“Good stuff, good stuff.”

Charles Davis, a Clemson Extension crop specialist, says the rain dumped by the remnants of Tropical Storm Fay over the past few days are just what the doctor ordered.

“It has been good timing,” Davis said. “It has hit us in the middle of the production plant life cycle.”

Davis said the rains are particularly welcome relief to those farmers who have lighter soils.

“They were drying out so fast,” he said. “We have not had too much (rain).”

Davis said he just hopes the steady and timely rains will continue.

“If it keeps up, we stand to have a good year,” he said.

Not only are the crops liking the rains but so are the counties’ emergency officials.

John Smith, Orangeburg County Emergency Services director, said despite a severe thunderstorm warning Tuesday night near the town of Springfield and a tornado watch that was in effect for most of the night, there were no reports of significant damage in The Times and Democrat Region.

Orangeburg County Fire System Coordinator Gene Ball said over the past few days some trees and limbs were blown down.

“We have been very fortunate in this county that we have not had any bad lightning strikes or much damage,” he said.

There were also no reports of damage in Calhoun or Bamberg counties.

“We got a lot of rain,” said Sharon Hammond, Bamberg County Emergency Services director. “It rained all night long.”

The Columbia National Weather Service reported Orangeburg Municipal Airport had received about 1.08 inches of rain since Sunday night as the remnants of Fay moved into the area. The Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities reported about 1.05 inches over the same time period.

DPU spokesman Randy Etters said the utility experienced no storm-related power outages.

“We were very fortunate,” he said, noting that because it is hurricane season, the utility is continually trying to ramp up its services to help individuals report power outages more effectively. As of Wednesday, DPU customers will be able to report power outages at the utility’s Web site.

Conditions are expected to dry off somewhat over the next few days as Fay moves up the East Coast.

Rain chances for the remainder of the week will be 30 percent Thursday, falling off to 20 percent for Friday. Mostly sunny conditions are expected for the weekend.

Thus far for the month, Orangeburg has received about 4.04 inches of rain.

Climatologist Wes Tyler of the State Climatology Office said any rain helps the drought situation.

However, whether or not the recent rainfall has changed the drought status for The T&D Region won’t be determined until a future meeting of the state’s Drought Response Committee.

“It is certainly the kind of remedy we were looking for,” Tyler said. “It does not eliminate or make the drought go away, but it does stabilize the situation. We are heading in the right direction.”

Currently, T&D Region counties are in a moderate drought designation. It is the third highest of five drought designations.

“If we continue to receive average rainfall, then we expect those conditions to improve and perhaps get us out of the drought situation,” he said.

Tyler said, “What is positive is the fact that the peak demand, especially for agriculture, has dropped off and below-normal August temperatures have also helped retain water.”

And more rainfall may be on its way. All eyes were on the tropics again as Tropical Storm Gustav churned with maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour Thursday off the coast of the Haiti peninsula. Early forecast tracks had the storm heading in the direction of the Gulf Coast states of Louisiana and Mississippi.

Where will Gustav go?

“That is the million-dollar question,” Dave Schuetrum of the Columbia National Weather Service said. “It is pretty early yet. Nobody really knows.”

T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski @timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551.

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