A good supply of clean water is a top priority in an emergency. Flooding can contaminate public water supplies and wells. If you are on public water, check with your water provider to be sure it is safe to drink. If you are on a private well and it was flooded, your well needs to be disinfected and the water tested. Visit the SCDES Well Water Quality Testing page for more information.
It's important that you stay informed before, during and after a hurricane. So, you need to know what warning systems and information resources are available to you. These systems and resources include:
The following sites provide up-to-date information for South Carolina:
Shelters are generally the place of last resort. SCDES recommends that individuals who need to evacuate have plans already in place to stay with family, friends or in a hotel in the event of a disaster. No emergency shelter will have the amenities and flexibilities that you have at home. When planning for an evacuation, consider what aids may be needed for daily living. (Refer to evacuation zones here.
The hours and days immediately following a hurricane or flood can be especially dangerous. Of all deaths that are related to a hurricane, up to 77 percent are caused by drowning. Add to that the lack of power plus any damage sustained in the winds, and you have many concerns about the health and safety of yourself and your family.
You should create a kit with emergency survival supplies that you may need during and after disasters such as hurricanes. Here are some of the items that your kit should include:
In planning for hurricane season, do not forget your pets. If an evacuation is necessary, the Humane Society of the United States urges pet owners to make arrangements to evacuate their animals. Most official shelters do not allow pets. If you have to evacuate, make other plans for your pets, such as staying with family friends, veterinarians, or kennels in safe locations.
The following are some planning tips for pets, prior to an evacuation:
When working on cleanup and rebuilding efforts after a severe weather event, it's important to be aware of potential asbestos-containing materials that could pose a health risk if not handled properly. Disturbing asbestos-containing materials during building repairs, renovations, or demolitions can release asbestos fibers or dust particles into the air, allowing them to be ingested or inhaled.
A hurricane is the most severe category of "tropical cyclone" - a general term for all circulating weather systems over tropical waters. When the winds of a tropical cyclone reach a constant speed of 74 miles per hour or more and the storm has a well-defined counterclockwise circulation, it is called a hurricane.
