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Emergency officials hoping monster storm fizzles but taking no chances

As Hurricane Isabel churned and swirled through the Atlantic Friday, T&D Region officials reviewed storm plans for a potential landfall in South Carolina. But with Isabel still hundreds of miles from the North American coastline, their main task has remained monitoring the category 5 hurricane, whose point of impact forecasters have yet to predict.

"We stay ready," said John Smith, Orangeburg County's director of emergency services. "If we do have to fully implement the plan, we are ready to go."

Late Friday morning, Hurricane Isabel's winds were clocked at 160 mph and exhibited the same track, size and intensity of Hurricane Hugo a week before it made landfall near Charleston in 1989.

The storm was about 370 miles east-northeast of the Leeward Islands and was expected to follow its current westward track for the next four or five days. Moving at about 9 mph, it is not expected to threaten the eastern United States until Thursday at the earliest.

Because such forecasts can be off by 300 miles in either direction, Smith said activating plans at this point would be premature.

"We will have a much better idea Monday on the threat level out of our county," he said.

State emergency preparedness officials, however, did meet Thursday to discuss plans for potential landfall, though no official decisions were made in the determination of possible evacuations or interstate lane reversals. As the storm nears, decisions will be implemented.

The need for state preparation has taken on a heightened importance as former Gov. Jim Hodges received criticism in 1999 for not making the call soon enough to facilitate traffic flow when Hurricane Floyd hit.

Locally, Smith said he has talked to the Department of Social Services and the chapter of the American Red Cross about shelter plans and reviewed evacuation routes with the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office and the Department of Transportation.

County Red Cross crews spent much of the past few days implementing basic preparatory measures.

Officials have made contacts with schools for shelter purposes and have distributed letters to all disaster volunteers in its database. A complete inventory of all Red Cross equipment was assessed over the past three months.

Orangeburg County American Red Cross Director Cindy Smith said the spirit of preparation is necessary, even if the hurricane does not impact the area.

"We don't know what Hurricane Isabel will do ... what we do know is that at some time in everyone's life a major disaster is likely," she said. "Now is the time to prepare you and your family."

Hurricane Hugo was a reminder that areas inland are not immune from storm damage. It caused damage to 246 homes and $40 million in real estate damage in Orangeburg County alone, with the hardest hit on its eastern end, roughly in the Lake Marion and Holly Hill areas.

Utility preparations

Region utilities spent Friday reviewing respective storm plans in place.

The Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities Electric Division held a Friday afternoon staff meeting and reviewed the utility's storm procedure manual.

Discussion focused on vehicle and equipment preparation techniques, mutual-aid agreements and emergency plan implementation.

"We made sure all knew what their responsibilities are and what they are doing next week," said John Bagwell, electric division director. "You don't really know what is going to happen, but you do the best you can to prepare early. We have a plan in place, and we are going to stick to it."

The utility is also tracking the storm with its own satellite system, the Internet and local television stations. Plans are to hold a full management staff meeting Monday morning if the storm's track remains constant, Bagwell said.

In the interim, he said homeowners are encouraged to spend the weekend surveying their properties for any loose chairs or debris susceptible to strong winds. Possible safety locations for pets and animals should be reviewed.

Tri-County Electric Cooperative has placed crews on standby in preparation for possible landfall. The utility will also continually monitor the conditions and hurricane track through its computer systems and the National Weather Service.

Should impact be imminent, the utility would have access to cooperative crews from Laurens and Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative in Pickens.

"We are getting our supplies, wires and poles in order and are alerting employees about the possible course of the hurricane," said Bob Wannamaker, Tri-County Electric general manager.

The worry, he said, is that even if the hurricane does not directly strike the area, the storm's intensity and width could still produce significant problems in downed trees, particularly with the existence of moisture-ladden, softened grounds.

The only thing remaining to do is to "hope and pray" the storm skirts the area, Wannamaker said.

"Only the good Lord knows where it will go. We are at his mercy," he said.

Edisto Electric had a dozen crews out on Friday trimming trees and limbs that could fall on lines in the event of a major storm in the area.

Allen Brownlee, manager of the St. George District, said that it was impossible to trim all of the potential trees that could break a power line, "but in this case, we're dropping everything else and doing as much as we can."

He said that if a storm was bad enough, there's nothing the company can do but work to get the repairs done afterward, but hopefully the trimming will save work in the future.

Hugo was the worst storm that Brownlee had seen in the 37 years he's been in the area, and Edisto Electric had 80 to 90 percent of the power back on within three or four days and all back up within a week.

South Carolina Electric and Gas Co., which services areas in Holly Hill, North, St. George and Branchville, spent much of Friday in monitoring mode.

"We have an emergency storm plan in place," said Christy Farrell, SCE&G spokesperson. "As it gets closer we will look at activating that plan."

T&D Corespondent Stephanie Pietrowski also contributed to this report. T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551. T&D Staff Writer Laura Kammerer can be reached by e-mail at lkammerer@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060.

Hurricane preparation

The Orangeburg County American Red Cross and the South Carolina Emergency Management Division recommend some ways to prepare for a land-falling hurricane. While Hurricane Isabel's future impact on the county, if any, is unknown, officials still encourage the consideration of the following:

-- Review your insurance coverage with your agent or company and make sure you know what your policy covers. Write down basic insurance information, such as the name and phone number of your agent, your policy number and insurance claims phone number, and keep it with you if you evacuate.

-- Update your household inventory. Make a list, take pictures or videotape your personal belongings and store the inventory in a safe place outside your home.

-- Know disaster hazards, create a plan, have a checklist, practice and maintain plan. Determine an emergency communication plan to use in case family members are separated from one another.

-- Assemble a disaster preparedness kit including: flashlight and extra batteries; portable, battery operated radio and extra batteries; first aid kit and manual; emergency food and water, non-electric can opener; essential medicines; cash and credit cards; sturdy shoes.

-- Teach family members how and when to call 9-1-1, police, or fire department.

-- Businesses should have a continuity of operations plan. Supplies, first aid and trained staff should be available.

-- Check generators and know how to use a generator safely.

-- Identify the safest place in your home or business when disaster strikes.

-- Protect home. Cover windows with permanent shutters, plywood panels or other shielding materials. Inspect and secure mobile home tie-downs. Bring in lawn furniture and other loose, lightweight objects, such as garbage cans, garden tools, etc.

For more information, call the Red Cross at 803-534-5735 or visit http://www.redcross.org/

STEPHANIE PIETROWSKI/T&D

Edisto Electric Cooperative employees, from left, Aaron Peagler and Robert Smith spent Friday morning trimming trees in rural Dorchester County in preparation for a possible visit from category 5 Hurricane Isabel.