South Carolina emergency management officials begin transition to recovery operations

Jessica Minch

6 years ago

Emergency management officials across South Carolina have started the transition to recovery operations following Hurricane Florence.

“As the need for immediate, life-safety and disaster response resources begins to subside in many areas, agencies are beginning the transition to recovery operations,” a press release from the South Carolina Emergency Management Division says. The state’s Emergency Operations Center will remain partially activated at Operation Condition Three to “support county emergency managers as requested. This transition to OPCON 3 from the state’s highest operation condition of OPCON 1 “will enable the S.C. Emergency Management Division, FEMA and State Emergency Response Team agencies to adjust resources and focus on recovery efforts.”

According to the release, as of Monday, Oct. 1:

Six county emergency operations centers are operational and 40 counties are in normal operations.
Horry County Emergency Management is continuing 24-hour operations.
SCEMD Logistics teams have completed more than 1,500 resource requests.
The Public Information Phone System operators have taken nearly 14,000 calls.
SCDOT reports 118 road closures, including 16 major highways.
Flood barrier removal on US 501 is underway.
Flood barrier removal on US 17 and US 521 will begin later in the week.
SC 9 in Longs is partially open.
Local food banks have provided 806,691 meals.
The S.C. Department of Social Service reports four emergency shelters are open with 51 people.
The Office of Regulatory Staff reports 452 total power outages statewide, with 267 of those outages are in Marion County.
348 state law enforcement officers are deployed assisting local agencies.
420 National Guard personnel are on duty.

SCEMD estimates about 829 homes have minor damage, 704 homes have major damage, and 55 homes have been destroyed as a result of Hurricane Florence, the release says. “These preliminary estimates will change as damage assessments continue and flooded areas are once again accessible.”