GEORGETOWN, SC (WBTW) — Gov. Nikki Haley has called for an evacuation for all coastal counties in South Carolina beginning at 3 p.m. tomorrow. Evacuation zones vary from county to county, but in Georgetown County, evacuation zone A is included in the order.
As officials continue to monitor the storm, Georgetown County residents in Zone A are encouraged to begin preparing for evacuation and leave earlier if possible.
Residents unsure of what zone they live in can look up that information by street address using the GIS mapping system available at www.gtcounty.org.
Prior to the evacuation, an emergency shelter will open to the public at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Andrews Elementary School, 13072 County Line Rd. For those in need of transportation, pickup points will be placed at seven locations around the county to shuttle residents to the shelter. Shuttles will run on a circuit throughout the day, beginning at 10 a.m. in Murrells Inlet. Pickup spots will be located at:
- Food Lion in Murrells Inlet, 760 Mink Ave. (Hwy. 707 and Hwy. 17)
- Waccamaw Middle School, 247 Wildcat Way, Pawleys Island
- Waccamaw Elementary School, 1364 Waverly Rd., Pawleys Island
- St. Mary’s AME Church, 8833 Ocean Hwy., Pawleys Island
- Tractor Supply Co., 1295 N. Fraser St., Georgetown
- Food Lion in Maryville, 2234 S. Fraser St., Georgetown
Those evacuating after the order goes into effect at 3 p.m. will have to follow established evacuation routes. There will be no travel restrictions for those leaving prior to the evacuation. Medical evacuations began at 3 p.m. today.
Though it is still too early to say for sure what the track of the storm will be, this is a major hurricane and poses a significant danger to the county. Residents are strongly urged to take the threat seriously and heed evacuation orders, said Sam Hodge, Georgetown County Emergency Manager.
In addition to the evacuation order, a burning ban will be in place tomorrow.
Residents evacuating should take the following items with them:
Water—one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply)
Food—non-perishable, easy to prepare items (3-day supply)
• Flashlight
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
• Multi-purpose tool
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items
• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, deed/lease to home, birth certificates, insurance policies)
• Cell phone with chargers
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Emergency blanket
• Map(s) of the area
• Other essential items that could not be replaced if they were destroyed, such as photo albums.
Residents should also make sure they have photo ID and documentation, such as a utility bill, that links them to their home or business for re-entry into the area after the storm.
Georgetown County’s Emergency Operations Center will move to full activation at 7 a.m. tomorrow and the county will shift to Operating Condition (OPCON) 2, which indicates a disaster or emergency situation is in effect, at the same time.
For other planning resources, visit www.gtcounty.org or www.scemd.org