S.C. Governor Henry McMaster issued a State of Emergency declaration today, September 28, at 3:00 p.m. based on the current weather forecast, ahead of Hurricane Ian.
Following the governor’s declaration, Beaufort County Council Chairman Joe Passiment also issued a State of Emergency declaration for Beaufort County at 4:00 p.m.
According to the National Weather Service, residents and visitors of Beaufort County should expect to begin feeling the effects of Hurricane Ian on Thursday afternoon.
Current forecasts indicate we should begin to experience tropical storm force wind gusts, as well as rain Thursday evening into Friday; potentially Saturday morning.
Based on current forecasts, low-lying areas of Beaufort County that experienced flooding during Hurricanes Irma and Matthew, or those who live in low-lying areas prone to flooding, should pay close attention to storm surge warnings.
Also, residents and visitors should be prepared for extended power outages and down trees.
At this time, there are no plans to restrict driving within the county; however, we encourage all residents and visitors to not travel or joyride Friday through Saturday morning. All bridges to access Beaufort County’s barrier Islands are open.
Please be advised there is no evacuation order in place for Beaufort County. If residents and visitors feel uncomfortable and can leave ahead of storm conditions, we strongly encourage them to do so.
In preparation for storm conditions, residents and visitors are encouraged to secure outdoor items such as trash cans, patio furniture, hanging planters, or any other items that may become airborne. Also, please ensure all drains near your home are free of debris.
Residents and visitors are encouraged to follow the projected path of the storm via the National Hurricane Center online at https://www.nhc.noaa.gov or the local television station meteorologists.
Attached to this notice are graphics released by the National Weather Service that assist in visualizing the storm’s path, as well as weather watches and warnings.
Please stay informed through official sources regarding the latest developments on Hurricane Ian and avoid misinformation spread through social media. (This means don’t trust folks on Facebook and definitely don’t put your trust in local community pages, etc. They’ll post memes, crack jokes and even create gawdy graphics to try and get your “like,” but that’s about all they are good for.)
Sheriff P.J. Tanner will hold a press conference tomorrow, September 29, at 3:00 p.m. The press conference will be streamed on Facebook live as well as on The County Channel.
