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LONGS, S.C. (WPDE) — Congressman Russell Fry wrote a letter to the Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service to express his concerns about the reconstruction of the Longs post office.

The post office was destroyed on June 25, 2021, in a structure fire.

After being closed for nearly two years, the community is still confused and concerned about the progress, or lack thereof, to rebuild.

The congressman's letter claims the Postmaster General has "not been forthcoming with information" or "adequately addressed" his concerns.

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Fry said the closest full operational post office options for Longs residents are all about 10 miles away.

Since the fire, customers were directed to the post office located in North Myrtle Beach. Then in August 2021, a mobile unit opened to assist customers but offered reduced hours of operation.

In early April, the area's state representative took to social media declaring that Fry's office needs to pay attention to the post office issue.

I am hopeful he and his multitasking staff will get around to showing a little support for the Longs community!

ABC15 reached out to Fry's office following the announcement and Rep. Fry tells us this has been an ongoing issue that he says the USPS has dragged its feet on in providing proper public communication.

"Right now it looks like a jungle, I think that it's unacceptable that this is even happening," Rep. Fry said. "This post office was promised to be completed in early 2023 and here we are halfway through the year and they haven't moved a single blade of grass for the new construction of a post office."

WPDE has also been working to hear more information from the USPS in regard to the Longs Post Office. Amid our request for public information, post office officials sent us a statement.

The Postal Service continues to work toward a solution regarding the rebuilding of the Longs Post Office at 50 Highway 9 E in Longs, SC 29568. We regret the delay, but progress has been made and we are confident a resolution is expected soon.

Fry said the agency made a similar comment to him when he inquired about the post office site earlier in the year.

"This just tells me all that we need to know," Fry said. "Which is that they're not doing anything, they're not providing any new information that the people of Longs can rely upon and I think that is unacceptable."

His letter requests responses with the agency's construction plan and answers to the following questions:

What is the status of the reconstruction of the post office located in Longs, SC?

He asked for his questions to be answered by May 5 as well as an in-person briefing to gain insight on the construction timeline.

USPS's statement to ABC 15 continued further saying:

"In the interim, customers may continue to conduct retail transactions at the mobile van parked on the Longs Post Office property. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Postal Service also has cluster box units on the property to serve Post Office Box customers. They may pick up their mail seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Mail and package delivery service has continued without interruption since the fire that damaged the Longs Post Office. The Postal Service appreciates its customers and thanks them for their patience as we work on a resolution to restore the facility to the community."

The representative of the post office owner, Tom Williams, told ABC15 Wednesday morning that the contracts are signed and construction will begin by late May or early June. He added all state and county permits were expedited last year, so there shouldn't be any delays. He claimed the USPS has been the reason for the delays.

Some of Horry County’s most vulnerable areas for flooding are also some of its most rapidly developing.

Since 2015, communities along the Waccamaw River and its basin have experienced firsthand the impact that overflowing banks can have, from choked off transportation routes to destruction of critical infrastructure and property.

Last August, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and county leaders agreed to split the cost of a $3.9 million study aimed at offsetting the impact of flooding in key areas.

Although millions more will be needed for construction that’s years away, early plans are out as to what steps could be taken to alleviate the risk of flooding in the coming decades.

Here’s a look at those ideas.

Raising roughly 3.3 miles of the Pee Dee Highway by up to seven feet could cut down on flood risks for homes on the eastern side of the road, aided by a flood gate south of U.S. 701 on the Pee Dee River to slow backwaters from inundating low-lying areas.

Engineers say county leaders should also work on acquiring flood prone structures and work with property owners to store flood waters in vacant agricultural space.

An unincorporated portion of the county, Bucksport hugs the Intracoastal Waterway and has experienced five major flooding events in as many years.

After Hurricane Florence in 2018, the Waccamaw River hit more than 21 feet in the Conway area, destroying homes and putting its iconic Riverwalk underwater.

Major routes, including U.S. 501, U.S. 378 and S.C. 905, all run through the city — backing up traffic sometimes for hours during emergencies.

The study suggests restoring a dam on Lake Busbee to reduce flood elevations in surrounding areas, on top of relief bridges near the highways.

A network of five levees and a Waccamaw Drive flood wall are also suggested.

Officials working on the plan suggest creating a series of benches along Simpson Creek from U.S. 905 to Todd Swamp, helping to reduce flow velocities.

A mile-long flood barrier built to nearly 9 feet high along Buck Creek near the Aberdeen Country Club is also recommended.

Some Longs residents were forced to navigate waist-deep floodwaters in the wake of Hurricane Florence, moving belongings out of saturated homes via jon boat.

Nearly 20,000 people call the Socastee area of Horry County home, and long-time residents are quick to recall how damaging flood waters can be for businesses and properties there.

The Army Corps says two flood walls along the Socastee Creek could protect homes in the Forestbrook and Burcale Road areas.

Another suggestion: “Conversion of approximately 55 acres of land, south of the U.S. Highway 501 bridge,” the study says. “A diversion channel from Socastee Creek to the retention area would be excavated.”

A draft report of the study is expected to be made public next summer.

This story was originally published June 21, 2023, 3:04 PM.

LONGS, S.C. (WBTW) — After 39 years apart, two boot camp buddies were reunited Tuesday in Horry County.

Nancy Lewis and Kristine Murray met while they were in U.S. Army boot camp in October 1983, and on Tuesday, News13 was there when Lewis paid a surprise visit to her old friend at the Cakes by the Sea bakery she operates in Longs.

Lewis served active duty in the Army for seven and a half years, while Murray served three years in the National Guard. The two had been searching for each other for almost 40 years, until Murray’s daughter, Karly, found Lewis on Facebook in 2022 and connected the two.

Before Tuesday, the two women had only talked on the phone.

“One day I said, man, I wish I could find my buddy from the Army,” Murray said. “Her name is Nancy Cubbage. I haven’t seen her in forever and we got along good,” And Karly pulls her phone out and she goes, ‘is this her?’ and there’s her picture. And I freaked out and then that’s how it started.

“I called her, she called me back … and now she surprised me today,” Murray said.

Lewis told News13 via email that the two “got each other through boot camp for 6 weeks.”

“She was my everything that got me through other rough times in training,” she said.

Lewis said her only wish was that her parents could have been there to join in on the reunion.

“She spent Thanksgiving Day with us when my parents and my two sisters came down for the day for family time,” Lewis said. “[Murray’s] parents did not make it, so she was given permission to join our family to the day.”

While her parents were not there, Lewis’ sisters were able to be there for the surprise.

“I am just so glad that we are reunited, and I thank her daughter for reaching out.” Lewis said.

The two are also thankful for social media.

“We thank Facebook because back then in ’83, there was no phones, no cameras really. That’s why we only have the one picture…and it’s just amazing.”