tied to the severe winter storm that swept across parts of the state in January.
McMaster said earlier this week that the request, originally submitted on February 24, 2026, was granted following damage caused by the January 24 through January 26 ice storm.
The approval opens the door to FEMA Public Assistance funding for Greenville, Oconee, and Pickens counties, offering a measure of relief after days of dangerous weather left public infrastructure and essential services under strain.
The funding is aimed at helping government agencies and certain nonprofit organizations recover costs tied directly to the storm.
That may include debris removal, emergency protective actions, repairs to public buildings and equipment, and work to restore damaged public utilities. In practical terms, the declaration gives local communities a path to recover some of the expenses tied to one of winter’s most disruptive events in the Upstate.
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The announcement also sets the next phase of recovery into motion.
The South Carolina Emergency Management Division will begin hosting applicant briefings for organizations that may qualify for assistance, walking them through what is available and how the process works.
Those seeking aid must submit a Request for Public Assistance and provide documentation showing disaster-related damage. After the state reviews those materials, FEMA will make the final determination on eligibility.
SCEMD will then oversee the administration of the funding and distribute assistance to applicants that receive approval. That means the state will serve as the bridge between local entities still dealing with storm-related costs and the federal resources now made available through the declaration.
The approval marks an important step for the affected counties, where ice, damage, and emergency response efforts turned a winter weather event into a costly public challenge. While the storm itself has passed, the recovery process is still unfolding, and this federal backing gives local governments and eligible nonprofits a stronger foundation as they continue rebuilding and restoring services.
More details about FEMA’s Public Assistance program are available through the agency’s official resources.
