(Columbia) Sept. 10, 2005 - The Emergency Management Division in Columbia is staffed, preparing for what may happen in the next few days with Hurricane Ophelia.

Joe Farmer speaks for the Emergency Management Division, "It's been a difficult storm to follow. We're keeping a close watch on it and we want people in South Carolina to watch us."

The Division is cautiously waiting for Hurricane Ophelia's next move . Farmer says, "We want to sure that if that storm hits South Carolina, people will have ample time to get out of its way."

Since Saturday morning, a number of state agencies and volunteer organizations have gathered at the Emergency Operations Center to keep an eye on the storm around the clock.
Ophelia- (Forecast Path | Latest Advisory)
Malachi Rodgers' forecast for Ophelia

Even though it's too early to tell, Farmer says that officials are planning for a worst case scenario, "We want to make sure all assets are in place to evacuate so that no one in South Carolina dies because they weren't able to leave South Carolina and go inland to safety."

Even though some of the state's emergency resources are helping with the aftermath of Katrina, state officials say it won't affect any response to a storm here.

The focus, Farmer points out, is still the Palmetto State, "We're all learning together as Katrina lessons unfold, but right now our focus is on South Carolina and the state's response to Ophelia."

While the projected path of Hurricane Ophelia is continuously changing, the Emergency Division says if it does come ashore in South Carolina, they are prepared to do whatever is needed to help folks along the coast stay safe.

Federally, FEMA is also preparing for the worst from Ophelia. Under Secretary Michael Brown issued a statement saying, "FEMA is fully capable of handling multi-storm operations. We have pushed operational control of Hurricane Katrina out of our D.C. headquarters into our field structure now assembled and operational. We are monitoring Tropical Storm Ophelia’s approach and are in close contact with the National Hurricane Center and the states that could be impacted."

In North Carolina, the governor has declared a state of emergency. Governor Easley's decision Saturday activates the state's emergency response center in Raleigh and authorizes him to call up the National Guard and other state agencies.

The forecast is for Ophelia to make landfall on the North Carolina coast next week. Emergency management directors along North Carolina's southeastern coast are keeping an eye on the storm's track as it shifted northward Saturday. Pender County emergency management director Eddie King says there are little bands of rain reaching the coast already.

Reported by Tamara King with AP

Posted 5:55pm by Chantelle Janelle