National Prepardness Month

September is National Preparedness Month with the overall theme being "Disasters Don't Plan Ahead. You Can." This week we will focus on making plans for yourself, family, and friends. Each week our posts will focus on a different area that will help you prepare for a disaster.

National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month. Now is the time to make a plan! This month, we will be sharing information from www.ready.gov on ways to get prepared for an emergency. 

Make A Plan 

Make a plan today. Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to know which types of disasters could affect your area. Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find. 

Step 1: Put together a plan by discussing these 4 questions with your family, friends, or household to start your emergency plan. 
How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings? 
What is my shelter plan? 
What is my evacuation route? 
What is my family/household communication plan? 

Step 2: Consider specific needs in your household. 
As you prepare your plan tailor your plans and supplies to your specific daily living needs and responsibilities. Discuss your needs and responsibilities and how people in the network can assist each other with communication, care of children, business, pets, or specific needs like the operation of durable medical equipment. Create your own personal network for specific areas where you need assistance. Keep in mind some these factors when developing your plan: 

Different ages of members within your household 
Responsibilities for assisting others 
Locations frequented 
Dietary needs 
Medical needs including prescriptions and equipment 
Disabilities or access and functional needs including devices and equipment 
Languages spoken 
Cultural and religious considerations 
Pets or service animals 
Households with school-aged children 

Step 3: Fill out a Family Emergency Plan 
Download and fill out a family emergency plan or use them as a guide to create your own. 

Emergency Plan for Parents 
Step 4: Practice your plan with your family/household

  

  
 

Hurricane Matthew Key Points

KEY MESSAGES:

1.  Matthew is likely to produce devastating impacts from storm
surge, extreme winds, and heavy rains in the central and
northwestern Bahamas today, and along portions of the east
coast of Florida tonight.

2.  When a hurricane is forecast to take a track roughly parallel
to a coastline, as Matthew is forecast to do from Florida through
South Carolina, it becomes very difficult to specify impacts at
any one location.  For example, only a small deviation of the track
to the left of the NHC forecast could bring the core of a major
hurricane onshore within the hurricane warning area in Florida and
Georgia.  However, a small deviation to the right could keep the
hurricane-force winds offshore.  Similarly large variations in
impacts are possible in the hurricane watch area in northeast
Georgia and South Carolina.

3.  Tropical storm or hurricane conditions could affect eastern
North Carolina later this week or this weekend, even if the center
of Matthew remains offshore.

4.  The National Hurricane Center is issuing Potential Storm Surge
Flooding Maps, and Prototype Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphics for
Matthew.  It is important to remember that the Potential Storm Surge
Flooding Map does not represent a forecast of expected inundation,
but rather depicts a reasonable worst-case scenario - the amount of
inundation that has a 10 percent chance of being exceeded.  In
addition, because the Flooding Map is based on inputs that extend
out only to about 72 hours, it best represents the flooding
potential in those locations within the watch and warning areas in
Florida and Georgia.

Emergency Shelters

For Immediate Release

Contact: Chaney Adams, 803-528-7217

Joe Farmer or Derrec Becker, 803-737-8500

               

Emergency Shelters Now Open

Columbia, S.C. (Wednesday, October 5, 2016) – The South Carolina Response Team today announced the opening of shelters across the state for residents and visitors who are evacuating from coastal areas as Hurricane Matthew approaches. Shelters began opening on Wednesday, October 5, and as of 5 PM there are 32 shelters open.

Shelters are generally the place of last resort. Individuals and families are encouraged to have emergency plans in place. These plans should include relatives or friends with whom you can stay or locations to which you will travel. In the event that you must use a shelter, be sure to make arrangement for your pets; pets are not allowed in official shelters with the exception of two listed below.

The Department of Social Services is designated as the lead agency for coordinating mass care operations. In particular, DSS works with the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, the Department of Health and Environmental Control and other state agencies and volunteer relief organizations in disaster situations to coordinate the capability to meet basic human needs (shelter, food, bulk distribution of emergency relief supplies, disaster welfare inquiries, and emergency social services).

