UPDATE:
Because of the state of emergency for SC, state troopers and National Guard will be arriving in the lowcountry to assist in safety and traffic control if and when needed.
At 1pm today Beaufort County will be in OPCON 1 which will activate the emergency management center, bring in necessary personnel to get the country ready. Between 1:30-2p Governor McMaster will hold a statewide press conference with additional information as it relates to the storm.
We are experiencing King Tides in the lowcountry, higher than usual so if you live in a low lying area and have seen water in your area, expect it to get worse. Though the storm is category 5 the sheriff expects it will weaken as it arrives to the southeast. THERE ARE NO FUEL SHORTAGES! This is simply misinformation. There are no evacuation plans as of this moment.
If you plan to leave voluntarily expect heavy volume on I95 because of Florida evacuations.
No school closings and the superintendent is monitoring the storm.
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Governor Henry McMaster will hold a media briefing with state emergency response officials today, Sunday, September 1 at 2:00 PM. The governor will update the public on Hurricane Dorian's potential impact to South Carolina.
WHO: Gov. Henry McMaster, state officials
WHAT: Media briefing regarding Hurricane Dorian and its potential impact to South Carolina
WHEN: Today, Sunday, September 1 at 2:00 PM
WHERE: South Carolina Emergency Operations Center, 2779 Fish Hatchery Road, West Columbia, S.C.
Note: The press conference will be streamed live on SCETV's website at scetv.org.
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This morning's 9:00 a.m. conference call among South Carolina's state and county emergency management divisions included a briefing from the National Weather Service and further discussion on preparation for potential impacts from Hurricane Dorian on South Carolina, especially on the coastal counties.
As of this morning (Sunday), no decision has been made on an evacuation, and according to Beaufort County School District Superintendent Frank Rodriguez, who was present during the conference call, no decision has been made on school closures.
As of 8:00 this this morning (Sunday), according to the National Weather Service, Hurricane Dorian was located 35 miles east of the Great Abaco Island (Bahamas), was moving west at 8 miles per hour, and had maximum sustained winds of 160 miles per hour.
The next conference call among emergency manager is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. today.
The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office continues to closely monitor developments with Hurricane Dorian. As of this morning, there still remains uncertainty on what impacts the hurricane will have on Beaufort County. The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be activated today (Sunday) to increase our state of preparedness for Hurricane Dorian. Our Emergency Services Function partners—state, county and municipal law enforcement, fire, EMS, and other government agencies—will be in place to streamline communication and further coordinate resources needed in anticipation of impacts from Hurricane Dorian.
Sheriff P.J. Tanner's Press Conference
At 11:00 this morning (Sunday), Sheriff P.J. Tanner will hold a press conference on the second floor of the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office Law Enforcement Center, 2001 Duke Street in Beaufort to address Hurricane Dorian’s potential impacts on Beaufort County, as well as our preparations. Media—print, radio and television—are encouraged to attend the press conference. The public is encouraged to watch the press conference live on the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BeaufortCoSO/ and on The County Channel. It will also be available to view on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UdhVBBhM1o
The press conference is available through the links for those attending religious services or not available to view it live.
Be Prepared and have a Personal Plan
Ahead of Hurricane Dorian, we strongly encourage Beaufort County residents and guests to review their personal plans. For information on developing a personal plan, please download the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office Emergency Management mobile app:
https://www.bcso.net/mobile-app
Visit the National Hurricane Center Website
Until our next update, Beaufort County residents and guests are encouraged to monitor Hurricane Dorian through the National Hurricane Center https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/#dorian
Where to Stay Up-To-Date
The Sheriff's Office will keep you updated on Hurricane Dorian through NIXLE and the following sites:
- The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BeaufortCoSO/
- The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office's Nextdoor page: https://nextdoor.com/agency-detail/sc/beaufort/beaufort-county-sheriffs-office-2/
- The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office's Twitter account https://twitter.com/bcsopio
- The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office's website emergency alerts/natural distasters link (in red on our homepage) https://www.bcso.net/
Avoid Misinformation Spread Through Social Media
In the event of a public safety emergency or natural disaster, please look to federal, state, county and municipal government officials, as well as trusted print, radio and television media for information and instruction. We urge you to avoid information spread through social media, unless it comes from one of the trusted sources.