Governor McMaster Says Mandatory Evacuations Could Come Saturday
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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)-Governor Henry McMaster says at 10 a.m. this Saturday, he will issue evacuation orders and lane reversals if the current forecast remains.
“We will have a reversal of lanes on I-26 and we will also have reversal of lanes around Myrtle Beach and Beaufort for a few miles. I-26 will be reversed all the way from Charleston up until I-77 in Columbia,” said McMaster.
The governor also says he plans to make an announcement about closing schools and government buildings in advance of the storm’s arrival.
“It’s likely that I will announce tomorrow that schools and government offices will be closed on Monday, September 11th and Tuesday, September 12th in some or all of the 46 counties in the state,” said McMaster.
Additionally, McMaster declared a mandatory evacuation of 143 healthcare facilities along the coast, effective immediately.
“A healthcare facility includes a hospital, nursing home, assistant living facilities, alcohol and substance abuse hospitals and other types which are listed in the executive order,” said McMaster.
No residential evacuations have been ordered, only the evacuation of those coastal health facilities the governor mentioned. Officials continue to fine tune these plans so stay with ABC Columbia as we bring you the latest on air and online.
