If a major disaster such as Hurricane Katrina or a widespread terrorist attack hits South Carolina, the state would not be able to provide enough shelter or manpower to accommodate a large number of evacuees.

In a recent self-assessment, the S.C. Emergency Management Division found major shortfalls with its ability to evacuate patients in hospitals, residents of nursing homes or those with special needs. The division also found that it must improve its plan to provide temporary or long-term housing to displaced residents.

Under a directive by President Bush, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security required each state and the country's 75 largest cities to perform the assessments to improve emergency preparedness in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath.

"The goal is to have state and local (authorities) take a careful look at the plans they have in place," said Russ Knocke, a spokesman for Homeland Security. "Are they workable and logical plans, and do they have the sufficient resources to carry out the plans?"

Representatives from the federal department will visit each of the states and major cities to work with local officials to "correct deficiencies and share fresh ideas and experiences adopted elsewhere," Knocke said. Homeland Security will compile a report on its findings before the start of hurricane season.

John Legare, spokesman for the Emergency Management Division, said the Palmetto State has plans in place for every kind of catastrophic event, and is ready to adapt those plans if needed.

"We spend a lot of time working on our emergency plans, and we would like to think we have a good plan in place," he said. "Of course, every plan will have shortfalls."

South Carolina would need to rely on personnel from outside the state to provide shelter and staffing for a large number of evacuees and to provide transportation for those in hospitals and nursing homes.

The Emergency Management Division also is working to identify residents with special needs, such as the hearing impaired and homebound elderly. Each county has a shelter for those with special needs, but the survey said space is limited.

As for evacuation routes, every county must have a plan in place, but the state needs to "mesh" the routes with state response efforts, the survey said. There aren't specific evacuation plans for a terrorist attack, but many hurricane routes can be applied, the survey said.

Significant progress has been made to deal with an incident involving weapons of mass destruction, the survey said. But it said more planning needs to be done in Charleston, Columbia and Greenville in the event of a "dirty bomb" or other large-scale attacks.

In a separate effort, State Law Enforcement Division Chief Robert Stewart said his agency is compiling a list of its needs for counter-terrorism programs. It must report those needs to Homeland Security by March 2, which will determine the amount of grant money the state will get for counter-terrorism efforts. In the past, money was distributed based on population. This year, it will be allocated based on risk.

While plenty might be left to be done, the Emergency Management Division wrote in the survey that its plans are adequate for shelter and evacuation in a disaster comparable to Hurricane Katrina.

"Emergency planning is an ongoing process," Legare said. "Our plan is a living document, and changes with our capabilities and the needs of the population."

 

Katrina, Rita evacuees

Hurricane Katrina and Rita evacuees remaining in hotels must call the Federal Emergency Management Agency by Monday or the agency will stop paying for their rooms early next month.

There are still evacuees staying in 80 hotel rooms throughout the state, said FEMA spokeswoman Sally Mackert. A breakdown for the Charleston area was not available.

Evacuees must call 1-800-621-FEMA to get an authorization code to extend their hotel stays past Feb. 7.

FEMA will continue to pay for hotel rooms for evacuees with an authorization code through Feb. 13. Other accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Mackert encouraged all evacuees to get an authorization code even if they are not still staying in hotel rooms. She said the effort is to track their status and provide further assistance.

More than 1,370 evacuees are estimated to have come to the Lowcountry out of roughly 8,900 that came to South Carolina.

 

Reach Yvonne M. Wenger at 745-5891 or ywenger@postandcourier.com.