Grand Strand agencies provide air conditioning assistance to residents

By: SCNow Staff | SCNow
Published: June 06, 2008

The extreme heat came earlier than expected this year. That leaves some people struggling to stay cool.

For people who don't have air conditioning or their unit is broken, the current heat wave on the Grand Strand can be brutal. Elaine Gore with Horry County Council on Aging said they do what they can to help senior citizens.

"We try to provide fans, box fans and one room air conditioners when possible. Of course this year is early and we're not quite prepared,” Gore said.

Agencies like the Waccamaw Economic Opportunity Council have received about 100 calls for air conditioning units with in a couple of days recently.

"Unfortunately what people don't realize here is air conditioning is almost a necessity of life in the south. It's not a luxury. It's a necessity. It's a reality shock when they experience the true humidity and heat of the south,” Gore said.

While the Council on Aging helps seniors, the Waccamaw EOC is on hand to help residents in Horry, Georgetown and Williamsburg counties who meet the financial requirements.

Officials with the EOC say they reserve 35 units for Horry County, 20 for Georgetown County and 20 for Williamsburg County. In all they hand out 75 free air conditioning units a year.

Gore said it seems a lot of people wait until the extreme heat is here to do anything about it.

"A lot of elderly people won't even turn their air conditioners on until it's really hot. Because they live on a fixed income. Obviously, it costs more to operate on air conditioning then not operating one,” Gore said.

Gore said while the fans the Council on Aging also provides really just move hot air from one room to another, she said it's better then nothing.

The Horry County Council on Aging is looking for donations of fans, one room air conditioners or funds to help buy the equipment. Call 843-248-5523 to reach the Horry County Council on Aging main office to request a fan or one room unit air conditioner. Call the same number to make a donation. The main office is located at 2213 Main Street, Conway.

The rule is only one fan or air conditioning unit per household.

The Waccamaw EOC expects to receive government grant funding to help buy air conditioning units in about ten days.

Officials with the EOC say they requested funds this year earlier then previous years in anticipation of an early heat wave.

The EOC has contractors on hand to install the air conditioning units.

To contact the Waccamaw EOC, call 843-234-4100.