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…
S.C. Agencies Prepare Early for Winter Months December 1, 2014 COLUMBIA, S.C. (Monday, December 1, 2014, 1:30 P.M.) - The South Carolina Emergency Management Division, along with the agencies that comprise the State Emergency Response Team, encourages everyone in South Carolina to prepare for the…
Gov. McMaster Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Winter Storm
January 21, 2026 Governor Henry McMaster today issued Executive Order 2026-02 declaring a State of Emergency in preparation for a winter storm system expected to impact the state beginning Saturday and continuing through the weekend, possibly into Monday. The governor's order activates the South…
April 14, 2020 COLUMBIA, S.C. (Tuesday, April 14, 2020) – The South Carolina Emergency Response Team requests donations of greatly needed supplies to help emergency personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specific needs include personal protective equipment such as double gloves, medical gowns,…
S.C. Agencies Prepare Early for Winter Months
December 1, 2014 COLUMBIA, S.C. (Monday, December 1, 2014, 1:30 P.M.) - The South Carolina Emergency Management Division, along with the agencies that comprise the State Emergency Response Team, encourages everyone in South Carolina to prepare for the upcoming winter season during South Carolina…
South Carolina Should Prepare for Hurricane Irma
September 6, 2017 Governor Henry McMaster today issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency and, along with the S.C. Emergency Management Division, has urged South Carolinians to prepare for the possibility of Hurricane Irma impacting the state. The executive order enables all state…
Governor Nikki Haley Urges Residents to Prepare for Hurricane Matthew
October 4, 2016 COLUMBIA, S.C. - Governor Nikki Haley today issued an executive order declaring a State of Emergency and asked residents to prepare for a potential evacuation of the South Carolina coast in advance of any impact from Hurricane Matthew. As state officials continue to monitor weather…
Team SC Continues Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts, Tracking Hurricane Milton
October 7, 2024 As South Carolina continues its recovery efforts from the impacts of Hurricane Helene, state and local officials are closely monitoring Hurricane Milton, which is currently situated in the Gulf of Mexico. Current Situation: As of the latest advisory from the National Hurricane…
October 5, 2016 Columbia, S.C. (Wednesday, October 5, 2016) – The South Carolina Response Team today announced the opening of shelters across the state for residents and visitors who are evacuating from coastal areas as Hurricane Matthew approaches. Shelters began opening on Wednesday, October 5,…
South Carolina Winter Weather Preparedness Week November 24, 2020 Governor Henry McMaster has proclaimed the week of November 29 through December 5, 2020, as South Carolina Winter Weather Preparedness Week. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division and the National Weather Service along…
Public Information Phone System (PIPS) SCEMD's public information hotline 866-246-0133 SCDOT Contact SCDOT for the latest road conditions. 855-GO-SCDOT (855-467-2368) South Carolina Department of Insurance (803) 737-6160 South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) Contact 833-351-9990 to…
Call 211 if You Need Help Recovering from Hurricane Matthew
October 13, 2016 South Carolina residents continuing to recover from Hurricane Matthew should call 2-1-1 for any assistance if their needs for food, clothing and shelter are not being met. Callers will be connected to local relief supplies where available. As recovery efforts begin, local…
State Emergency Operations Center
The South Carolina Emergency Operations Center is the central point at which all state agencies coordinate the response to any major disaster in the Palmetto State. The State EOC is the facility in which all members of the State Emergency Response Team coordinate the response to major disasters in…
Team South Carolina Prepares for Flooding in the Pee Dee region
September 15, 2018 Columbia, S.C.-The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), the SC National Guard, the SC Emergency Management Division, the SC Department of Corrections, the SC Department of Natural Resources, the US Army Corps of Engineers and Horry County are working collectively…
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 South Carolina Certified Emergency Manager program was created to raise and maintain professional standards in emergency management and to certify achievement of that standard within the profession in South Carolina. The program was developed in a cooperation between the South Carolina…
Agendas SERC Agenda 12-10-2025 SC Regulation 58-1 Review Committee Meeting Agenda 12-4-2025 OERT Meeting Agenda 9-15-2025 SC Regulation 58-1 Review Committee Meeting Agenda 6-25-2025 OERT Meeting Agenda 6-23-2025 OERT Agenda 3.10.2025 OERT Agenda 12.9.2024 SC Regulation 58-1 Review Committee…
Opioid Emergency Response Plan
The purpose of this plan is to provide guidance and a detailed strategy of state and local efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. The state Opioid Emergency Response Plan has been developed as part of the ongoing collaboration of more than two dozen organizations and contains four focus areas to…
Gov. McMaster Announces Deployment of South Carolina Team to Texas for Flood Response
July 8, 2025 COLUMBIA, S.C. – Governor Henry McMaster has authorized the deployment of South Carolina Task Force 1 (SC-TF1), the state's Urban Search and Rescue team, to assist with response and recovery efforts following severe flooding in Texas. SC-TF1 is deploying a Canine (K-9) Search and…
SCEMD Urges Severe Weather Precautions
February 23, 2016 COLUMBIA, S.C. (Tuesday, February 23, 2016, 4 p.m.) - The South Carolina Emergency Management Division urges everyone to stay alert for severe weather and possible tornadoes beginning tonight and into tomorrow. Forecasters with the Storm Prediction Center has placed South…