SCDSS is has placed an additional 60 shelters in stand-by mode, ready to host evacuees if needed.

As of 5:00 p.m. today, October 5, 2016, the following emergency shelters are open for people evacuating Hurricane Matthew:

Aiken County

South Aiken High School

232 East Pine Log Road

Aiken, SC

Allendale County

Allendale Elementary School

4561 Allendale-Fairfax Hwy.

Allendale, SC

Fairfax Elementary School

734 E. 14^th Street

Fairfax, SC

Bamberg County

Bamberg-Ehrnhardt School

267 Red Rider Dr.

Bamberg, SC

Ghents Branch Baptist Church

1974 Ghents Branch Rd.

Denmark, SC

Denmark-Olar High School

197 Viking Circle

Denmark, SC

Barnwell County

Barnwell Elementary School

10524 Marlboro Ave.

Barnwell, SC

Berkeley County

Berkeley Elementary School

715 Hwy 6                   

Monks Corner, SC

Cane Bay High School **PET FRIENDLY**

1624 State Road

Summerville, SC

St. Stephens Elementary School

1053 Russellville Rd.

St. Stephens, SC

Westview Middle School

101 Westview Blvd.

Goose Creek, SC

Westview Primary School

98 Westview Blvd.

Goose Creek, SC

Charleston County

AC Corcoran Elementary School

8585 Vistavia Road

N. Charleston, SC

Burns Elementary School **PET FRIENDLY**

3750 Dorchester Road

Charleston, SC 29405

Ladson Elementary School

3321 Ladson Road

N. Charleston, SC

Midland Park Elementary

2415 Midlands Park Road

N. Charleston, SC

North Charleston High School

1087 East Montague Ave.

N. Charleston, SC

Stall High School

3625 Ashely Phosphate Road

N. Charleston, SC

Colleton County

Colleton County Middle School

1379 Tuskegee Airman Drive

Walterboro, SC

Dorchester County

Dubose Middle School

1005 Dubose School Road

Summerville, SC

Fort Dorchester High School.

8500 Patriot Blvd

North Charleston, SC

Oakbrook Middle School

4704 Old Fort Drive

Ladson, SC

St. George Middle School

600 Minus Street

St. George, SC

Summerville High School

1011 Boone Hill Road

Summerville, SC

Woodland High School

4128 US Highway 78

Dorchester, SC

Jasper County

Ridgeland High School Complex

250 Jaguar Trail

Ridgeland, SC

Lexington County

White Knoll High School

5643 Platt Springs Road

Lexington, SC

Spartanburg County

Spartanburg Expo Center

6655 Pottery Road

Spartanburg, SC 29303

Williamsburg County

CE Murray High School

222 CE Murray Blvd

Greeleyville, SC

Hemingway High School

402 South Main Street

Hemingway, SC

Kingstree Senior High

615 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue

Kingstree, SC

Tupperware Gym

Tupperware Road 258

Hemingway, SC

Visit scemd.org for a complete list of shelters as well as updates.

Trash Collection

The Town plans on executing Thursday's garbage and trash route collection as usual.  This is subject to change pending weather and Public Works' ability to navigate the area as the result of hurricane evacuation.

State Press Release

Gov. Nikki Haley Announces Evacuation of Charleston and Beaufort Areas

Traffic Lanes of I-26 Will Be Reversed

COLUMBIA, S.C. - As Hurricane Matthew threatens the southeastern United States, Governor Nikki Haley today ordered an evacuation of coastal areas in and around Charleston and Beaufort, South Carolina  

Residents and visitors in Charleston and Beaufort Counties should begin evacuating no later than 3:00 PM TODAY, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5.  Residents and visitors in certain parts of bordering coastal counties – Berkeley, Colleton, Dorchester and Jasper Counties – should begin evacuating no later than 3:00 PM TODAY, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5.

