Friday, Gov. Henry McMaster said the final decision to declare a mandatory evacuation has been delayed until after 5 PM, that’s when the Governor and other members of “Team South Carolina" will receive more information from the National Hurricane Center. McMaster said he hopes to make an announcement sometime after 6 PM, but stressed that residents should continue to prepare for mandatory evacuations to begin on Saturday at 10 AM as scheduled.
McMaster also announced changes to his mandatory evacuation of healthcare facilities in eight counties. Facilities in Horry, Georgetown, Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties are no longer under that mandatory evacuation order, but facilities in Beaufort, Colleton and Jasper Counties are. As for schools and government offices, McMaster said there will be no state-wide order on closures. Schools districts will ultimately make the decision to close and government offices will close if the county in which offices are located makes the decision to close.
By the Numbers
- Thursday, 27,000 extra vehicles on SC roads
- Friday, 35,000 extra vehicles on SC roads
- 52 emergency shelters available in 12 (combined 45,350 capacity)
- 2358 state and local law enforce officers currently on duty
- 432 SLED, DNR and Probation officers currently assisting law enforcement