A financial lesson of storms past has gone largely unheeded in the Palmetto State.

It appears to have come down to a matter of dollars and cents. 

Property owners in South Carolina aren’t lining up to buy the specialty insurance they’d need to file a claim and rebuild after a bout of water damage, the kind that Tropical Storm Debby already has inflicted last week and may still inflict as creeks, streams and rivers rise and crest.

The upshot is some households could get soaked in more ways than one.

The latest government figures show the number of subsidized federal flood policies sold across the state is lower than it’s been in recent memory, even as residential and commercial development has exploded up and down the coast.

A succession of destructive downpours since 2015 hasn’t been enough to keep the needle from slipping.

As of July 31, the number of South Carolina policies in the national coverage pool of about 4.6 million fell by 2,600, or 1.4 percent, from the same day a year ago, according to a monthly spreadsheet from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which oversees the National Flood Insurance Program.

The latest total is 199,324, equal to about 8 percent of all residential properties around the state. The figure, which exceeded 204,000 in 2018, slipped below the 200,000 level last month.

The government has been the primary underwriter of flood insurance since the late 1960s, when borrowers of federally insured mortgages with homes in high-risk areas were required to buy a policy to cover flood damage. More recently, private carriers have been getting back into the market.

Premiums can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars annually, with a maximum $250,000 payout from the government, plus another $100,000 for contents. The buy-in restrictions include a 30-day waiting period, making it too late for Debby’s victims.

Oxford (Ala.) class of 2026 four-star linebacker Keenan Britt announced a commitment to South Carolina Saturday, choosing the Gamecocks over other finalists Auburn, Oregon, Ole Miss, and Arkansas.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Britt landed an offer from South Carolina just over one month ago shortly after new Director of Player Personnel Darren Uscher was hired. Uscher had a prior relationship with Britt from Uscher’s time at Oregon.

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The Gamecocks made Britt’s final five, which he put out a few weeks ago, without even the benefit of a visit. Then Britt took his first visit to South Carolina at the end of July, right before the dead period began.

It was a fruitful visit for the Gamecocks as Britt gave the staff his pledge shortly after and then announced the commitment on Saturday.

Britt is being recruited to Columbia by defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Clayton White.

Listed as an EDGE by On3, Britt is being recruited to play linebacker for the Gamecocks.

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The four-star prospect is ranked the No. 276 overall prospect and No. 26 EDGE in his class by the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average of the four major recruiting media sites.

Rivals and ESPN have Britt as a four-star prospect while On3 and 247Sports have him as a three-star.

The rising junior accumulated 107 tackles with eight sacks and 17 tackles-for-loss as a sophomore last season.

With the addition of Britt, South Carolina now has three commits in its 2026 class. He joins Newman (Ga.) four-star LB Rodney Colton and Rock Hill (S.C.) South Pointe three-star IOL Anthony Baxter on the commit list.

Britt’s older brother, K.J. Britt, played for Auburn.

In a major recruiting victory for South Carolina, 2026 linebacker Keenan Britt has announced his commitment to the Gamecocks. The Oxford, Alabama native, standing at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, is one of the top linebackers in his class and was highly sought after by several powerhouse programs, including Auburn, Arkansas, and Oregon.

Britt’s decision comes on the heels of a busy recruitment period that saw him visit South Carolina and Oregon during the last week of July. His connection to South Carolina was further solidified by his close relationship with the Gamecocks’ Director of Player Personnel, Darren Uscher. Uscher, who had previously recruited Britt while at Oregon, played a pivotal role in bringing Britt to Columbia. Britt’s bond with Uscher, along with his impressions of the campus and coaching staff, helped propel South Carolina to the forefront of his recruitment.

Shortly after receiving his offer from South Carolina, the Gamecocks quickly emerged as a serious contender, making it into Britt’s top 8 and then top 5—despite Britt not having even stepped foot on campus at that time. His subsequent visits and growing rapport with the South Carolina staff only reinforced his belief that Columbia is the right place for him.

Britt, the younger brother of former Auburn star and NFL linebacker KJ Britt, brings with him a family legacy of excellence on the gridiron. However, Keenan is ready to forge his own path, and he believes South Carolina offers the best environment to do so.

For South Carolina, landing Britt is a significant boost to an already strong 2026 recruiting class. The Gamecocks had already secured the commitment of Rodney Colton Jr., the No. 2 linebacker in the class, and now with Britt on board, the defensive future looks incredibly bright. This duo gives South Carolina a formidable foundation to build upon as they continue to strengthen their defensive lineup.

With Britt’s commitment, the Gamecocks are showing that they can compete with the nation’s best programs in recruiting top-tier talent. His decision to choose South Carolina over programs like Auburn and Oregon speaks volumes about the direction of the program under its current leadership.

As the Gamecocks continue to assemble their 2026 class, the addition of Keenan Britt is a clear signal that South Carolina is not just competing in the SEC—they’re aiming to dominate.

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