MORNING NEWSBREAK | Up to 20,000 flood-damaged cars may be on the market now in South Carolina, a number that CarFax says has been on the rise since before the heavy rains from Tropical Storm Debby.
The company, which provides information on used vehicles, estimates there are about 454,000 flooded cars on the road nationally in 2024, according to a recent story by S.C. Public Radio. Most were from last year’s hurricane season.
“A major misconception is that all flood damaged cars end up in a junkyard,” the story said. “The reality is hundreds of thousands of water-damaged cars are repaired and resold in other parts of the country without the buyer ever knowing the car’s waterlogged history.”
Indicators of possible water damage on a vehicle include:
- Check for signs of water, including smells of mustiness, on carpets. New carpets also may be a warning.
- Inspect lights to ensure there are no visible water lines.
- Inspect tough-to-clean places, such as trunk panels and under the hood, for mud and debris.
- Look at exposed, unpainted screws for signs of rust.
- Check the air filter and engine oil for anything out of the ordinary.
Meanwhile, The Post and Courier is reporting that Charleston may see fewer tidal floods in the fall and winter. Why? The transition from the El Nino weather cycle with hotter ocean temperatures to a La Nina cycle is expected to decrease tidal flooding in the Lowcountry through next spring, forecasters say.
In other news headlines today:
CP OPINION, Brack: The wit and wisdom of Ted Lasso. “This is a comedy that all politicians should watch, if they haven’t already. It highlights how to deal with people better in modern society. Instead of everything between political parties being confrontational and too negative, the show is a lesson in how people can get along and work together, despite differences of opinions.”
CP NEWS: RiverDogs ready to rumble Tuesday as playoffs start. The Charleston RiverDogs are ready to rumble Tuesday in postseason play for the fourth summer in a row in pursuit of another Single-A championship in the Carolina League.
CP NEWS, Week in Review: USC gets high marks for free speech as controversy roils campus. Just one day after a free-speech controversy at the University of South Carolina prompted a question in the White House press room, a new report ranked USC as the 34th best college in the nation for freedom of speech on campus.
CP FOOD: Charleston breweries release several seasonal beers. Take a look — or a sip — of these new “Oktober” beers.
State Supreme Court to hear arguments at Citadel in September. The high court will hear oral arguments Sept. 10-11 at The Citadel.
Life expectancy is falling in S.C., data show. “While the state’s life expectancy increased from 2018 to 2019, it declined in 2020 and 2021 thanks in part to deaths associated with COVID-19. The report also cites an increase in unintentional injuries, particularly drug overdose deaths, as another major cause of the lower national life expectancy.”
S.C. inmate lets lawyer pick how he will die. Convicted killer Freddie Owens said in court papers that he would leave the decision to his lawyer, who told S.C. prison officials to prepare for a lethal injection.
Politically-connected developer to win big in lease deal to the state. Bill Stern, a Columbia developer who chairs the S.C. Ports Authority, has “paid $35 million for a sprawling Lexington County office campus. Now he’s leasing it to the state in a deal worth 11 times that over the next 20 years.”
Charleston Co. council to decide on affordable housing project. The project would allow more affordable housing using tax incentives.
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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)