The South Carolina coast is preparing for the heavy wind and rain Hurricane Ophelia could deliver, while Pee Dee counties are ready to set up shelters and residents are advised to plan ahead, officials say.

Emergency preparedness directors were listening Saturday for the governor to order any evacuations, voluntary or mandatory, for the state's coastal counties.

"Monitor the situation; listen to the advisories," said Florence County Emergency Preparedness Director Dusty Owens. "If you're told to leave, do so."

Darlington County Emergency Preparedness Director Robbin Brock said, "We're not expecting killer-force winds here," but downed trees and power lines are a possibility.

Meteorologists are looking at a more northern track for the storm based on recent projections, said WBTW News13 meteorologist Monte Montello.

That would bring the eye of the storm closer to a North Carolina landfall, but "it's still high uncertainty," he said.

The storm has traveled in all directions because of three main steering currents in the ocean, Montello said. As of 8 p.m. Saturday, the hurricane was "drifting" to the northeast, which means it was basically stationary, he said.

It likely will be a Category 1 hurricane with winds near 80 mph when it makes landfall, Montello said. The weather will likely worsen by Monday night if the storm holds to its current track, he said, and coastal and inland areas will receive 5 inches of rain in the worst-case scenario.

The storm might cause inland power outages and could spawn tornadoes, he said.

After a conference call Saturday among the state Emergency Management Division and counties' emergency agencies, Florence County emergency staff were briefed and asked to remain on standby, Owens said.

He's also communicated with the Red Cross and Department of Health and Environmental Control, he said.

He said that, along evacuation routes designated by blue signs, the state predetermines traffic control points near major intersections. Local law enforcement is responsible for staffing those points, he said.

Brock said Darlington County Emergency Operations Center staff would have a briefing tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. so they'd have time to develop a game plan for the county.

"The biggest thing now is fear from Katrina," Brock said, and his staff will have to address those sentiments from the public.

Owens said residents must take three important steps to survive a hurricane:

• Monitor the progress of the storm via television, newspaper, radio or press releases from emergency preparedness officials.
• Evacuate if ordered to.
• "Everybody needs to have a disaster plan for their family," he said.

Planning for a hurricane is like planning for a long weekend camping trip: Make sure to have bottled water, nonperishable food, cash, prescription medications, diapers, formula or whatever the family needs to be self-sufficient for 72 hours while waiting for help, Owens said.

Darlington County hasn't been asked to open any shelters yet and shouldn't have to unless the storm's power drastically changes, Brock said.

Darlington County shelters include Darlington High School, North Hartsville Elementary School, Lamar High School and Society Hill Community Center.

Florence County is prepared to open five of its schools as shelters: Wilson High School, South Florence High School, Lake City High School, Hannah-Pamplico Elementary/Middle School and Timmonsville Educational Center.