CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – Officials with the Horry County Emergency Operations Center are advising residents in zone A to evacuate and other residents to stay home and off the roads as Hurricane Matthew approaches the coast.
Though the storm is still days away from making landfall in our area, county, state and local entities are working around the clock to remind people that the storm will be a major event and urge residents to take precautions.
At the press conference, Randy Webster with Horry County Emergency Management said the shelters were already open. Coast RTA has enacted special pick up points to take people without transportation to storm shelters.
“It’s time to leave. It’s time to go,” Webster said to Zone A residents.
Officials say there are 300 National Guard troops in area to help with the traffic flow from evacuations but there are currently no lane reversals in Horry County.
“We’re evacuating for the storm surge, the four to six feet of water that can stay above ground, not for the wind or rain,” Webster says.
He also says the biggest affects will come from the 8-12 inches of expected rain, and wind up to 30-40 mph with some gusts reaching 50-60 mph.
Anyone who stays in Zone A and disregards evacuation order does so at their own risk. Officials say if you wait to see “if it gets bad” to leave, then you’ve waited too long. Post storm clean-up will also delay emergency response as there may be trees or flooding blocking roads.
