As Tropical Storm Florence makes its way closer to the east coast, and possibly the Grand Strand, Horry County emergency officials are preparing for the possibility of a storm.
According to spokesperson Gina Vasselli, Horry County’s Emergency Management department is closely monitoring the storm, and reviewing plans and procedures in case it does hit the area.
“Everybody is just monitoring and making sure that all of their plans are ready and prepared in case,” she said
County spokesperson Kelly Moore said the department is in communication with state emergency officials, who are also monitoring the storm and its potential for local impact. As soon as emergency management determines Florence is headed towards Horry County, she said stormwater and public works crews will step into action.
“You’ll see some upstaffing of employees. Sharpening chainsaws to get ready, making sure they’ve got equipment ready to go, they’ll do some ditch clearing in some of those areas that we know are prone to flooding,” she said.
At that point, emergency officials and first responders will also activate the Emergency Operations Center. Just this week, county council approved funding to build a new EOC since it can’t currently withstand hurricanes and earthquakes above a category two. However, Vasselli said the emergency management team is prepared should Florence reach that magnitude.
“We have backup plans in place it would just depend on what the particular situation was. It’ll depend so much on the situation,” she said.
Vasselli advised people to make sure their emergency plans are ready as well.
“What we’re doing is what we want everybody in the county to be doing. We’re reviewing our plans. We’re making sure we’ve got everything ready for in case something happens,” she said.
