SC agencies practice for hurricane evacuation

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Authorities are preparing for their annual drill on how to get people away from South Carolina’s coast as quickly as possible if a hurricane threatens.

The Department of Public Safety is running an exercise Tuesday to practice reversing lanes on major roads leading out of Hilton Head Island, Charleston and Myrtle Beach.

Authorities won’t actually stop and reverse traffic so all lanes on those roads go inland. But they will be on the side of the road and at exits to practice the steps needed to create the extra lanes.

The exercise will take place on U.S. 501 and state Highway 22 in Myrtle Beach, Interstate 26 in Charleston and U.S. 21 and U.S. 278 in Beaufort County, extending well inland on those routes. The training starts at 8 a.m.