Five Things To Know About Florence County's Statewide Awards

1. Florence County won two statewide awards.

The South Carolina Association of Counties (SCAC) honored Florence County for excellence in risk management and safety achievements. The awards were presented at a recent County Council meeting.

2. The county has the best risk management record in its group.

Florence County earned the lowest experience modifier among 42 counties in the SCAC insurance trust.

A modifier of 1.0 is considered standard.

Anything above 1.0 means more accidents and higher costs.

Florence County's modifier is 0.63 — the lowest seen in 20 years, according to SCAC officials.

3. That strong safety record saved taxpayers money.

Because of its low modifier, the county received a 37% discount on insurance premiums, saving more than $500,000 last year.

4. Firefighters were recognized for a new safety tracking system.

Florence County also received an award for "outstanding safety achievement" for implementing an Accountability System. Firefighters now use tablets connected to their radios to:

Track personnel at emergency scenesMonitor large incidents like structure firesCommunicate in real time

The system helps crews respond faster and more safely.

5. Florence County is one of only two in the state using this system.

Very few South Carolina counties have adopted the Accountability System. Officials say Florence County acted proactively — improving safety without waiting for a tragedy to prompt change.