COLUMBIA--Evacuation shelters have been designated, lane reversals have been practiced and resources have been counted -- all signs that South Carolina is ready for an active hurricane season, officials said Friday.

Gov. Mark Sanford met with state agency heads Friday to talk about hurricane season, which began this month but typically doesn't get bad until late August and September.

"I think we're as prepared as we can be," said Ron Osborne, director of the state Emergency Management Division.

That's good news for South Carolinians, who last year endured one of the busiest storm seasons in more than a century. In all, seven tropical systems affected the state, causing at least $146 million in damage and cleanup costs.

Even though the state is prepared, Sanford had a variety of concerns he wanted addressed, including how specific evacuation areas are determined, how shelters are notified that evacuations are over and who determines when bridges close.

Sanford had questions about who has the authority to close bridges, and at what wind speed the new Cooper River Bridge in Charleston would be shut down.

Elizabeth Mabry, head of the state Transportation Department, said engineers will have to monitor the traffic on the new bridge when it opens next month to see how wind speeds affect different types of vehicles. Wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour have been recorded on the bridge but Mabry said it's still safe to drive across.