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SC Emergency Management Division: Residents Should Be Prepared to Take Immediate Safety Precautions

Predicted track for Tropical Storm Hermine.
NOAA/NWS

  People in potentially vulnerable areas throughout South Carolina should review their plans and consider actions they would need to take as the storm moves through the state.  Residents and visitors should monitor the storm via local news media and through updates from local National Weather Service offices, especially people in low-lying areas throughout the State.

 “As Tropical Storm Hermine moves through the state heading toward the Atlantic, the entire state can expect to see rain throughout the day with heavier amounts falling in the coastal and low-lying communities,” SCEMD Director Kim Stenson said. 

If flooding does occur in your area it is important to remember these important tips:

·         Be aware of potential flash flooding.  If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move to higher ground.  Do not wait to be told to move.

·         If time allows, prepare your home for a flood by moving essential items to an upper floor, bring in outdoor furniture, disconnect electrical appliances and be prepared to turn off the gas, electricity and water.

·         Do not walk through moving water.  Six inches of moving water can make you fall.  If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving.  Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.

·         Do not drive into flooded area.  If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely.  You and the vehicle could be quickly swept away.  One foot of water can cause your car to float off the roadway.

·         A Tornado Watch is in effect for most of the South Carolina coast, if a Tornado Warning is issued for your area, take safety actions immediately.

·         High wind gusts may cause power outages and damage to home and property.  Take caution as you secure your property and make temporary repairs to protect it from further damage.

The State Emergency Operations Center is partially activated to support local emergency responses.  As of 11:45 a.m. today, there have been no requests for state assistance from local emergency managers. The SEOC will remain active until Hermine or its effects are no longer a threat to South Carolina.

For additional information please visit www.scemd.org  or follow us on Twitter @SCEMD or Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SCEMD.