MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW)- Emergency response crews from across the state are in Myrtle Beach for the South Carolina Emergency Management Association’s annual workshop.
Horry County Emergency Management Director Randy Webster talked about the county’s response during Hurricane Florence.
Webster said they’ve seen a disturbing trend of storms getting worse each year, especially when it comes to flooding. He said his goal is to encourage the community to get ready for the next one.
Webster said during Hurricane Florence, their goal was to keep Highway 501 and 378 open as 325,000 people faced isolation, and the county was down to only one hospital.
“There were new things we’ve never had to deal with and as I said many times during the event, we had no point of reference,” said Webster.
Another challenge was finding out just three weeks before Hurricane Florence that the emergency operations center could only withstand 100 mph winds while predictions of a category 4 hurricane were heading our way.
“Flooding became a huge issue for us and we were cut off like we have been in the past, and had the potential of this facility flooding,” said Webster.
The county is moving forward with building a new 26 million dollar EOC near J. Reuben Long Detention Center.
County council approved 2.4 million dollars to start design work and the county could have a new EOC in three years.
“That’s been my biggest issue with this. Government has to function during these events. We have to be here to be able to support the community,” said Webster.
The agency also faced outdated post hurricane matthew flood maps. Webster said he wasn’t able to know if some areas would flood or not, and nearly 2,000 homes were impacted.
He said new flood maps could be available this summer.
“There will be changes I guarantee, not directly because of Florence, but folks may find themselves in a flood zone that weren’t before,” said Webster.
Despite the challenges, Webster said things were coordinated well. He also said other changes are in the works, but those plans are in the early stages and can’t discuss them just yet.
