(Columbia) Aug. 3, 2004 - Officials in South Carolina are using Hurricane Alex's appearance well off the coast of the Palmetto State as an opportunity to prepare for storms later this season. Alex is predicted to be only the first of a dozen or so storms that will develop this year.

Governor Mark Sanford held a briefing at 10:30am Tuesday with multiple state agencies, including emergency officials, law enforcement directors and social service agencies, to discuss plans, preparations and procedures for this year's Atlantic Basin Hurricane season.

He says South Carolina is better prepared to handle evacuations and preparations for a hurricane than it was five years ago, when Hurricane Floyd threatened.

Sanford says South Carolina is as ready as the state can be, "You will never completely be totally prepared for any event as big as a hurricane. You cannot cover every contingency. But, we're making a best faith effort to make sure we've covered every contingency, which is why we're walking through these kind of details now."

War deployments, however, could put a strain on the Palmetto State's ability to respond to a crisis. Sanford says the biggest problem is that much of the National Guard's equipment has been sent overseas with deployed troops.

The state only has ten high-kilowatt generators, which would be used to run sewage plant, and 20 of the state's 28 bulldozers have been deployed to the Middle East. Eight of the state's Blackhawk helicopters are expected to head abroad by September.

General Harry Burchstead says the National Guard says, "We're constantly monitoring the availably of the soldiers returning to South Carolina from deployment and their availably, we're continually looking at our equipment list." Burchstead says at least 7000 soldiers could respond if an emergency develops on the coast.

Army National Guard Colonel Dale Ellenburg says the state has agreements with private companies to provide the necessary equipment. But he says other states have similar agreements, so South Carolina would have to act quickly.

At the South Carolina Emergency Operation Center John Legare said, "Pretty much we've just been monitoring the situation. We've had conference calls with coastal counties, the National Weather Service, the state climatologist, of course keeping the governor informed on what's going on."

Legare says emergency workers are using this time to review their hurricane plans, "Right now, it's a great opportunity for us to get on the gear for hurricane season. To help remind citizens the possibility is out and that it will continue through November."

It's a good time to put together a hurricane survival kit with a supply of bottled water, non-perishable food and snacks, any prescription drugs you may need, a good first-aid kit, a working flashlight, a battery-operated radio and fresh batteries.

By Jack Kuenzie & Lucas McFadden with AP

updated 12:30pm by BrettWitt