Posted on Tue, Aug. 29, 2006

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Sanford likely to make evacuation decision Wednesday morning

A decision on evacuations of the coast, whether voluntary or mandatory, will likely be made Wednesday morning, Gov. Mark Sanford said today.

Sanford, speaking at the Charleston County Operations Center, said Tropical Storm Ernesto "is not a major storm and it's important to keep that in perspective."

But, Sanford said, the storm could strenghten before it arrives in South Carolina, so the state and local agencies are preparing for whatever might come.

The state's emergency operations center outside Columbia has increased its alert level, but is not yet at its highest mark.

Sanford recommended residents along the coast prepare now by tying down or securing loose furniture outside and by stocking up on supplies, such as water and batteries.

There is no timetable yet for reversing lanes on interstates running out of the coast. Sanford said that decision could be made when necessary. Meanwhile, Department of Transportation contractors have been released from job sites along predesignated evacuation routes, meaning construction work should not slow traffic headed west.

If evacuations are ordered, there will be traffic and no one should expect to drive 65 mph down Interestate 26, he said.

Also today, 240 members of the S.C.National Guard were called up. Sanford said they are being stationed at their home armories until needed.

Unlike last year, when much of the state's Guard presence was deployed overseas, the state has "conserable resesrves beyond this 240 number," he said.

— Aaron Gould Sheinin