Updated: SC preparing for storm to become a hurricane ... and what could happen next

Emergency responders are preparing for Tropical Storm Florence, although forecasters say it’s too early to tell whether the storm — expected to become a major hurricane — will strike the United States.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency Saturday ahead of a potential hurricane that could make landfall next week on the Southeast Coast.

Early Friday afternoon, the South Carolina Emergency Management Division increased the state’s danger readiness level. On Saturday the National Weather Service said the tropical storm is expected to become a hurricane by Sunday “as it undergoes rapid strengthening.” By Monday or Tuesday Florence is “likely to become a major hurricane.”

Right now, Tropical Storm Florence is brooding in the western Atlantic ocean as the disturbance moves closer to Bermuda. The EMD is preparing for Florence to evolve into a hurricane, and the agency is predicting four possible scenarios for the storm.

The scenarios are:

▪ Direct impact on South Carolina

▪ A strike on the northern corridor of the state’s coast

▪ Florence hitting North Carolina

▪ The storm missing the United States

Key local and state agencies were notified to be ready to respond if necessary, a statement said.

“The storm is still very far away, but we’re planning accordingly,” said Derrec Becker of the Emergency Management Division. “We’re asking people to know their hurricane safety plans.”

The EMD increased the state’s alertness level to four. The agency has a scale from one to five for statewide emergencies. Five is a normal day and one is a ongoing disaster.

“We’re watching Hurricane Florence very closely, and it’s too early to tell what impact, if any, this storm will have,” said Kim Stenson, director of the Emergency Management Division. “It is the peak of hurricane season, so even if this storm passes us by, there could be more hurricanes on the way in the coming weeks. It is vital that every resident have a personal emergency plan and be ready to take action if they need to.”

The division surveyed coastal counties Friday to know their needs in case of impact from the storm, Becker says.

McMaster met with emergency response leaders Friday and again Saturday.

“Team South Carolina is ready to respond,” McMaster said on Twitter. tweeted out.

McMaster canceled a trip to Sea Island, Georgia for a Republican’s Governor Association event so he could be in South Carolina if an emergency happens, a spokesperson for the governor said.

Charleston city officials also said they are in regular sessions with local agencies in preparation for possible landfall of Florence. The city of Charleston has moved its emergency alertness level up in tandem with EMD.

North Carolina’s governor has declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm, which is expected to become a hurricane on Sunday and a major hurricane early in the week.

“The risk of other direct impacts associated with Florence along the U.S. East Coast next week has increased,” according to a statement Saturday from the National Hurricane Center. “However, there is still very large uncertainty in model forecasts of Florence’s track beyond day 5, making it too soon to determine the exact location, magnitude, and timing of these impacts. Interests near and along the U.S. East Coast should monitor the progress of Florence through the weekend and ensure they have their hurricane plans in place.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Hurricane Center are telling people to prepare for Florence as well. FEMA is telling people to sign up for local alerts, know an evacuation plan, discuss that plan with family, make plans for pets and gather critical documents.

Harvest Hope of Columbia is helping to ready the coast with food, according to the agency’s disaster manager, Mary Louise Resch. The agency is working with Lowcountry Food Bank, which serves all the coastal counties of South Carolina, to ensure an adequate supply of staples, canned goods and water. A recent shipment of food to Harvest Hope was sent directly to Lowcountry Food Bank, Resch said. Harvest Hope is readying itself in case Lowcountry Food Bank has to be evacuated as well.

Harvest Hope also is working with other organizations, such as the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, to get food into shelters in case the storm hits. Other volunteer organizations such as the American Red Cross have been in talks with Harvest Hope about how to get food to people the Red Cross and others help.

“It’s been a busy couple days,” Resch said. “Until we know where the actual track of that storm is going to be, we’re thinking the worst and hoping for the best.”

The S.C. Department of Transportation says it also is monitoring the storm.

“We’re constantly checking on it,” said Lauren Rountree, spokesperson for the DOT.

The National Hurricane Center said that regardless of Florence’s path, large swells will start to affect parts of the East Coast this weekend. The swells are “resulting in life-threatening surf and rip currents.”

The storm could become a major hurricane early next week, and the risk of a direct impact on the East Coast has increased, according to the hurricane center.

For Resch, this is the third year in a row that she and Harvest Hope have prepared for an emergency.

“If there’s a benefit in having gone through this three years in a row, it’s that we have practice,” Resch says.

Resch encourages people to donate to Harvest Hope.

This story was originally published September 7, 2018 at 2:08 PM.