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Storm passing to north
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| By Scott Harper,
sharper@gtowntimes.com |
September
14, 2005 |
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Schools and government offices in Georgetown County were
closed Tuesday as Hurricane Ophelia approached the Grand Strand
after spending almost a week trying to decide where to
go.
Ophelia, which was given a name when it strengthened into a
tropical storm on Sept. 7, had been fluctuating between tropical
storm and hurricane strength for several days. By late Tuesday, the
storm had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph as it regained hurricane
strength.
Winds in Georgetown County were forecast to reach at
least 50 mph by early Wednesday morning as Ophelia passed just east
of the county with an expected landfall somewhere between Myrtle
Beach and Wilmington. Gusts of hurricane strength were also possible
prompting the National Hurricane Center to place the county under a
hurricane warning.
With as much as six inches of rain possible,
flooding is a possibility in the path of Ophelia. A flood watch was
issued Tuesday and is expected to expire this afternoon.
The
Georgetown County Emergency Operations Center was placed on Op Con
One status, which meant a limited crew staffed the
facility.
“Anything we do is based on the information we are
provided by the National Weather Service and the Hurricane Center,”
said County Emergency Management Director Mike Mock.
He said his
agency has been in constant contact with state officials for several
days as the planning for the storm took place.
On Monday
afternoon, Gov. Mark Sanford issued a voluntary evacuation order for
the areas east of Highway 17 in Georgetown and Horry counties. One
shelter opened in Georgetown County at Pleasant Hill Elementary
School at 4 p.m. Monday.
Eleven members of an Hispanic family
from the Bayview area of Georgetown arrived at the shelter Monday
night. They relied heavily on a family member, 10-year-old Jared
Cruz, to interpret from Spanish to English. Not only did the
elementary school student help Red Cross workers communicate with
his family, he also was able to keep his family informed as new
storm details were broadcast on a television in the school’s
cafeteria.
“We were scared because we live close to the river,”
Jared’s father, Jose Cruz, said through his son. “We saw what
happened in New Orleans.”
Jose said he was expecting other family
members to join them by Tuesday night as the storm got
closer.
“We have some family who will not come and we are worried
about them. But we know we are safe,” he said.
The Cruz family
said they rode out Hurricane Charley last year at Browns Ferry
Elementary School, so they knew what to take with them to help pass
the time.
Jared and his 3-year-old cousin Angel Olvera spent a
lot of time drawing and playing games.
Red Cross worker John
Kiesling said the evacuees were given meals which were prepared by
the school’s food service workers.
Jane Terhune, the Red Cross
disaster instructor, said there were 13 clients in the shelter by
noon Wednesday. By 5 p.m. the number had increased to 21.
When
the weather watches went into effect Monday, the city of Georgetown
began issuing updates periodically with information for residents
and visitors prepared by City Assistant Fire Chief Bill Johnson. The
updates were broadcast on the city’s radio station, WGEO 105.7 FM.
The information was broadcast in both English and Spanish, with the
help of Pastor Manuel Sierra of the First Spanish Assembly of
God.
“The fire and police departments have called in extra
personnel to handle any emergency situation. They will remain on
duty throughout the storm,” Johnson, who acts as the city’s
spokesman in emergency situations, wrote.
“The Wacammaw and
Sampit river bridges will not be closed, however motorists are
cautioned not to drive the bridges during tropical storm force
winds.”
Johnson said the city’s utility departments were on
stand-by Tuesday, ready to respond if the storm causes power or
water outages. “Restoration of electrical service will be a top
priority of the city,” Johnson said. “Public works will begin
clearing any debris as soon as the storm subsides. Personnel and
equipment have been pre-placed in Maryville and at the facility on
Kaminski Street to be ready to clear storm debris.”
Schools will
remain closed today but are expected to be open on Thursday,
according to District Superintendent Dr. Randy Dozier.
Coastal
Carolina University President Ronald R. Ingle said all classes and
university events are cancelled for today.
The class
cancellations include the Conway campus as well as the Myrtle Beach,
Waccamaw and Georgetown higher education.
The good news is
Ophelia is expected to be northeast of the area by Thursday and the
weather for the remainder of the week is forecast to be rather
tranquil.
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| ©Georgetown Times 2005
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