ROCK HILL, S.C. — At a glance, it looks like any other Monday near Heckle Boulevard in Rock Hill, but Ilse York, who lives in the area, knows first-hand, just how much things have changed.
As she picked up one of her dogs in her backyard, she pointed to a brown, broken fence. Just months ago, it was one piece of her "perfect" new rental home. Now, it lays with its posts uprooted and grass seeping through its wooden boards, after strong storms tore through the area in April.
"The fence blew over," York said. "It's done.
From the back of her home to its siding, the scars continue. Signs of nature's power, she said.
"It looks like there was a drive-by shooting, kind of, with all the holes in the side. In the back," York said.
Now, as Tropical Storm Debby approaches the Carolinas, she and her other neighbors are bracing for impact, hoping this storm won't be worse.
"A lot of people are concerned," York said. "I used to live in Missouri. So, the lower number of storms is not something that I'm personally concerned about. I know for the people here, it was a very scary event because it's something that doesn't happen often."
From home to home, scars from April's storm remain visible with blue tarps still laying atop many damaged roofs, including at David Hemphill's home.
"That first storm was crazy," Hemphill said. "Roof got to get redone. It was a lot."
Despite this, he said, he's not too worried about Debby. Instead, he's using his experiences from April's storm to prepare.
"Pay my insurance," he laughed. "I mean, hey, what can we do? It’s Mother Nature. Ain’t nothing we can do about it.”
He and York are among those still waiting for support, hoping Tropical Storm Debby won't add to their troubles.
"Wait in line and see when they come by and fix it," York said. "If [Tropical Storm Debby] has a big impact, I think that will be a big problem.”
As clean-up continues in Rock Hill, emergency responders say it's important to have a plan ahead of any storm.
For details on how to prepare an emergency kit visit S.C. Emergency Management Division online or view our previous coverage.
Contact Kayland Hagwood at khagwood@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.