COLUMBIA, S.C. – In coordination with local officials, Governor Nikki Haley on Sunday announced that evacuation orders have been lifted for all residents in Beaufort and Jasper counties as of 6:30 PM. At the request of local officials, evacuation orders for zones in Georgetown and Horry counties remain in effect as local law enforcement and officials continue to assess areas for potential dangers. Evacuation orders for Charleston, Dorchester, Berkeley and Colleton counities have previously been lifted and were effective as of 10:00 AM.

 

Returning residents are encouraged to exercise patience and expect lengthy travel times, blocked roadways and detours back to evacuated areas and are asked not to drive around barricades or use emergency lanes that are needed for first responders.  

 

Even though weather conditions have improved, motorists should prepare for fallen trees, downed power lines and standing water in and around roadways. Citizens also should anticipate power outages at their homes or businesses, which may last for several days or weeks. 

  

To see a list of road closures, visit http://www.scdot.org. To check the status of conditions on I-26, visit http://www.511sc.org. General information can be found at http://www.scemd.org. 

 

Although Hurricane Matthew has moved away from South Carolina’s coast, hazardous conditions still exist in many parts of coastal and inland counties:

&#61623          Avoid flood waters or standing water. Do not use area streams, rivers or the ocean for drinking, bathing or swimming due to the possibility of bacteria, waste water, or other contaminants. Avoid wading through standing water due to the possibility of sharp objects, power lines, or other hazardous debris that may be under the surface.

&#61623          Do not use generators indoors. Running generators in homes, garages, or other closed areas can lead to increased levels of carbon monoxide, which can be fatal and may cause death.

&#61623          Be sure tap water is safe to consume. Watch for boil water advisories on your local news or call your water utility.  Use only bottled or stored water until it is determined that the water is safe to drink. If water is not safe to drink, boil water vigorously for at least one minute and then cool before use.

The S.C. Emergency Management Division’s website, http://scemd.org, lists emergency shelter status statewide and is updated in real-time by the S.C. Department of Social Services. Coastal evacuees without internet access are urged to call the PIPS line at 1-866-246-0133 with questions and needed assistance. 

 

For more information visit http://www.scemd.org or follow @SCEMD on Twitter and Facebook.

 

Unsubscribe