HORRY COUNTY, SC- Hurricane season started June 1 and Horry County officials are making sure residents are well prepared.
Horry County Emergency Management Director Randy Webster said Tropical Storm Ana served as an early reminder for people to get their evacuation plans in place.
“We are always at a threat for a hurricane,” he said.
According to Webster, the County has been working to increase the number of hurricane shelters in the area since 2012 and this year they’ve more than doubled the number available.
“We anticipate around 25,000 that would potentially go to a hurricane evacuation shelter,” stated Webster.
Even with the additional shelters, they’re still about 10,000 short in terms of capacity.
“I don’t know that we can ever make that deficit up,” he said. “There’s a lot of people and there’s very limited locations you can use.”
Webster said the county has back-up shelters in Dillon, Marion and Florence County as well. In addition to knowing where the hurricane shelters are located, he said it’s important to know evacuation zones.
Zone A– All areas east of U.S. Business 17, east of U.S. Bypass 17.
Zone B– All areas south of Highway 707 and Longwood Drive.
Zone C– Areas between Highway 701 and Highway 544, and all areas east of Highway 31 and Highway 90.
A spokesperson with the American Red Cross advised people to bring something to sleep on and something to stay busy. No pets are allowed in hurricane shelters.
“You’ll get the bare necessities that you’ll need to survive through the storm,” said Webster.
The Red Cross estimates they’ll need about 180 new volunteers to fill the shelters to volunteer. To sign-up call (843) 477-0020.
Horry County Hurricane Shelters….
– Aynor Elementary
– Aynor Middle School
– Conway High School
– Green Sea Floyds Elementary
– Loris Elementary
– Loris Middle School
– Ocean Bay Elementary
– Palmetto Bay Elementary
– Waccamaw Elementary
– Aynor High School
– Blackwater Middle School
– Conway Middle School
– Green Sea Floyds High and Middle School
– Loris High School
– North Myrtle Beach High School
– Ocean Bay Middle School
– Pee Dee Elementary
– Whittemore Park Middle School