(Myrtle Beach) March 27, 2006 - The breeze Monday in Myrtle Beach was chilly, but harmless. That might not be the case in a couple of months.

It's one reason hundreds of people gathered in a huge tent at Kingston Plantation. Professionals and volunteers who were getting ready for - among other things - the start of hurricane season.

Gov. Mark Sanford voices the group's concern, "The one spot that hasn't gotten hit here recently is South Carolina. Mathematics would say that we're more than due."

No one at the meeting needs to be reminded how bad last year's hurricanes were. The odds of another severe season? Hurricane forecaster Stacy Stewart says, "We will likely see another above average, very active hurricane season this year, like what we saw in 2004 and 2005. I don't think it's going to be 27 storms, hopefully."

Hurricanes aren't the only topic on the agenda. One session centers on al-Qaeda tactics - while others deal with everything from Homeland Security to avian flu.

Disaster prep is big business. More than 40 vendors are pitching products and services at the conference.

But emergency management leaders also emphasize being prepared starts with individuals. Ron Osborne of the South Carolina Emergency Management Division talks about one group that may not realize the risk, "We've had a lot of folks that have moved toward the coast, a lot of people that haven't experienced hurricanes. So it's something that we must continue to stress both at the state and local level."

Bamberg County's Sharon Hammond says, "I think what it's going to take is that we get down to the bare bones of this whole preparedness thing and go back to teaching it in high schools, where the individuals will grow up and become adults and learn how to take care of their individual families."

South Carolina hasn't had a terrorist attack or major hurricane damage since Hugo.

This group wants the best possible response plan in case the Palmetto State's luck runs out.

Reported by Jack Kuenzie

Posted 7:11pm by Chantelle Janelle