The Census Bureau produces timely local data critical to emergency planning, preparedness and recovery efforts. To that end, a wide variety of statistics profiling the flood-affected areas of South Carolina are now available. These include demographic and socio-economic profiles of the population, housing characteristics and a portrait of businesses. An 11-county area is profiled, including Berkeley, Charleston, Clarendon, Dorchester, Georgetown, Horry, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, Sumter and Williamsburg.

The October 2015 North American storm complex was an extratropical storm that triggered a high precipitation event.

The event culminated in South Carolina on October 4 when numerous rivers burst their banks, washing away roads, bridges, vehicles, and homes. Hundreds of people required rescue and the state's emergency management department urged everyone in the state not to travel. Some areas of the state saw rainfall equivalent to a 1-in-1000-year event.