SCEMD continues to assess damage from severe weather
April 15, 2020 Columbia, S.C. – Residents in areas affected by Monday’s storms should continue to use caution when traveling while crews continue cleaning up debris. Some roads remain impassable. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division is assisting counties affected by severe weather,…
Community Vaccination Center Hits Milestone
April 25, 2021 Today, more than 4,000 people have received their COVID-19 vaccine at South Carolina’s Community Vaccination Center at Columbia Place Mall. This temporary mass vaccination clinic, which opened April 13, is operating for another six weeks and currently offers the Pfizer vaccine. “I’m…
July 2, 2021 The South Carolina Emergency Management Division is monitoring Hurricane Elsa, which forecasters say could affect the South Carolina next week. As a result of the storm’s projected movement toward the southeast United States, key local and state agencies have been notified to be ready…
April 7, 2022 Columbia, S.C. (Thursday, April 7, 2022) – The South Carolina Emergency Management Division and local emergency managers continue to assess damage in counties impacted by this week’s severe weather and tornados. No deaths have been reported as a result of these storms in South…
October 17, 2022 South Carolina residents now have a new tool to help them be better prepared for earthquakes. Today, the South Carolina Emergency Management Division launched Earthquake.SC , an interactive website designed to guide people through the fundamentals of earthquakes in the Palmetto…
SCEMD Monitors Tropical Storm Nicole
November 9, 2022 South Carolina residents should monitor Tropical Storm Nicole, which could affect many parts of the state after making landfall along east coast of Florida. Forecasters with the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center believe South Carolina could experience…
SCEMD attends SCEMA 2023 conference
February 27, 2023 Last week, the South Carolina Emergency Management Division and more than 300 others gathered in the Lowcountry at the South Carolina Emergency Management Association conference. Every year, the conference is put on to bring emergency managers across the state together to help…
S.C. Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week March 5-11, 2023
March 2, 2023 Governor Henry McMaster has proclaimed that South Carolina Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week for 2023 will be observed March 5-11. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division and the National Weather Service jointly sponsor the week to remind people that severe storms,…
S.C. Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week March 3-9, 2024
March 1, 2024 Governor Henry McMaster has proclaimed that South Carolina Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week for 2024 will be observed March 3-9. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division, the National Weather Service, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources jointly sponsor…
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 Monitors Potential Tropical Cyclone 8
September 15, 2024 The South Carolina Emergency Management Division is monitoring Potential Tropical Cyclone 8, which will soon become Tropical Storm Helene. Forecasters say the storm is expected to strengthen to a tropical storm before making landfall north of Charleston early tomorrow afternoon.…
Gov. Henry McMaster Makes Two Disaster Declaration Requests Following Tropical Storm Debby
September 17, 2024 COLUMBIA, S.C. – Governor Henry McMaster today requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration and a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster declaration for eligible counties as a result of Tropical Storm Debby, which made landfall in South Carolina on August 8, 2024.…
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…
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…
Governor Henry McMaster Requests Major Disaster Declaration Following Severe November Flooding
December 13, 2024 Governor Henry McMaster today requested a Major Presidential Disaster Declaration to assist state and local recovery efforts following severe storms and heavy rainfall that caused significant flooding across portions of the Midlands and Lowcountry from November 6 to November 14,…
Federal Assistance Approved for South Carolina Following Severe November Flooding
January 14, 2025 Governor Henry McMaster announced today that his December 13, 2024 , request for a Major Presidential Disaster Declaration to provide federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts following severe November flooding in Bamberg, Calhoun, and Orangeburg Counties has been…
S.C. Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week March 2-8, 2025
February 24, 2025 COLUMBIA, S.C. — Governor Henry McMaster has proclaimed March 2-8, 2025, as South Carolina Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division, the National Weather Service, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources are jointly…
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…
The Great ShakeOut & Earthquake Preparedness Week October 18, 2017 South Carolina Earthquake Preparedness Week for 2017 will be October 15-21. A highlight of the week will be the Great Southeast ShakeOUT earthquake safety drill. You can sign up for the Great ShakeOUT now. Read More About The Great…
Winter Weather Hotline Activated
January 25, 2026 South Carolina residents with questions about the winter weather response can 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 the state’s winter weather…