SCEMD Monitors Tropical Storm Nicole

November 9, 2022 South Carolina residents should monitor Tropical Storm Nicole, which could affect many parts of the state after making landfall along east coast of Florida. Forecasters with the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center believe South Carolina could experience…

S.C. Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week March 5-11, 2023

March 2, 2023 Governor Henry McMaster has proclaimed that South Carolina Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week for 2023 will be observed March 5-11. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division and the National Weather Service jointly sponsor the week to remind people that severe storms,…

S.C. Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week March 3-9, 2024

March 1, 2024 Governor Henry McMaster has proclaimed that South Carolina Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week for 2024 will be observed March 3-9. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division, the National Weather Service, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources jointly sponsor…

New Hurricane Evacuation Zones Unveiled

May 8, 2024 As hurricane season approaches, the South Carolina Emergency Management Division announces new hurricane evacuation zones aimed at helping community preparedness and safety during hurricanes. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division, county emergency managers, the National…

SCEMD Monitors Potential Tropical Cyclone 8

September 15, 2024 The South Carolina Emergency Management Division is monitoring Potential Tropical Cyclone 8, which will soon become Tropical Storm Helene. Forecasters say the storm is expected to strengthen to a tropical storm before making landfall north of Charleston early tomorrow afternoon.…

SCEMD Moves to OPCON 2

September 26, 2024 The South Carolina Emergency Management Division has elevated the state's readiness and response to Operating Condition Level Two, or OPCON 2, as Hurricane Helene approaches South Carolina. This decision follows Governor Henry McMaster's declaration of a State of Emergency,…

Gov. McMaster Declares State of Emergency to Support Response Efforts to Flash Flooding

November 7, 2024 Governor Henry McMaster today issued Executive Order 2024-33 , declaring a State of Emergency to assist South Carolina's response to flooding in the eastern Midlands and portions of the Lowcountry. The executive order activates the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan and…

2016 News Releases

Winter Weather Preparedness Week December 4, 2016 COLUMBIA, S.C. – Governor Nikki Haley has proclaimed the week of December 4 through December 10, 2016, as South Carolina Winter Weather Preparedness Week. Read More About Winter Weather Preparedness Week S.C. Residents Have Two Weeks to Apply for…

Gov. Henry McMaster Makes Two Disaster Declaration Requests Following Tropical Storm Debby

September 17, 2024 COLUMBIA, S.C. – Governor Henry McMaster today requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration and a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster declaration for eligible counties as a result of Tropical Storm Debby, which made landfall in South Carolina on August 8, 2024.…

Total Eclipse Safety Tips

August 21, 2017 On August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse will be visible along a thin, roughly 100 mile-wide path that runs diagonally across America from Oregon to South Carolina. Beginning around 2:38 p.m. on Monday, August 21, 2017, viewers who have gathered in areas like Greenville, Columbia…

The Great ShakeOut & Earthquake Preparedness Week

October 18, 2017 South Carolina to #ShakeOut for Earthquake Awareness Week Columbia, S.C. (Tuesday, October 18, 2016) - Governor Nikki Haley has proclaimed Earthquake Awareness Week for 2016 be observed October 16-22 in South Carolina. The S.C. Emergency Management Division encourages everyone to…

Winter Weather Preparedness Week

December 4, 2016 TAKE STEPS NOW TO PREPARE FOR THE WINTER SEASON Governor Nikki Haley has proclaimed the week of December 4 through December 10, 2016, as South Carolina Winter Weather Preparedness Week. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division and the National Weather Service along with…

South Carolina to #ShakeOut for Earthquake Awareness Week

October 18, 2016 Governor Nikki Haley has proclaimed Earthquake Awareness Week for 2016 be observed October 16-22 in South Carolina. The S.C. Emergency Management Division encourages everyone to take this opportunity to learn about our state’s seismic fault system and how best to prepare for…

Below Freezing Temps to Continue Through Sunday

January 7, 2017 The S.C. Emergency Management Division encourages everyone in the state to be prepared for below freezing conditions that are expected to continue after this weekend’s winter storm. Residents should be prepared for extreme cold and hazardous conditions caused by ice. South…

South Carolina Should Prepare for Freezing Temps

January 6, 2015 The S.C. Emergency Management Division encourages everyone in the state to be prepared for below freezing conditions that are expected beginning Wednesday. Fortunately, forecasters with the National Weather Service do not expect precipitation such as rain or snow. The "Severe…

South Carolina Operational Radiological Emergency Response Plan

The purpose of the South Carolina Operational Radiological Emergency Response Plan (SCORERP) is to provide a framework of actions necessary for emergency operations in response to an incident at a Nuclear Power Plant in South Carolina. SCORERP is Appendix 2 to the South Carolina Emergency…

Tornadoes

South Carolina has averaged 23 tornadoes each year since 2014. During this period, there have been a total of 9 tornado-related fatalities. South Carolina ranks twenty-second in the United States in the number of tornado occurrences, and eighth in the number of tornadoes per square mile. While…

Residents Must Leave Now

September 3, 2019 COLUMBIA, S.C. – Residents in designated evacuation zones must leave no later than Wednesday morning to reach a safe distance from Hurricane Dorian. Due to the increasing threat of dangerous conditions such as storm surge and high winds, now is the time to heed the evacuation…

Hurricane Dorian

Hurricane Dorian by the Numbers: 441,000 evacuated 252,000 power outages 2,500 people stayed in 36 emergency shelters 1,900 National Guard soldiers were activated and/or placed on standby 58 road and bridge closures State and county offices in 23 counties closed The state emergency operations…

S.C. Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week March 7-13, 2021

March 1, 2021 Governor Henry McMaster has proclaimed that South Carolina Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week for 2021 will be observed March 7-13. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division and the National Weather Service jointly sponsor the week to remind people that severe storms,…