SC Emergency Management Urges Residents to Be Aware of High Winds, Rain

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO)– As Tropical Storm Irma now makes a path up through Georgia near South Carolina, Emergenecy officials are urging residents to be aware of the possible impact.

Right now a mandatory evacuation remains in effect for the following barrier islands: Edisto Beach in Colleton County; Daufuskie, Fripp, Harbor, Hunting and Hilton Head Islands in Beaufort County; and Knowles and Tullifiny in Jasper County.

Here are some tips from SC EMD:

Be Aware of High Wind, Heavy Rain and Flooding:

• Limit travel and use extreme caution around down trees and power lines.

• Treat every down power line as if it were live.

• Do not walk through moving water. Three to six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.

• Do not ever try to drive around or move barricades that are blocking a street.

• Heed warnings issued by local public safety officials. When you hear an official alert, take safety precautions immediately.

• Be aware that tropical storms can form tornadoes. Pay attention to NOAA Weather Radio alerts for your area and be prepared to seek shelter immediately if NWS issues a tornado warning for your area.

• Call 9-1-1 for life-threatening emergencies only. Residents may call the state hotline at 1-866-246-0133 for all other questions related to Tropical Storm Irma.

• Residents who need safe shelter from the storm may go to one of 24 emergency shelters that are open across the state. A complete list of shelters is available online: scemd.org/shelters-rss.