This page will be updated regularly as information becomes available.

DHEC is closely monitoring developments with Hurricane Florence. We are working with Governor McMaster and the South Carolina Emergency Management Division in accordance with the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan and the South Carolina Hurricane Plan.

Stay tuned to your local weather forecast and get the latest information about our preparation and response efforts by following us on Twitter and Facebook.

In response to Hurricane Florence, DHEC staff continues to actively assess and respond to ongoing public health and environmental needs across the state. For important information on steps you can take, please visit ourhurricane preparedness page.

Latest Updates:

• By executive order Governor McMaster has closed state government offices in the following counties, except for employees deemed essential by their agency director: - (09/13/2018)
  
  Berkeley; Calhoun; Charleston; Clarendon; Darlington; Dillon; Dorchester; Florence; Georgetown; Horry; Lee; Lexington; Marion; Marlboro; Orangeburg; Richland; Sumter; and Williamsburg.

• Gov. Henry McMaster lifts mandatory evacuations for Southern Coastal Counties, for zones in Beaufort, Colleton, and Jasper counties, with the exception of Edisto Beach.: - (09/11/2018)

   

As part of our preparedness efforts, DHEC has taken the following actions
- (updated at 12 p.m. on 09/13/2018):

Health Care Facilities:

On September 10, 2018, the Governor issued a Mandatory Medical Evacuation (MME) order for health care facilities regulated by DHEC in the evacuation zone.

The following 7 hospitals have reported to DHEC that they are now closed:

• Grand Strand Medical Center
• Palmetto Behavioral Hospital
• Tidelands Georgetown Memorial
• Tidelands Rehab Hospital
• Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital
• Vibra Hospital of Charleston
• Williamsburg Hospital

The following 8 hospitals were granted exemptions to the MME order, allowing them to continue to treat their most acutely ill patients:

• Bon Secours – St. Francis Xavier (Roper)
• East Cooper Medical Center
• Health South Rehab Hospital of Charleston (Encompass)
• MUSC
• Roper St. Francis – Mount Pleasant Hospital
• Roper Hospital
• Summerville Medical Center
• Trident Medical Center

As of Thursday at 9 a.m., more than 2,200 people had been evacuated from 113 health care facilities along the coast. The Department continues to communicate with facilities to assess and monitor their status and identify any needs or issues they may have.

Special Medical Needs Shelters:

• DHEC has opened 12 special medical needs shelters to provide shelter for people whose medical conditions exceed the capabilities of the general population shelters, but are not severe enough to require a hospital stay. We do not provide health care services in these shelters. *NOTE: if you think you may need this type of shelter, please call our CARELINE at 1-855-4SC-DHEC (1-855-472-3432).

Dams:

• As of Thursday at 9 a.m., DHEC had assessed 241 dams in the projected path of the storm. The Department has utilized the CodeRED system multiple times to notify more than 2,000 dam owners via voice call, text message and email. Dam owners were urged to evaluate their water levels and coordinate lowering levels with other owners downstream to avoid flooding.

Coastal Resources:

• DHEC has issued blanket emergency orders to local governments to allow property owners along the immediate beachfront to conduct sand scraping or install sandbags to provide temporary protection from anticipated wave uprush from the pending storm. The Department has asked local governments along the coast to provide updates on beachfront erosion and damage through our MYCoast application. Property owners should coordinate with local governments to obtain emergency order authorization.

DHEC Office Closures:

DHEC follows the closings and delays of county offices. For example, if Beaufort County offices are closed, our health clinics and offices in the county will be closed as well. The latest information on delays and closures can be found at http://scemd.org or on local media. We will update this information here as it becomes available.

• Berkeley - September 13, 2018    CLOSED
• Calhoun - September 13, 2018    CLOSED
• Charleston - September 13, 2018    CLOSED
• Clarendon - September 13, 2018    CLOSED
• Darlington - September 13, 2018    CLOSED
• Dillon - September 13, 2018    CLOSED
• Dorchester - September 13, 2018    CLOSED
• Florence - September 13, 2018    CLOSED
• Georgetown - September 13, 2018    CLOSED
• Horry - September 13, 2018    CLOSED
• Lee - September 13, 2018    CLOSED
• Lexington - September 13, 2018    CLOSED
• Marion - September 13, 2018    CLOSED
• Marlboro - September 13, 2018    CLOSED
• Orangeburg - September 13, 2018    CLOSED
• Richland - September 13, 2018    CLOSED
• Sumter - September 13, 2018    CLOSED
• Williamsburg - September 13, 2018    CLOSED

Stay Connected

Stay tuned to your local weather forecast and get the latest information about our preparation and response efforts by following us on Twitter and Facebook.

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Previous Updates:

• DHEC has opened 3 special medical needs shelters as of Wednesday September 12; to provide shelter for people whose medical conditions exceed the capabilities of the general population shelters, but are not severe enough to require a hospital stay. We do not provide health care services in these shelters. *NOTE: if you think you may need this type of shelter, please call our CARELINE at 1-855-4SC-DHEC (1-855-472-3432).
• As of Wednesday at 9 a.m., more than 1,700 people had been evacuated from health care facilities along the coast. The Department continues to communicate with facilities to assess and monitor their status and identify any needs or issues they may have.
• As of Tuesday at 11 p.m., DHEC had assessed 181 dams. The Department has utilized the CodeRED system multiple times to notify more than 2,000 dam owners via voice call, text message and email. Dam owners were urged to evaluate their water levels and coordinate lowering levels with other owners downstream to avoid flooding.
• DHEC has issued blanket emergency orders to local governments to allow property owners along the immediate beachfront to conduct sand scraping or install sandbags to provide temporary protection from anticipated wave uprush from the pending storm. The Department has asked local governments along the coast to provide updates on beachfront erosion and damage through our MYCoast application. Property owners should coordinate with local governments to obtain emergency order authorization. Visit DHEC's Coastal Recovery page for more information
• On September 10, 2018, the Governor issued a Mandatory Medical Evacuation (MME) order for health care facilities regulated by DHEC in the evacuation zone.
• Governor McMaster has signed Executive Order No. 2018-28 issuing a Mandatory Medical Evacuation of Healthcare Facilities - (09/10/2018)
  
  Affected Areas:
  • Beaufort (Zone A)
  • Berkeley (Zones B, G, H, and I)
  • Charleston (Zones A, B, and C)
  • Colleton (Zones A, B)
  • Dorchester (Zones D, E, and F)
  • Georgetown (Zones A, B, and C)
  • Horry (Zones A, B, and C)
  • Jasper (Zones A, B)
     

  SCEMD wants you to Know Your Zone

•  Governor McMaster issues Executive Order 2018-30, ordering Closures of all State Government Offices for all non-essential personnel in 26 counties. - (09/10/2018)

• DHEC has issued blanket emergency orders to local governments to allow property owners along the immediate beachfront to conduct minor renourishment, sand scraping or install sandbags to provide temporary protection to beachfront structures from wave uprush. Click here to view emergency orders. - (09/10/2018)

Stay Connected

Stay tuned to your local weather forecast and get the latest information about our preparation and response efforts by following us on Twitter and Facebook.