Ivan expected to bring strong winds, heavy rains to Upstate

Clear Spring Fire and Rescue Chief Greg Merritt, with fire fighters Robby Brannon and Sean Humphreys, works on preperations and materials that might be needed during hurricane season. Ken Osburn/Staff e-mail this story More details What should go into your storm preparation kit? * Canned goods. * Other nonperishable foot items. * Bottled water. * Flashlight. * Extra batteries. * First-aid kit. * Emergency medication. * Battery-operated radio. * Household tools. * Can opener. * Dry clothing * Food for pets.

The 78-year-old Plano Drive resident has two older sisters living in Florida directly in the projected path of the storm's fury. And her Berea neighborhood northwest of Greenville has been hit by more than its share of severe flooding this summer.

So she worries about her family and neighbors. And she prays.

"I certainly hope we'll all do okay," she said. "But the way they are talking, we're going to have a lot of wind and heavy rain."

Folks across the Upstate should begin preparing for what could be a rough weekend, forecasters say.

Ivan's remnants are expected to dump heavy rain on the Carolinas and Georgia beginning Friday morning after hitting land on the Florida Panhandle early Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Ivan is expected to move quicker than Frances, but the wind threat could be greater.

"We could have winds between 30 and 40 miles an hour," said Jonathan Lamb, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Greer. "We'll also likely be in a favored region for tornadoes."

With the ground still saturated from Frances, trees could be susceptible to even small wind gusts and power outages could be widespread, authorities said.

Patrice Parker said isn't about to let Ivan catch her off guard.

The 33-year-old Greenville mother was filling up her grocery cart Monday at the Bi-Lo on North Pleasantburg Drive with a few extras like a case of bottled water, flashlight batteries and more canned goods than usual as she bought her regular groceries.

Trees surround her home near Furman University.

"My husband thinks I'm being silly, but I'm not taking any chances," she said.

"My sister lives in Charlotte, and they had no power for three days after Hurricane Hugo. So I just want to be prepared. Our yard is still soggy from the last storm, and I think we all could be in for some big problems."

Building up an emergency kit is a good idea, said Ashley Engler, director of community relations for the American Red Cross in Greenville.

Among the basics that folks might want to be sure they have on hand are bottled water; canned goods and other nonperishable food items; a flashlight with extra batteries; a first-aid kit; emergency medication; a battery-operated radio; household tools; a can opener; dry clothing; and food for their pets.

Clear Spring Fire-Rescue Chief Greg Merritt said he and his crew will welcome anyone needing shelter from the storm. While the two Clear Spring stations at 3008 Woodruff Road and 2435 East Georgia Road aren't certified as severe weather shelters, both are equipped with generators.

"We would like to make the offer available, that in the event of a power outage or other disaster, our doors will be open," Merritt said. "We feel pretty comfortable that we could accommodate up to about 200 people."

And while they hope they aren't needed, they and their counterparts at other fire houses across the county are readying sandbags, chainsaws and other rescue equipment.

Otherwise, it is just a matter of watching the weather, Boiling Springs Fire Chief Gerald Luker said.

"We're basically just waiting to see what happens," he said. "If it starts getting bad, our people will be out checking and putting barricades up.

"And we want to go ahead and remind people once again that if they see water standing in the road not to risk driving through it and putting themselves in a dangerous situation."

Officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said they plan to lower the level of Lake Hartwell before the weekend as a safety precaution to prevent flooding. Duke Power intends to do the same at Lake Keowee if the storm continues to track in this direction.

After battering the Cayman Islands on Sunday, Ivan continued heading northwest at about 8 mph on Monday with wind speeds increasing up to 160 mph. The fierce storm is already blamed for at least 60 deaths.

McAlister said she knows there isn't much she can do but watch and wait.

Fortunately, her home sits on the opposite side of the road from the creek that has overflowed its banks several times this summer, causing thousands of dollars in damages to her neighbor's homes and yards. Her son's home was among those damaged by the rising waters.

She said she will help him and her other neighbors all she can, inviting them inside her home and giving them a place to park their cars out of harm's way.

"I've been here since 1969, and this summer is as bad as I've seen it," she said.

Staff writer April M. Silvaggio can be reached at 298-4801.