MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Several businesses along Ocean Boulevard and Kings Highway were boarded up on Wednesday afternoon as people prepare for Hurricane Matthew.
However, staff members with Santee Cooper were busy preparing to answer calls should the storm cause damage.
“We have been making sure that our vehicles are stocked with materials, that our warehouses are stocked, that our fleets are gassed up,” said Santee Cooper Public Relations Specialist, Susan Mungo.
While power lines coming down are a concern during storms, perhaps a larger concern for this storm are downed trees.
The ground is already soaked from a large amount of rain in September, in large part due to Tropical Storm Hermine, which could make trees more susceptible to falling.
“We are aware that that may be a concern for us,” said Mungo. “We have brought in additional tree crews that will be on standby in the area Friday evening and ready to respond on Saturday should we have damage.”
Staff members say you should stay away from downed trees and downed power lines.
“You cannot tell when a power line is energized when it’s on the ground,” Mungo added. “That can energize the surrounding area especially if water is involved.”
Lastly, if you are using a generator, Mungo says you should let crews know if you see them working near your house.
“We do encourage they let our crews know that they are operating on a generator so that does not back feed and cause problems,” she added.
Stick with News 13 on air and online for all your Hurricane Matthew updates.
