South Carolina ETV, the state’s public educational broadcasting network, hosted the governor’s briefing live.
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As of 11:00 a.m. EDT, the center said the hurricane was moving away from the Keys and headed toward the southwest coast, moving north at 9 miles per hour.
Roughly 540,000 coastal Georgia residents are under evacuation orders. It would still bring heavy rain and potentially devastating flooding, plus a strong chance of tornadoes. The airport may close taxiing space to allow airlines to park if they are unable to take off during the storm.
Attorney General Alan Wilson said his office has received 250 complaints of price-gouging during the state of emergency declared Wednesday.
Shelters will be opened in the three counties for the evacuees, and no other shelters will be opened in SC at this time, though the state has the capability to do so, McMaster said.
The Carolinas-landfall scenario does seem the most likely now, but Irma’s path did shift slightly back to the west early Thursday morning, meteorologist Don Schwenneker of ABC11 said.
Governor McMaster says the Midlands should prepare themselves for a lot of wind and rain.
The Southeast Georgia counties under a state of emergency are: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Bryan, Burke, Camden, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Echols, Glynn, Jeff Davis, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Pierce, Screven, Tattnall, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware and Wayne counties. The complaints will be investigated once the storm has passed.
State government will be closed Monday and Tuesday for all employees except essential personnel.
Approximately 44,457 SC residents were affected by the orders, and McMaster told the Post and Courier that “compliance, as far as we can tell, has been good” though the state does not have a current count of how many people ignored the order and remained on the islands.
Many cities have canceled garbage collection for Monday, getting their trucks off the street, expecting risky conditions.
Adjutant General Robert Livingston said National Guardsmen have not yet been activated, but soldiers helping with Hurricane Harvey in Texas are returning to SC.
The storm left at least 27 people dead across the Caribbean.
Are water and gas available? Second, it’s vital to get your supplies from a local store.
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Beaufort, Colleton and Jasper counties are still under a mandatory order to evacuate healthcare facilities. Only about 250 people are now staying in S.C. shelters.
