Weakened Ernesto heads for Palmetto coast

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Photo: AP
The latest projected path for Tropical Storm Ernesto
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CHARLESTON - Tropical Storm Ernesto fizzled to a tropical depression as it trekked across Florida on Wednesday but was expected to pass out to sea and regain tropical storm strength before making a second landfall along the South Carolina coast.

Governor Mark Sanford said the state would not require any mandatory or voluntary evacuations but urged coastal residents, including those on barrier islands in mobile homes and in low-lying areas, to pay attention to the storm.

"The storm isn't here yet. There's still a lot of uncertainty," he said. "Let's hope it doesn't intensify."

Projections from the National Hurricane Center said Ernesto, which sloshed ashore in Florida on Tuesday evening, could again regain tropical storm strength after crossing the peninsula and heading into the Atlantic late Wednesday.

A hurricane watch for the South Carolina coast was lowered Wednesday but a tropical storm warning was issued in its place.

"If it were up to me, I'd be out of here today," said Mike Bland, 57, of Owensboro, Ky., walking along the sands in Myrtle Beach.

Bland and his wife Judy still planned to leave Thursday, well before landfall. "After seeing what happened last year, you have got to watch the news on these things," he said.

The governor, who lives on Sullivans Island outside of Charleston, said he is used to storms being unpredictable.

"You want to find a fine balance between not overreacting and not under-reacting," he said.

The Hurricane Center said it was unlikely Ernesto could become a hurricane before landfall in South Carolina.

"There are no indications that the cyclone will strengthen significantly over water and the best estimate at this time is that Ernesto will reach the southeast U.S. coast as a tropical storm," said a center advisory.

Officials urged people to prepare for whatever comes.

"We want people to take advantage of this time they have today to prepare themselves and their families," said Leon Stavrinakis, chairman of Charleston County Council.

Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties opened shelters for residents of low-lying areas, mobile homes or beachfront areas who wanted to voluntarily evacuate.

A hurricane center projection indicated the storm could come ashore between Charleston and Georgetown _ in the general location where Hurricanes Charley and Gaston hit back in 2004.

That was the first time since 1959 two named storms made landfall on the South Carolina coast during the same season.

Charleston County schools operated on a shortened schedule Wednesday although officials made no immediate decision about closing Thursday.

"It looks like rain is going to be more of the issue, especially with it hitting around high tide," said Lisa Bourcier, a spokeswoman for Horry County which includes Myrtle Beach.

At 11 a.m., the depression had winds of about 35 mph and was 450 miles south of Charleston. It was moving north at about 10 mph.

State climatologist Hope Mizzell said areas in the storm's path could use the rainfall but said a quickly moving storm may not help the drought much.

"You don't want too much rain too fast," she said. "That isn't a solution because of the runoff potential. You need a soaking rain."

In Myrtle Beach, Larry and Wilma West of Winston Salem, N.C., weren't worried about Ernesto and planned to keep their vacation schedule and leave on Friday.

But they were also ready to heed Sanford and other officials.

"If we heard (him) right now and he said 'Get out,' we'd get out now," Larry Wilson said.

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Associated Press writers Meg Kinnard in Myrtle Beach and Susanne Schafer in West Columbia contributed to this report.