Governor McMaster Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Tropical Storm Debby

(AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — According to the Governor’s Office, Governor Henry McMaster issued Executive Order 2024-16 declaring a state of emergency in preparation for the potential impacts of Tropical Storm Debby, and asked South Carolinians to monitor local forecasts and take appropriate precautions.

The executive order activates the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan and allows all state agencies to coordinate resources in preparation for Tropical Storm Debby.

“The South Carolina team is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Debby and has begun preparing for its potential impact on our state,” said Gov. Henry McMaster. “With potentially significant rainfall in the forecast for the coming days, it is critical that residents in potentially impacted areas begin preparing and planning today — in case action is needed quickly.”

Tropical Storm Debby is forecast to strengthen before making landfall as a hurricane in Florida on Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is expected to slow and begin to affect South Carolina early this week, with heavy rainfall causing life-threatening lightning, urban and river flooding. Strong winds and storm surges are also expected.

South Carolinians and visitors to potentially affected areas should review their plans and consider actions they would need to take if the storm were to threaten the state. Everyone should monitor the storm through local news media and follow updates from the National Hurricane Center, especially those living in low-lying areas along the South Carolina coast.

SCEMD provides several resources to help people prepare for hurricanes, including hurricane.sc. This site is an interactive tool for anyone who needs a quick reference for hurricane preparation.

Additionally, SC Emergency Manager is available on the App Store and Google Play: http://onelink.to/dn92rx.

The official 2024 South Carolina Hurricane Guide is available in English or Spanish at scemd.org.

In response to Florida’s request for emergency assistance in response to the anticipated Tropical Storm Debby, Governor Henry McMaster today signed Executive Order 2024-15 tasking the South Carolina National Guard with performing state duties on behalf of Florida.

The South Carolina National Guard will mobilize approximately 70 soldiers, deploy 30 emergency response vehicles and provide additional resources as needed.