Zone Finder
Make a Plan
Emergency Shelters
Closings & Delays
Quick Links
Disaster Recovery Centers Opening in Kershaw, Laurens, Orangeburg Counties
October 31, 2024 Disaster Recovery Centers will open in Kershaw, Laurens and Orangeburg counties to provide in-person assistance to South Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene. Kershaw County Kershaw County Government Center 515 Walnut St. Camden, SC 29020 Open Nov. 1-10, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Laurens…
Winter Weather Expected in South Carolina (1)
January 8, 2025 Residents in South Carolina should monitor local weather conditions and continue winter safety preparations. Forecasters with the National Weather Service predict a wintry mix of rain, sleet, freezing rain and snow for portions of the state Friday into Saturday. “While it is too…
South Carolina Urged to Prepare for Winter Weather, Extreme Cold
January 18, 2025 South Carolina residents are being urged to prepare for expected winter weather and extreme cold in the coming days. Arctic air is expected to move into the state Sunday night, with the possibility of snow and ice impacting parts of the state on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to…
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…
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…
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…
SCEMD Monitors Hurricane Arthur
July 1, 2014 The South Carolina Emergency Management Division continues to follow the latest information on Hurricane Arthur. Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center have issued a Tropical Storm Watch for Horry and Georgetown Counties. The storm's direct impacts to the state are expected to…
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…
Gov. Henry McMaster Announces Opioid Emergency Response Plan
June 20, 2018 COLUMBIA, S.C. – Governor Henry McMaster today announced the South Carolina Opioid Emergency Response Plan , which details strategy and guidance developed to support state and local efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. The state Opioid Emergency Response Plan was developed as part…
September 10, 2018 COLUMBIA, S.C. – Governor Henry McMaster, in coordination with local officials, has issued Executive Order 2018-29, which orders the evacuation of coastal South Carolina residents for their personal safety as Hurricane Florence approaches. Residents in all hurricane evacuation…
2019 Hurricane Preparedness Week begins Sunday
May 23, 2019 Governor Henry McMaster has proclaimed May 26 through June 1 to be South Carolina Hurricane Preparedness Week. SCEMD, county emergency managers and the National Weather Service urge individuals, businesses and communities to begin preparations ahead of the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane…
2020 Hurricane Season: Time, Space, People, Place
May 28, 2020 Columbia, S.C. – Governor Henry McMaster has proclaimed May 31 through June 6 to be South Carolina Hurricane Preparedness Week. Residents, businesses and communities in South Carolina should begin preparations for the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Advanced preparation and planning…
SCEMD sends logistics chief to Kentucky
December 15, 2021 Governor Henry McMaster has authorized the South Carolina Emergency Management Division to send its Chief of Operations Support and Logistics to Kentucky to assist with tornado response and recovery efforts. The request for assistance from Kentucky came through the Emergency…
Team South Carolina Responds to Tropical Storm Debby
August 6, 2024 Team South Carolina continues to respond to Tropical Storm Debby's ongoing impacts on the state. The State Emergency Operations Center is fully operational and staffed by emergency personnel from multiple state agencies and emergency organizations 24 hours a day. As of 2 p.m. today,…
Team South Carolina Continues to Respond to Tropical Storm Debby
August 7, 2024 South Carolina's state agencies and local partners continue to respond to Tropical Storm Debby. As of 2 p.m. today, the storm, located 50 miles southeast of Charleston, is expected to continue to bring significant rainfall, gusty winds, and flooding to low-lying areas over the next…
Team South Carolina Responds to Helene
September 27, 2024 South Carolina's state agencies and local partners continue to respond to Helene. As of 2 p.m. today, the storm is located 125 miles south-southeast of Louisville, Kentucky, and is moving to the north-northwest at 28 mph. Moderate to major river flooding is forecasted for many…
30 Days After Hurricane Helene, Recovery Continues in South Carolina
November 1, 2024 – Hurricane Helene made landfall on Sept. 26, bringing destructive winds, flooding, tornadoes, and extensive damage to utility infrastructure and homes in South Carolina that evening into the following day. Since then, FEMA has deployed more than 650 personnel across the state and…
South Carolina has relatively few natural ponds and lakes. Virtually all ponds and lakes in the state were created by the construction of a dam. There are estimates of over 10,000 man-made dams in South Carolina, but the actual number may be as high as 50,000. The vast majority of dams are below…
SC Continues to Recover, One Year After Hurricane Helene
September 22, 2025 Columbia, S.C. – One year after Hurricane Helene impacted South Carolina, the state continues to make significant progress in its disaster recovery efforts. State, county, federal, and non-governmental partners continue coordinated efforts to support communities in rebuilding…
Roads Impacted by Winter Weather; Drivers Urged to Stay Home if Travel Is Not Necessary
February 1, 2026 Columbia, S.C. – Snow continues to create hazardous driving conditions across portions of South Carolina, and members of the South Carolina Emergency Response Team are urging residents to stay off the roads if they do not have to travel. While crews have been working around the…
