News and Announcements

Date: September 11, 2018

Time: 11 a.m.

 

Conway, South Carolina – South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has issued an evacuation order for Horry and Georgetown counties to officially begin at 12 p.m. today. This evacuation order is for Horry County Zones A, B and C (see Zone information below). Additionally, evacuations include all low-lying areas, mobile homes, and campground sites.

The Horry County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will move to OPCON 1 at noon today, in response to the evacuation.

To support the evacuation, American Red Cross shelters will open at 12 p.m. today for individuals who must evacuate. Please see the shelter list and evacuation route list below.  Individuals are reminded to secure their property BEFORE they evacuate. Shelters should be considered as a place of last resort to ride out the storm, shelters may be crowded, do not accept pets and are not designed for comfort. When going to a shelter, citizens will need to take their own supplies such as batteries, bedding, identification, toiletries, clothing, etc…Shelters do not accept guns, alcohol or animals.

 

Once the Governor rescinds the evacuation order, Horry County Emergency Management will activate the Re-Entry Plan. Re-entry will occur in phases beginning with Level 1 access into the impacted areas. Municipalities may enforce their own identification procedures at checkpoints if deemed necessary.

 

Level 1

All public officials and personnel having key roles in life safety and the restoration of critical services after a disaster will be permitted to access the impacted area. All Level 1 personnel will be required to present and wear in full view an authorized employee identification badge.  No personal vehicles will be permitted to enter impacted areas during Level 1 access, except governmental personal reporting for official business.

 

Level 2

This allows for reentry of critical support groups, relief workers, South Carolina Law Enforcement certified security officers, healthcare personnel, business owners/essential staff, insurance adjusters and any other person(s) authorized by the jurisdiction to provide services or reduce economic loss. All Level 2 personnel will be required to present and wear an authorized employee identification badge at checkpoints.

 

Level 3

Residents and business operators will have access to areas that have been deemed safe by the authority having jurisdiction. When possible, every effort should be made to safely assist these persons to their property if access is limited. All residents and business operations must show proper identification to enter an impacted area. Residents with special needs will be assisted back into their dwellings once sufficient support services are available to assist.

 

Re-Entry for Residents & Property Owners

• Residents should have proper identification to gain admittance. Identification may include a valid government-issued photo ID card showing the location of the property.  Out of state property owners with residential or commercial properties within the affected area(s) must show a valid government-issued photo identification and current documentation to verify the need for re-entry such as a utility bill, deed, property tax notice, etc…

 

Re-Entry for Business Owners & Essential Employees

• Business owners/operators will need proper identification to gain admittance to impacted areas such as a current business license, company photo ID card, lease documents or other official documents showing the location of the property and a valid government issued ID card.
• Essential staff/employees will also need proper identification such as a valid business or government issued ID card and an essential employee authorization letter on official company letterhead provided by the business.  This letter should include a request for admittance, the employees’ name and be signed by the business owner/operator.

The forecast for Hurricane Florence may change as the storm gets closer to the coast, residents are strongly urged to monitor local news for the most up-to-date information. In addition, citizens should survey their property to make sure outside objects are secured. It is also recommended that you review your hurricane plans now.

 

For more information, call Horry County Emergency Management at 843-915-5150 or visit Horry County’s website at http://www.horrycounty.org. Horry County Emergency Management can also be followed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/horrycountyemergencymanagementdepartment/?fref=ts and Twitter at https://twitter.com/HorryEMD.

 

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Please note, evacuations of any zones include all flood-prone areas along the Waccamaw River and the Great and Little Pee Dee Rivers, as well as all mobile home residents within Horry County

 

 

ZONE A

Evacuation areas for ZONE A include:

• All areas east of U.S. Business 17 up to the intersection with US 17
• All areas east of U.S. 17 to the northern county line

 

ZONE B

Evacuation areas for ZONE B include:

• Evacuation Areas South of Highway 707 and Longwood Drive
• All areas in Longwood Plantation to the Waccamaw River
• All areas east of US 17 Bypass to US 17All areas east of US 17 to the northern county line

 

Zone C

Evacuation areas for ZONE C include:

• Areas between Hwy 701 and Hwy 544
• South of Brown's Chapel Avenue and Hwy 814
• All areas east of Highway 31 (Carolina Bays Parkway) to Hwy 90
• All areas east of Highway 90 to US 17 to the northern county line

 

 

 

HORRY COUNTY EVACUATION ROUTES

• North Myrtle Beach and northward: Evacuees from north of Briarcliffe Acres will take SC 9 north to I-95 and beyond.
• Briarcliffe Acres south to Myrtle Beach 10th Avenue North: Evacuees in Briarcliffe Acres south to 10th Avenue North will take SC 22 (Conway Bypass) to US 501 to Marion.  In Marion, they may then take US 76 to Florence to access I-95 southbound or they may stay on US 501 to SC 38 to access I-95 northbound.
• Myrtle Beach, from 10th Avenue North south to the Myrtle Beach International Airport: Evacuees from the Myrtle Beach area south of 10th Avenue North and north of the Myrtle Beach International Airport will take US 501 to Conway.  They may then take US 378 to Columbia or continue on US 501 to Marion.  In Marion, they may then take US 76 to Florence to access I-95 southbound or they may stay on US 501 to SC 38 to access I-95 northbound.
• Myrtle Beach International Airport southward through Surfside Beach: Evacuees from the Myrtle Beach International Airport south through Surfside Beach will take SC 544 to US 501 to Conway. They may then take US 378 to Columbia or continue on US 501 to Marion. In Marion, they may then take US 76 to Florence to access I-95 southbound or they may stay on US 501 to SC 38 to access I-95 northbound.
• Garden City Beach south to Winyah Bay: Evacuees from Garden City Beach south to Winyah Bay will take US 17 south through Georgetown. They will then take US 521 to SC 261 to US 378 to Columbia. Alternatively, they may take US 17 south to US 701 in Georgetown to SC 51 to US 378 at Kingsburg.

Residents that reside in Evacuation Zone C should utilize the closest available evacuation route to safely evacuate the area.

When evacuating, it is important to take a road map.  Motorists should be aware that law enforcement and the South Carolina National Guard may be posted along evacuation routes to provide assistance.  Evacuation routes and maps are available on Horry County’s office website at http://www.horrycounty.org/Departments/EmergencyManagement.aspx .

 

 

 

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