CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – Horry County returned to Operating Condition (OPCON) 5 at 8 a.m. Saturday morning after the passing of Tropical Storm Hermine. OPCON 5 is normal operating conditions for the county.
County spokesperson Lisa Bourcier said overnight there several issues including trees down (approximately 10 reported in the western parts of the county) and flooding of streets along the coast and some inland. Most road should be open and passable Saturday morning, Bourcier reported in a press release. No structural damage was reported.
The Horry County Road & Drainage Hotline (843-381-8000) was activated from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday. The hotline is for residents in the unincorporated area of the county to report any drainage issues or damage to roads. The Road & Drainage Hotline is normally activated Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If citizens need assistance after the hotline closes, they can call the non-emergency number at the Horry County Dispatch Center at (843) 248-1520.Possibility for rip currents remains high
Horry County Emergency Management encourages beachgoers to still use caution when swimming in the ocean this weekend as strong rip currents could still be an issue. Swimmers should follow the below safety tips:Ocean Safety Checklist
- Be honest about your swimming ability. The ocean is not a swimming pool.
- Never turn your back on the ocean. Being hit by a wave while you’re not watching can cause serious injury.
- Never take your eye off children in the water, no matter how calm the ocean.
- If you need help, shout “HELP” (and not a family member’s name) or wave an arm to get attention.
- A current can pull you away in waist high water.
- If you get caught in a current, do not struggle against it. Rip currents are usually narrow, so calmly swim perpendicular to the current direction to get out of it.
- Too many rules to remember? Then remember just one…..SWIM IN FRONT OF LIFE GUARDS!