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Helpline for Shelter Locations
October 7, 2016 Columbia, S.C. – Evacuees seeking refuge from Hurricane Matthew should call 1-866-246-0133 to be directed to the nearest open emergency shelter anywhere in the state. The state’s public information phone system is operational 24 hours a day until South Carolina is no longer in…
S.C. Attains National EMAP Accreditation
December 4, 2013 The South Carolina Emergency Management Division and the State Emergency Response Team received the high honor of national accreditation this August from the Emergency Management Accreditation Program. EMAP is a nationally recognized voluntary review process that demonstrates…
Gov. Henry McMaster Announces Team South Carolina County Day in Greenwood
October 17, 2024 Governor Henry McMaster and Lieutenant Governor Pamela S. Evette today announced that state and federal officials and representatives from nonprofits will hold an additional Team South Carolina County Day in Greenwood on Tuesday, October 22. Team South Carolina County Days provide…
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…
Evacuation Orders Lifted for Beaufort and Jasper Counties
October 9, 2016 COLUMBIA, S.C. – In coordination with local officials, Governor Nikki Haley on Sunday announced that evacuation orders have been lifted for all residents in Beaufort and Jasper counties as of 6:30 PM. At the request of local officials, evacuation orders for zones in Georgetown and…
Evacuation Orders Lifted For Charleston, Dorchester, Berkeley And Colleton Counties
October 9, 2016 COLUMBIA, S.C. – In coordination with local officials, Governor Nikki Haley on Sunday announced that evacuation orders have been lifted for all residents in Charleston, Dorchester, Berkeley and Colleton counties as of 10:00 AM. At the request of local officials, evacuation orders…
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…
Gov. Henry McMaster Announces Three Team South Carolina County Days for the Upstate
October 7, 2024 Governor Henry McMaster and Lieutenant Governor Pamela S. Evette announced today that state and federal officials and representatives from nonprofits will hold Team South Carolina County Days in Clemson on Wednesday, October 9, Spartanburg on Thursday, October 10, and Greenville on…
Gov. Henry McMaster Announces Three Additional Team South Carolina County Days
October 10, 2024 Governor Henry McMaster and Lieutenant Governor Pamela S. Evette today announced that state and federal officials and representatives from nonprofits will hold additional Team South Carolina County Days in Clinton on Tuesday, October 15, Allendale on Thursday, October 17, 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…
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…
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…
SCEMD Tracking Tropical Storm Chantal
July 5, 2025 The South Carolina Emergency Management Division is actively monitoring Tropical Storm Chantal, which is located south-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina. Chantal will begin impacting the state on Saturday, bringing heavy rain, isolated flash flooding, gusty winds, and high rip…
The purpose of the South Carolina Hurricane Plan is to provide a framework of actions necessary for emergency operations in response to a hurricane in South Carolina. The South Carolina Hurricane Plan is Appendix 1 to the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan. 2025 Hurricane Base Plan Title…
September 9, 2018 COLUMBIA, S.C. – Governor Henry McMaster has submitted to President Donald Trump a request for a federal emergency declaration in anticipation of the possible impact from Hurricane Florence. A copy of the governor's letter requesting the declaration can be found here. The…
Operational Condition Levels (OPCON)
The South Carolina Emergency Management Division operates on a system of Operational Condition Levels, also known as OPCONS. This numerical scale is how SCEMD, the State Emergency Response Team and counties coordinate, prepare and respond to major emergencies. The levels are designed to simplify…
