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…
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…
SCEMD, S.C. Commerce Host First Emergency Seminar for Local Businesses
October 25, 2016 Columbia, S.C. (Tuesday, October 25) - The S.C. Emergency Management Division and the S.C. Department of Commerce will host the first Business Emergency Preparedness Seminar on Wednesday, October 26, at the Phillips Market Center in West Columbia. “The private sector plays a…
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…
S.C. Agencies, Residents Prepare for Hurricane Florence
September 9, 2018 COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Emergency Management Division continues to monitor Hurricane Florence, which forecasters say could affect the East Coast as a powerful storm. The state Emergency Operations Center is operational, staffed by emergency personnel from various…
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…
April 17, 2020 Columbia, S.C. – As cleanup efforts continue after Monday’s severe storm, it’s important to keep yourself safe from COVID-19. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control recommend following the guidelines:…
Taiwan Donates 92,000 Surgical Masks to the State of South Carolina
July 7, 2020 (WEST COLUMBIA, SC) - The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta (TECO) has donated 92,000 surgical masks to support South Carolina frontline medical personnel in the fight against COVID-19. South Carolina state government agencies worked together to ensure the delivery of the…
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…
Prepare for Severe Weather Tuesday
January 8, 2024 South Carolina residents should prepare for severe weather expected to impact the state Tuesday. As of this morning, Forecasters with the National Weather Service predict widespread damaging winds and the possibility of tornados, heavy rains and flash flooding, with the most severe…
Gov. Henry McMaster Declares State of Emergency for Table Rock Fire
March 22, 2025 Governor Henry McMaster today issued Executive Order 2025-14 , declaring a State of Emergency to support South Carolina's ongoing response to the Table Rock Fire in Pickens County. The order bolsters emergency efforts as firefighters work to contain the fire. Additionally, the order…
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…
Governor Henry McMaster Declares State of Emergency for Winter Weather
January 10, 2025 Governor Henry McMaster today issued Executive Order 2025-02 to declare a State of Emergency in support of the state's ongoing response efforts to the winter weather moving across South Carolina. The State of Emergency coincides with the South Carolina Emergency Operations Center…
SCEMD wants you to Know Your Zone. South Carolina residents and visitors can learn about hurricane evacuation zones and their vulnerability to storm surge on South Carolina’s coast with our Know Your Zone interactive map below. It’s very simple to use. Simply enter your address or the address of…
National Preparedness Day: Know Your Flood Risk
April 28, 2016 As part of National Preparedness Day on April 30, the S.C. Emergency Management Division and the S.C. Department of Natural Resources encourage everyone in South Carolina to take steps that reduce the risks of severe flooding. While many parts of the state are still recovering from…
South Carolina to ShakeOut for Earthquake Preparedness Week (2)
October 14, 2021 Governor Henry McMaster has proclaimed Earthquake Preparedness Week for 2021 be observed October 17-23 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…
Prepare for Possible Winter Weather
January 13, 2022 Residents in the Upstate and Midlands regions of South Carolina should monitor local weather conditions and continue winter safety precautions ahead of potential winter weather this weekend. Forecasters with the National Weather Service predict the possibility of a wintry mix of…
May 26, 2022 Governor Henry McMaster proclaimed May 29 through June 4 to be South Carolina Hurricane Preparedness Week. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division, county emergency managers, the National Weather Service along with all members of the State Emergency Response Team urge…
Ian Expected to Make Landfall in South Carolina
September 29, 2022 The National Hurricane Center recently issued a hurricane warning for portions of the South Carolina coast. Forecasters now believe Ian, which is currently a tropical storm, will make landfall somewhere near Charleston as a Category One hurricane. Everyone should finalize their…