South Carolina hurricane season 2022 starts soon. Here’s when and 5 ways to prepare
Hurricane season in South Carolina starts Wednesday and state officials are urging residents to prepare as soon as possible.
According to the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, South Carolina is one of the most vulnerable states to hurricanes and tropical storms all throughout the season, which lasts until Nov. 30.
Six coastal counties border the Atlantic Ocean. These counties have more than 200 miles of general coastline and another 21 inland counties may be directly affected by these storms. Densely populated coastal areas, especially during peak tourist seasons, coupled with the generally low coastal elevations significantly increase the state’s vulnerability.
“Hurricane Preparedness Week is the time of year we ask everyone to review their family emergency plans and make sure they’re prepared as possible in case a hurricane heads our way this season,” Kim Stenson, SCEMD Director, said in a press release. “The past two years have highlighted the need to include flexibility in those plans, since circumstances during emergencies can change quickly. It’s vitally important to stay up to date on the latest information about COVID-19 while you get ready for hurricane season.”
Here are five ways to prepare for the new hurricane season, according to the SCEMD.
Know your zone in South Carolina
State and local officials issue hurricane evacuations based on zones in coastal counties. Know your hurricane evacuation zone instantly with the SC Emergency Manager mobile app and Hurricane.sc, South Carolina’s online hurricane guide.
Prepare your home
Do a safety check to make sure your home is best able to withstand the effects of a hurricane. Have your roof inspected, double check hurricane shutters and make sure your insurance policies cover the types of damages hurricanes can cause. Make a list and take photos of your belongings as records.
Have a family emergency plan
Emergency responders across the state encourage residents to create a family emergency plan in the event of a hurricane, which should include an evacuation destination and agreed-upon meeting locations. In addition, residents should keep phones charged when possible and maintain a way to find out the latest information on storms and impacts to their home area. SCEMD’s Hurricane Guide provides more safety and planning recommendations.
Remember your evacuation route
Be aware of the closest hurricane evacuation route ahead of the upcoming hurricane season. This will allow for a more efficient and safer route out of the hurricane’s path. Once you’ve learned your route, stick with it and remember it. Rely on the blue hurricane evacuation signs, not GPS.
Don’t forget about COVID preparation
From a COVID-19 standpoint, residents are encouraged to get their initial vaccinations and their boosters when eligible. These are especially important when evacuating to other states to prevent the likelihood of spreading COVID-19 in other areas or in your community when returning home.
Residents should also use the CDC County Check map to track disease activity in the county they’re evacuating to and keep masks in case community spread is medium or high. Lastly, South Carolinians are encouraged to keep rapid antigen at-home test kits on hand while traveling in case family members start experiencing symptoms and need to be tested. You can get no cost rapid antigen at-home test kits from public health departments or covidtests.gov.
