As COVID-19 adds a new complication to a stressful season, below are some tips from South Carolina Emergency Management Division so you can plan ahead and be mindful of the additional safety precautions due to COVID-19. The main message is to give yourself more time and space and be very aware of your people and your places.

Time: give yourself time to prepare for a hurricane. Have a plan before you go out to get supplies so you spend less time interacting with others who may be infected. Do not wait until the last minute.

Space: make safe and social distancing a part of every aspect of your hurricane planning. Whether it’s stocking up on hurricane supplies or deciding where you will go if you need to evacuate. Do everything you can to stay at least 6 feet away from people you do not live with.

People: make sure all the people in your family know what to do to stay healthy. Remember, the more people your family interacts with, the greater your chances of contracting and possibly transmitting COVID-19.

Place: know where you will go once the evacuation order is issued for your area. Staying in a hotel or with family or friends far inland are the best options to protect yourself from COVID-19 and the storm.

The 20th annual South Carolina Hurricane Guide will be available for download at scemd.org beginning June 1. SCEMD and partner agencies have updated the Guide for the 2020 hurricane season. Printed editions of the Guide will be in all Walgreens stores statewide, at coastal DMV offices and in newspapers from Columbia to the coast beginning June 7.

In addition to the South Carolina Hurricane Guide, visit scemd.org to stay informed during an emergency. Our website is designed to make it easy to get the information you need before, during and after a major disaster, such as a hurricane. Download the South Carolina Emergency Manager mobile app as your official tool for emergency planning and follow the official @SCEMD accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay connected.

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