It is early in the hurricane season, but practice makes perfect.

No, there wasn't a hurricane barreling down on South Carolina. However, personnel from South Carolina law enforcement and public safety agencies practiced evacuation routes Tuesday in the event Mother Nature decides to turn violent.

"It is absolutely critical that we test our hurricane plan before we need to use it in a live situation," S.C. Highway Patrol Col. Russell Roark said.

The training exercise simulated an emergency by placing personnel out on highways to practice traffic reversal. Men and women were deployed, and each person had a specific task.

Whether placing cones, directing traffic or blocking intersections, everyone plays an intricate role in the overall success of the drill. Although traffic was not actually displaced Tuesday, the goal was to practice without disturbing traffic flows.

"This allows us to asses strengths and weakness in everything from communication among participating agencies to procedures for dispatching personnel and reversing lanes," Roark said.

The drill was practiced in three key areas: Interstate 26 from Charleston to Columbia, U.S. Highway 21 from the city of Beaufort to Gardens Corner, and a 23-mile stretch of U.S. 501 from S.C. Highway 22 in Horry County to S.C. 576 in Marion County.