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…

S.C. Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week March 2-8, 2025

February 24, 2025 COLUMBIA, S.C. — Governor Henry McMaster has proclaimed March 2-8, 2025, as South Carolina Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division, the National Weather Service, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources are jointly…

Thunderstorms

All thunderstorms are dangerous. Every thunderstorm produces lightning. In the United States, an average of 300 people are injured and 80 people are killed each year by lightning. Although most lightning victims survive, people struck by lightning often report a variety of long-term, debilitating…

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…

Team South Carolina Prepares For Tropical Depression Nine

September 27, 2025 Columbia, S.C. – Team South Carolina continues to monitor Tropical Depression Nine. The State Emergency Operations Center is activated and staffed by emergency personnel from multiple state agencies and emergency organizations. “The forecast for the incoming tropical depression…

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…

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,…

Expect Below-Freezing Temperatures

January 21, 2022 The South Carolina Emergency Management Division encourages everyone in the state to be prepared for below freezing conditions during and after this weekend’s winter storm. South Carolinians unaccustomed to dealing with the life-threatening aspects of severe cold should remember…

S.C. Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week March 6-12, 2022

March 4, 2022 Governor Henry McMaster has proclaimed that South Carolina Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week for 2021 will be observed March 6-12. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division and the National Weather Service jointly sponsor the week to remind people that severe storms,…

South Carolina Tracking Tropical Storm Idalia

August 28, 2023 South Carolina residents should prepare for Tropical Storm Idalia, which forecasters say will become a hurricane today, and could affect many parts of the state after making landfall along the west coast of Florida. While forecasters with the National Weather Service and the…

Governor Declares State of Emergency (2)

August 29, 2023 Governor Henry McMaster has declared a State of Emergency in advance of any potential impacts from Hurricane Idalia. The Governor’s State of Emergency declaration puts state emergency plans into effect, enabling agencies to better coordinate resources jointly and respond to…

Multiday Deluge from Debby Predicted

August 5, 2024 The South Carolina Emergency Management Division is monitoring Tropical Storm Debby. Forecasters say it is expected to move very slowly over South Carolina in the next few days, leading to potentially historic heavy rainfall. Key local and state agencies have been notified to be…

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…