South Carolina Earthquake Plan

The purpose of the South Carolina Earthquake Plan is to provide a framework of actions necessary for emergency operations in response to a large earthquake in South Carolina. The South Carolina Earthquake Plan is Appendix 3 to the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan. 2023 South Carolina…

Hurricane Helene Cleanup in South Carolina

September 28, 2024 Crews with state and local agencies are assessing damage caused by Hurricane Helene and coordinating response efforts to South Carolina’s hardest hit areas. Parts of the state saw tornadoes, flooding, downed powerlines and fallen tree limbs. Residents in South Carolina who have…

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…

2017 Severe Weather & Flood Safety Week

March 8, 2017 South Carolina Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week for 2017 will be observed March 5 – 11. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division, the National Weather Service, and the South Carolina Broadcasters Association jointly sponsor the week to remind people that severe storms,…

Tropical Storm Andrea Forms, Prompting Preps

June 6, 2013 COLUMBIA, S.C. (Thursday, June 6, 2013, 9:30 a.m.) – The first named storm of the Atlantic Hurricane Season has formed and could potentially affect South Carolina. The National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center expect Tropical Storm Andrea to produce heavy rain and…

SCEMD Wins National Public Information Award

April 23, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. (Tuesday, April 23, 2013) – The National Association of Government Communicators awarded the South Carolina Emergency Management Division its prestigious 2013 Blue Pencil & Gold Screen Award. SCEMD received this national recognition for the South Carolina Earthquake…

2015 Severe Weather Awareness Week

March 5, 2015 South Carolina Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week for 2017 will be observed March 5 – 11. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division, the National Weather Service, and the South Carolina Broadcasters Association jointly sponsor the week to remind people that severe storms,…

Local Wireless Emergency Alert Test on April 2

March 25, 2019 Residents within approximately ten miles of the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station should expect a Wireless Emergency Alert System test on their mobile devices on Tuesday, April 2 at 1 p.m. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division will conduct this test as part of Dominion Energy’s…

SCEMD and Partners Agencies Monitor Edisto River

November 11, 2024 The South Carolina Emergency Management Division, in partnership with county and state agencies, closely monitors water levels along the Edisto River. Due to recent weather conditions, the river’s rising levels may affect surrounding areas. Residents near the Edisto River are…

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…

History

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division can trace its lineage back to 1950, although a predecessor in some form probably existed in the context of the Home Guard, which was established during World War II. South Carolina Civil Defense was organized under Act 888 of 1950 as a division of…

Earthquakes

Many people are unaware of how common earthquakes are in South Carolina. Approximately 10 to 15 earthquakes are recorded annually in South Carolina with 3 to 5 of them felt or noticed by people. About 70 percent of South Carolina earthquakes are located in the Middleton Place-Summerville Seismic…

State Agencies Urge Patience as Recovery Efforts Continue; Offer Guidance on Vetting Contractors

October 3, 2024 Cleanup operations are in full swing in the wake of Hurricane Helene, and while progress is being made, the road to full recovery will take time. Continued Efforts and Support South Carolina's state agencies and local partners report the following as of 2:00 p.m. today: The South…

Hurricane Matthew

Disaster Recovery Centers Open In Charleston And Jasper Counties To Help Hurricane Matthew Survivors Disaster Recovery Centers Open In Beaufort And Colleton Counties To Help Hurricane Matthew Survivors Disaster Recovery Centers Open In Berkeley And Georgetown Counties To Help Hurricane Matthew…

SCEMD updates social media public comment policy

March 16, 2020 The South Carolina Emergency Management Division engages people through many digital outlets, including scemd.org and popular social media platforms. Communicating with SCEMD through social media further enables people to contact SCEMD in a direct and meaningful way. The goal of…

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,…

FEMA Approves Reimbursement of Hurricane Matthew Infrastructure Costs for 18 Counties, State Agencies

October 19, 2016 COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina state agencies, local governments and non-profit organizations in 18 counties are now eligible through FEMA to recoup costs associated with infrastructure damage caused by Hurricane Matthew. The FEMA Public Assistance Program will provide a partial…

S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles deploys mobile units to areas affected by Hurricane Matthew

October 11, 2016 COLUMBIA, S.C. – In an effort to better serve citizens affected by Hurricane Matthew and subsequent flooding, the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will be operating limited offices in Lowcountry, Pee Dee, and Grand Strand counties. These openings will occur…

Ice Storm Reimbursement Deadline Extended

April 9, 2014 The S.C. Emergency Management Division announced today that any applicant eligible for federal reimbursement from the Feb. 10-14 winter weather event should submit a formal request to the agency before May 9. SCEMD is accepting Requests for Public Assistance from any local…

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…