2025 News Releases

SC Winter Weather Preparedness Week December 1, 2025 Governor Henry McMaster has proclaimed November 30 through December 6, 2025, as Winter Weather Preparedness Week in South Carolina. Read More About SC Winter Weather Preparedness Week SCEMD Issues Notice About Emergency Notification System…

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…

Community Vaccination Center Hits Milestone

April 25, 2021 Today, more than 4,000 people have received their COVID-19 vaccine at South Carolina’s Community Vaccination Center at Columbia Place Mall. This temporary mass vaccination clinic, which opened April 13, is operating for another six weeks and currently offers the Pfizer vaccine. “I’m…

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…

Earthquake Guide Now Available Statewide

October 1, 2014 COLUMBIA, S.C. (Wednesday, October 1, 2014, 10:00 a.m.) – The South Carolina Earthquake Guide is available for the first time statewide via the Senior P.R.E.P. section at every Walgreens store in the state. The S.C. Earthquake Guide is the first publication that details South…

S.C. launches new site for business reentry certification

August 29, 2018 Columbia, S.C. – Businesses in South Carolina now have a new automated online tool to register for post-disaster reentry following evacuations for large-scale emergencies. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division launched the new site in collaboration with South Carolina…

SCEMD Monitors Hurricane Elsa

July 2, 2021 The South Carolina Emergency Management Division is monitoring Hurricane Elsa, which forecasters say could affect the South Carolina next week. As a result of the storm’s projected movement toward the southeast United States, key local and state agencies have been notified to be ready…

Wireless Emergency Alerts

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are free notifications delivered to your mobile device as part of a public safety system provided by Authorized Senders. The alerts are designed to inform you of imminent threats to safety or missing persons alerts in your area (e.g., AMBER Alerts). To receive…

SCEMD Achieves National Reaccreditation (1)

November 29, 2023 The Emergency Management Accreditation Program has granted the South Carolina Emergency Management Division full national accreditation. This national certification program examined the state's ability to respond to and prepare for disasters. SCEMD was first accredited in 2008…

Gov. McMaster Declares State of Emergency for South Carolina

August 4, 2024 Governor Henry McMaster today issued Executive Order 2024-16 , declaring a State of Emergency in preparation for the potential effects of Tropical Storm Debby, and asks South Carolinians to monitor local forecasts and to begin taking proper precautions. The executive order activates…

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.…

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…

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…

Team South Carolina Prepares for Hurricane Florence

September 12, 2018 COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Emergency Response Team continues to track Hurricane Florence and remains fully dedicated to preparing for the storm's potential impact on South Carolina. Forecasters say that Florence is currently a Category 3 hurricane and has the capacity…

South Carolina to ShakeOut for Earthquake Preparedness Week

October 8, 2019 Columbia, S.C. - Governor Henry McMaster has proclaimed Earthquake Awareness Week for 2019 be observed October 13-19 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…

Preparing a Business

It’s important for businesses to plan and prepare for a hurricane or any emergency that could affect normal operations and employees. A large-scale disaster anywhere in the state could disrupt normal operations for any business, which is why it is important for every business to have continuity…

Gov. Henry McMaster, SCEMD Urge Storm Preparation for Tropical Storm Elsa

July 6, 2021 Residents should finalize their storm preparations ahead of Tropical Storm Elsa. Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center predict portions of South Carolina’s coast will experience tropical storm conditions beginning Wednesday and into Thursday morning. Forecasters expect gusty…

South Carolina to ShakeOut, Launch New Earthquake Prep Resource Next Week

October 13, 2022 Governor Henry McMaster has proclaimed Earthquake Preparedness Week for 2022 be observed October 16-20 in South Carolina. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division encourages everyone to take this opportunity to learn about our state’s seismic fault system and how best to…

South Carolina to ShakeOut for Earthquake Preparedness Week (3)

October 12, 2023 Governor Henry McMaster has proclaimed Earthquake Preparedness Week for 2023 to be observed October 15-21 in South Carolina. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division encourages everyone to take this opportunity to learn about our state’s seismic fault system and how best…

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…