WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) met with Edgefield Mayor Ken Durham, South Carolina State Representative Bill Hixon (District 83), South Carolina National Guard General Van McCarty, Edgefield County Sheriff Jody Rowland and other local officials in Edgefield yesterday.

Graham heard about the South Carolina National Guard and South Carolina State Guard’s work to immediately respond to Hurricane Helene all across South Carolina. Graham also received an update on the county’s recovery progress.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS

• MAYOR DURHAM: “The storm hit. Within hours, the Guard was at our fire station and they actually had to cut themselves out of where they were to come aid us. Every street in town was blocked by one too many trees. Nothing was passable. And as of today [October 3], every street is passable two ways in Edgefield, thanks to the Guard.” https://youtu.be/t2fLUnnx6ls?si=bpEOKqYCWe6t_AYO&t=128

• GENERAL MCCARTY: “We’ve been in it from the beginning and we’ll be in it til the end. This is what we are, this is who we are because these are our communities and these are our families.” https://youtu.be/t2fLUnnx6ls?si=-D0t-be7rOiS74_Q&t=304 

• GRAHAM: “…there’s too many to name, but when it comes time to talking about MVPs, people you couldn’t do without [during recovery] from this disaster of biblical portions, it has been the South Carolina National Guard and it has been the State Guard … General McCarty is the right man at the right time.” https://youtu.be/t2fLUnnx6ls?si=P6bUJfoou-GBy4t2&t=4 

• GRAHAM: “To all of you, your soldiers and your airmen who have been hit just as hard as everybody else. Everybody who was out cutting those trees up, they were hurt too. So I just want to thank you on behalf of all of us in South Carolina.” https://youtu.be/t2fLUnnx6ls?si=unwgbBav_zscol0t&t=46

• GRAHAM: “Sheriff, I want to thank you and all your deputies… all the cops out there. They’ve been hit hard.  You’re out there protecting our homes while your home has been devastated, so thank you.” https://youtu.be/t2fLUnnx6ls?si=4t67PIufY_vdk4tO&t=313 

Click Here To Watch Video of Graham’s Discussion with Edgefield Officials

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