COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) -- Hurricane Sandy, the 18th named storm of the season continues to churn toward the East coast.

Already, the storm is picking up waves in Florida.

Crandall Sims reporting, "Here in South Carolina, Emergency Management officials met this afternoon to discuss the plan for Sandy."

"We're just simply monitoring the storm, that's what we are asking people to do. Just as we're looking to see where Hurricane Sandy is headed, we want people to do the same," says Derrec Becker, Spokesperson for the South Carolina Emergency Management Division.

For much of Thursday morning South Carolina Emergency anagement officials had their eyes on Florida.

"Florida generally is the first state to see any impact from a hurricane, historically. So, we're watching how they are being impacted, any affects that they may see," says Becker.

Overnight, the storm gained strengh after hitting Jamaica Wednesday, where 70% of the island nation was left without power.

Hurricane Sandy then made landfall in Cuba where the storm gained Category 2 strength, packing 110 mile per hour winds.

Already Sandy has claimed at least two lives and she's still moving.

Sandy's next stop is projected to be the Bahamas before the National Hurricane Center expects her to travel North, paralleling with the United States coast.

Back here at home, emergency officials are waiting and bracing for whatever Sandy may bring to South Carolina.

"The storm is still very far away, we are looking at maybe Saturday that it's going to be off our coastline. It's still a significant distance away from the South Carolina coastline. Our focus right now is making sure that we're ready and that our plans and resources are in place for the potential impacts we could see. But, also so that we can be ready to send resources to neighboring states if they are requested," says Becker.

For more information including tips and how to prepare for a hurricane, visit www.scemd.org