To verify whether you are located in an evacuation zone, please visit www.scemd.org and click, “Know your Zone,” to enter your home address.  Evacuation details, by region, are listed below and detailed via an interactive map at that South Carolina Emergency Management Division’s website.

Maps of coastal evacuation routes, including interactive and downloadable maps, and information about highways where lane reversals will be used as a part of the evacuation are available at the South Carolina Department of Transportation’s (SCDOT) website.

Beginning around noon today, South Carolina Department of Public Safety, SCDOT and supporting agencies will begin closing eastbound lanes of I-26, starting in Columbia at I-77 heading towards Charleston.  At approximately 3:00 PM, all lanes on I-26 will be moving westbound from I-526 in Charleston toward I-77 in Columbia.  Travel will only be possible in one direction while the evacuation is in progress. Complete lane reversal information is available here.

The scope of the evacuation may be expanded to include other areas tomorrow, including parts of Horry and Georgetown. South Carolina residents, especially those who live in low-lying areas along the entire coast, should monitor the status of Hurricane Matthew through local news media.

Evacuees should pack the following essential items in case the evacuation period is lengthy: required medications, adequate clothing and essential personal items. Emergency shelter locations will be announced as soon as they are open. 

Individuals and families should plan to board pets with veterinarians, kennels, or other facilities in non-vulnerable areas.  Pets are not allowed in Red Cross shelters.

People who live in the following coastal areas should evacuate immediately:

Central South Carolina Coast

Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley County Evacuation Zones A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and I

Zone A: West of the Ashley River - Unincorporated areas of Charleston County from the Ashley River to the Colleton County line; Atlantic Ocean to the Dorchester County Line. This includes the Town of Hollywood, Town of Meggett, Town of Ravenel, Town of Folly Beach, Town of Rockville, Town of Kiawah Island, the Town of Seabrook Island, James Island, Johns Island, Wadmalaw, and unincorporated Charleston County.

Zone B: Central Charleston - From the tip of the Peninsula to Ladson Road; from the Ashley River to the Wando River. This includes City of Charleston, City of North Charleston, the Town of Lincolnville, Daniel Island, Thomas Island, and unincorporated Charleston County.

Zone C: East of the Wando River - Unincorporated areas of Charleston County from the Atlantic Ocean to the Berkeley County line; Wando River to the Georgetown County line. This includes the Town of Mt. Pleasant, Town of Isle of Palms, Town of Sullivan's Island, Town of Awendaw, the Town of McClellanville, Dewees Island, Capers Island, and Goat Island.

Zone D: Sand Hills Area - West of Dorchester Road and the Ashley River, 17A to the Colleton County line and all areas bordering Charleston County.

Zone E: Miles Jamison/Oakbrook Area - Miles Jamison Road, between Ladson Road, to Bacons Bridge Road: including the Lakes of Summerville, Newington Plantation, Crestwood Subdivision south to Orangeburg Road, and South Main Mobile Home Park.

Zone F: The Swamp - Any other low-lying areas including the Cypress Swamp area, the Edisto River area and the Twin Lakes Subdivision.

Zone G:

a. Hanahan

1. North of Woods Ave from end of road at east edge of rail yard to its intersection with Remount Rd.
2. North of Remount Rd from its intersection with Woods Ave to its intersection with the railroad tracks just west of Dutton Ave.
3. East of the railroad tracks from their intersection with Remount Rd to crossing over the Goose Creek (just south of Middle Earth Nursery and Infinger Furniture).

