Disaster Recovery Center Opening in Darlington County

October 17, 2018 COLUMBIA, S.C. – The State of South Carolina and FEMA are opening a Disaster Recovery Center in Darlington (Darlington County) Wednesday, Oct. 17. Eight additional centers are open in the areas affected by Hurricane Florence. The centers offer in-person support to individuals and…

STATE PUBLIC HOTLINE ACTIVATED

September 8, 2017 Residents in South Carolina who have questions about Hurricane Irma can now call the state’s toll-free hotline. Operators with the Public Information Phone System (PIPS) are available 24 hours a day for as long as is needed. If you have questions about Hurricane Irma, such as…

Residents Should Ask to See Identification of Hurricane Matthew Relief Workers

October 10, 2016 COLUMBIA, S.C. – Residents in affected counties are encouraged to be mindful of possible scams associated with the recovery efforts of hurricane Matthew. Thousands of disaster workers will be coming into the state from all over the country. People affected by Matthew should take a…

DANGEROUS CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT SOUTH CAROLINA

October 8, 2016 COLUMBIA, S.C. ­- The S.C. Emergency Response Team strongly reminds all citizens coastal evacuation orders are still in effect. Hurricane Matthew began impacting the state this morning with hurricane and tropical storm-force winds, heavy rain and flooding along the coast and far…

Storm Hotline Activated

August 6, 2024 Residents in South Carolina who have questions about Tropical Storm Debby can now call the state’s toll-free hotline. Operators with the State’s Public Information Phone System are available 24 hours a day for as long as needed. If you have questions about Tropical Storm Debby, such…

Help for Renters

November 1, 2016 COLUMBIA, S.C. (Tuesday, Nov. 1) – With so much attention given to businesses and homeowners, survivors who are renters may think they are not eligible for disaster assistance even though they suffered losses from the storms and floods spawned by Hurricane Matthew. But they are.…

S.C. Survivors Can Get Aid from State, Federal and Voluntary Agencies

November 16, 2018 Hurricane Florence survivors in South Carolina still have time to apply for federal disaster assistance. But you may need help beyond what FEMA can offer. Assistance may be available from other federal, state and volunteer organizations. STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA The S.C. Emergency…

FEMA and South Carolina to Open Community Vaccination Center at Columbia Place Mall April 14

April 12, 2021 FEMA, partnering with the state of South Carolina, Richland County, and city of Columbia, is opening a Community Vaccination Center (CVC) site at the Columbia Place Mall. This site at 7201 Two Notch Road will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily beginning Wednesday, April 14. The…

Clean up effort now underway in areas of South Carolina impacted by Tropical Storm Debby

August 9, 2024 State and local agencies continue to assess the full extent of damage caused by Tropical Storm Debby as response crews across South Carolina continue to clear roads of trees and debris in hard-hit area. Residents can help with clean-up efforts by using the Damage Assessment tool in…

SCEMD Tracking Tropical Storm Helene

September 24, 2024 Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina Emergency Management Division is actively monitoring Tropical Storm Helene, which will soon be entering the Gulf of Mexico and could significantly impact the state in the coming days. As of Tuesday, forecasters believe Helene could bring heavy…

Monitor Hurricane Isaias

July 31, 2020 COLUMBIA, S.C. – Residents in South Carolina should begin the necessary preparations for the possible effects of Hurricane Isaias. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division is monitoring the storm, which forecasters say could affect the state beginning next week. “We’ve been…

2015 Hurricane Awareness Week

May 28, 2015 Governor Henry McMaster will proclaim May 28-June 3 to be 2017 South Carolina Hurricane Awareness Week. The S.C. Emergency Management Division, agencies of the State Emergency Response Team and county emergency managers will be engaged in many activities throughout the week to…

State/FEMA Disaster Centers to Close Temporarily Due to Hurricane Michael

October 9, 2018 COLUMBIA, S.C. – With Hurricane Michael threatening to produce dangerous conditions across South Carolina, State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) will close temporarily due to poor weather conditions. DRCs located in Chesterfield, Dillon, Georgetown, Horry, Marion and Marlboro…

Senior P.R.E.P. Program Kickoff

September 25, 2023 When an emergency impacts South Carolina, older adults are among the most vulnerable. Taking precautions ahead of time can greatly benefit seniors in vulnerable situations. The Senior P.R.E.P. (Planning and Resources for Emergency Preparedness) program, created by the South…

Working with SCEMD

Work that makes a difference! The South Carolina Emergency Management Division seeks exceptional men and women to join our team and help the agency to meet our important mission of protecting lives and property. Visit the South Carolina Careers website for information on state employment…

SCEMD Hosts Full-Scale Exercise to Prepare for Pipeline Disruption During Cold Snap

March 14, 2025 The South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) hosted a full-scale exercise this week, bringing together members of the South Carolina Emergency Response Team (SERT) and local partners from across the state, as well federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and…

Governor Henry McMaster Secures FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant for Upstate Fires

March 24, 2025 Governor Henry McMaster today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved South Carolina’s request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) to support efforts to contain the Table Rock Fire in Pickens County and the Persimmon Ridge Fire in…

Hurricane Guide

The South Carolina Hurricane Guide is updated annually by SCEMD in collaboration with local and state partners of the S.C. Emergency Response Team. All information contained in the Guide is valid at the time of publishing each year, but is subject to change depending on actual storm conditions.…

Disaster Recovery Centers

Disaster Recovery Centers are open in affected counties to help residents with damages and losses from Hurricane Florence. Additional centers will be opening soon in other areas. Representatives from the State of South Carolina, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Small Business…

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…