'Dangerous' Hurricane Isabel pushes westward

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The National Hurricane Center in Miami said that Isabel remained an "extremely dangerous" Category 5 storm, the highest designation based on wind speed. But meteorologists were still unable to determine where or if it will make landfall.

Sanford raised state government's alert level to Operating Condition 4 from "OpCom 5," and signed an executive order directing a small number of National Guard troops to report to selected armories to begin preparations for a larger call-up, if necessary.

The Hurricane Center recommended that people living on and near the East Coast begin monitoring Isabel's progress and forecast advisories.

Joe Farmer, spokesman for the state's Emergency Management Division, said any landfall is unlikely before the middle of the week.

The alert change raises the state's "level of vigilance and involves notification of key personnel who would be involved with any response" should the hurricane strike, he said.

Farmer said that "it's not too early for people to begin to make plans" to prepare for evacuation, if necessary.

That includes the Upstate, he said.

"People need to understand, especially in the Greenville area, that a hurricane is not just a coastal event" because hurricanes can spawn tornadoes, damaging winds, power outages and torrential rain, he said.

At best, a coastal evacuation means people from the coast will be heading inland for hotels, motels, and the homes of family and friends. Farmer said studies have shown that nine out of 10 evacuees either stay in hotels or the homes of family and friends; the 10th goes to a public shelter.

Chris Drummond, a Sanford spokesman, said any decision on evacuation — should landfall on or near South Carolina be projected — would have to allow a minimum of 27 hours for hundreds of thousands of people and their vehicles to clear the immediate impact area, he said.

At 5 p.m. Friday, the Hurricane Center reported the storm's center was 350 miles northeast of the northernmost Leeward Islands. Isabel was moving westward at 9 mph, a track and speed that were expected to be maintained for 24 hours. Hurricane force winds of at least 74 mph extended 70 miles from center and tropical storm force winds of 35 to 73 mph extended outward for 185 miles.

Hurricane hunter aircraft from the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration and U.S. Air Force Reserve began periodic flights into the storm Friday afternoon.

Greenville Fire Chief Tom McDowell said the city has a two-inch thick emergency management plan that includes hurricanes.

"Assuming the coast is evacuated," he said. "They fill up the hotels and motels. If necessary, we will ask the American Red Cross to open their shelters," he said.

The Palmetto Expo Center serves as the state's largest emergency shelter. It also would house helicopter pilots from Fort Bragg in North Carolina in an emergency.

In Charleston, workers on the most expensive bridge project in state history began preparing for the worst.

Crews building the $632 million Ravenel Bridge linking Charleston and Mount Pleasant have started securing any material that could float or blow away and moving equipment to high ground.

South Carolina has not been hit by a hurricane in 14 years, since Hurricane Hugo struck from north of Charleston to near Myrtle Beach in 1989. Hugo caused widespread damage and power outages around the state and inflicted heavy damage in Charlotte and Boone, in North Carolina's northern mountains.

Dan Hoover covers politics and public policy issues. He can be reached at 298-4883.