b. Goose Creek/Ladson/Summerville

1. Including all homes and businesses northeast of the intersection of Hwy 52 and Camelot Dr, continuing along Ryan Dr and Holly Ave across to Westview Blvd (includes buildings on both sides of Camelot Dr, Ryan Dr and Holly Ave).
2. Crowfield Plantation from Westview Blvd near Holly Ave across I-26 along Ancrum Rd to its intersection with Hwy 78.
3. Northeast of Hwy 78 from its intersection with Ancrum Rd (Ladson Rd) to its intersection with Hwy 17A (Main St) in Summerville.
4. Southeast of Hwy 17A (Main St/S Live Oak Dr) from its intersection with Hwy 78 to its intersection with Cypress Gardens Rd.

c. Whitesville/Pimlico/Cordesville

1. South of Cypress Gardens Rd from its intersection with Hwy 17A (S Live Oak Dr) to its intersection with Pimlico Blvd.
2. South of Pimlico Blvd from its intersection with Cypress Gardens Rd through to its end.
3. The area east of Wappaoolah Plantation and west of the Cooper River, north of Pimlico Blvd and south of Mepkin Abbey.
4. Southeast of the railroad tracks from the Cooper River by Pimlico to its intersection with Hwy 402.

d. Huger/Cainhoy/Wando

1. South of Hwy 402 from its intersection with the railroad tracks near Cordesville to its intersection with Hwy 41 (Hwy 402 becomes Steed Creek Rd).
2. Southwest of Steed Creek Rd from its intersection with Hwy 41 to its intersection with  Halfway Creek Rd. West of Halfway Creek Rd from its intersection with Steed Creek Rd to its intersection with Guerins Bridge Rd.
3. West of Guerins Bridge Rd from its intersection with Halfway Creek Rd to its intersection with Wando River (just after Drew Ln).
4. Northwest of the Wando River from its intersection with Guerins Bridge Rd to its   intersection with Nowell Creek with the addition of Patterson’s Academy.
5. North/northeast of Nowell Creek from its intersection with the Wando River to its   intersection with Rebellion Farms Pl.
6. Northeast of Rebellion Farms Pl from its intersection with Nowell Creek to its intersection of Clements Ferry Rd.
7. Northeast of Yellow House Pl from its intersection with Clements Ferry Rd to the Cooper River (across from the Goose Creek).

Zone I

a. Shulerville, Honey Hill, Jamestown, Alvin, St Stephen

1. East of Halfway Creek Rd from its intersection with Forest Rd 200 (on the Berkeley/ Charleston county line) to its intersection with Slash Rd.
2. East of Slash Rd from its intersection with Halfway Creek Rd to its intersection with Yellow Jacket Rd.
3. North of Yellow Jacket Rd from its intersection with Slash Rd to its intersection with Horse Island Rd.
4. East of Horse Island Rd from its intersection with Yellow Jacket Rd to its intersection with Tiger Corner Rd.
5. Northeast of Tiger Corner Rd from its intersection with Horse Island Rd to its intersection with Hwy 17A.
6. North of Hwy 17A from its intersection with Tiger Corner Rd to its intersection with Greenwood Dr.
7. East of Greenwood Dr (becomes Peaceful Woods Rd) from its intersection with Hwy 17A to its intersection with Schurlknight Rd.
8. Southeast of Schurlknight Rd from its intersection with Peaceful Woods Rd to its intersection with Hwy 45.
9. Northeast of Hwy 45 from its intersection with Schurlknight Rd to its intersection with Belle Isle Rd.
10. East of Belle Isle Rd from its intersection with Hwy 45 to the Santee River.
11. Southwest of the Santee River from Belle Isle Rd to its intersection with the Berkeley/ Charleston county line.
12. Northwest of the Berkeley-Charleston county line from its intersection with the Santee River to its intersection with Halfway Creek Rd.

Southern Coast Evacuation Zones

Colleton County Evacuation Zone A

All areas south of the CSX Railroad, and all mobile homes and other floodplain areas in the County.

Beaufort County Evacuation Zone A

All residents and tourists in Beaufort County are to evacuate.

Jasper County Evacuation Zone A

Zone A - All areas east of I-95 and all mobile homes and other floodplain areas in the county.

For all of the latest information about Hurricane Matthew, visit scemd.org. 

Hurricane Matthew

 

 

Mount Pleasant, SC – The Town of Mount Pleasant is closely monitoring Hurricane Matthew as The National Hurricane Center has included Charleston County within the forecast cone. Equipment has been staged and personnel are ready to respond if needed. Information about the storm will be updated through the police department's social media channels. The Town of Mount Pleasant encourages everyone to follow the accounts listed below for updated information:

Twitter - @mountpleasantpd
Facebook - www.facebook.com/mountpleasantpd
Nextdoor - www.nextdoor.com
Blog - www.mppdnews.blogspot.com

The Mount Pleasant Police Department also sends updated alerts through their smartphone application. It is free to download for iOS and Android Devices:

iOS- https://appsto.re/us/ieL5P.i
Android- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.netgalaxystudios.tomppd&hl=en

All Town of Mount Pleasant Offices will be closed October 5, 2016 through October 7, 2016. This includes all municipal court sessions and all recreational activities.

In preparation for the storm, make sure you have updated your emergency plan to include all preparations to protect life and property. Keep your cellular telephones charged and on hand. Having a car charger will be helpful if you lose power to your home. Below are a few checklist items to complete now:

·         Build or restock your emergency preparedness kit.

·         Make sure you have basic supplies to include any prescriptions you may need.

·         Bring loose, lightweight objects inside that could become projectiles in high winds.

·         Review your evacuation plan with your family. Make sure you have a full fuel tank.

·         Monitor TV, radio, and the Mount Pleasant Police Department’s social media accounts for updates and emergency instructions.

If you need emergency assistance during the storm, please call 911. The non-emergency number for Charleston County Consolidated dispatch is 843-743-7200.

Emergency Preparedness

Is your emergency supply kit properly stocked? Take the time to make sure you have the necessary items your family will need.

Hurricane Joaquin

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division is closely monitoring Hurricane Joaquin. Make sure you are following us on Twitter (@mountpleasantpd) and have downloaded our free iPhone and Android app for updates! Here is there press release:

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Wednesday, September 30, 2015, 4:55 p.m.) - The South Carolina Emergency Management Division is paying close attention to Hurricane Joaquin, and as a result of the storm’s projected movement, key agencies in South Carolina government have been notified to be ready to respond if the need arises.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty in the forecasts from the National Hurricane Center. We are preparing for the possibility that this storm could affect South Carolina, we’re asking residents to do the same,” SCEMD Director Kim Stenson said.

People in potentially vulnerable areas should review their plans and consider actions to take if the storm threatens the state:

· Be sure your emergency supplies kit has enough bottled water and non-perishable food to sustain each family member for three to seven days. Include a weather radio, flashlight, extra batteries, toiletries, change of clothes, blankets or sleeping bag, rain gear and appropriate footwear. Also include copies of important documents, such as birth certificates and insurance policies.

· Plan for your pets. Gather supplies for your pet and put them in an easily-accessible container.

· Determine if you are in a flood plain or flood-prone area.

· Know evacuation routes for your area. Pay attention to emergency warnings and evacuate if instructed to do so. Visitwww.scemd.org/KnowYourZone for more information.

· Stay tuned to local news for the latest advisories from the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center (NHC), as well as state and local emergency management officials.

· Follow trusted and verified social media feeds for information, such as @SCEMD and @NHC_Atlantic.

A copy of the 2015 S.C. Hurricane Guide is available at all state welcome centers along South Carolina interstates, Walgreen’s stores and for download on SCEMD’s website at scemd.org.

Disaster Supply Kit

Have you prepared a disaster supply kit yet? Ready.gov has this detailed list of supplies you should include:

Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation

Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food

Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both

Flashlight and extra batteries

First aid kit

Whistle to signal for help

Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place

Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation

Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

Manual can opener for food

Local maps

Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

To learn more visit http://www.ready.gov/kit