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  • Council on Coastal Futures
    In November 2002, the Board of the Department of Health and Environmental Control appointed the 19 members of the Council on Coastal Futures as an ad hoc advisory committee. The Board charged the council with documenting priority issues and concerns and recommending actions, programs and measures to improve the effectiveness of the South Carolina Coastal Zone Management Program.  In keeping with…, Summary of Recommendations , Regulatory Processes , Improve internal DHEC coordination to ensure concurrent and expedited project review  Improve cooperation between DHEC-OCRM and other agencies  Implement a mandatory mediation program for all DHEC-OCRM permit appeals  Improve the DHEC-OCRM public notices  Clarify that conditions on DHEC-OCRM critical area permits continue for the life of the permit , Assistance to Local Government , Build capacity at DHEC-OCRM to be a 'center of technical expertise' for local governments   Continue DHEC implementation of the state stormwater permitting program  Improve water quality by managing stormwater on a watershed basis , Coastal Resource Management Issues , Encourage construction of community docks in lieu of multiple private docks  Encourage voluntary dock planning by cooperating landowners  Develop statewide legislation for managing freshwater wetlands  Review DHEC's septic tank policy  Identify marina dredging issues and problems, evaluate technologies and recommend preferred alternatives for spoil disposal  Determine strategies and alternative…, Resources , CCF Final Report  Executive Summary of Final Report   Fact Sheets  Beachfront Management  State Certification and Federal Consistency  Changing Faces and Places of Coastal South Carolina  Coastal Program Time Line  Critical Area Permitting  Freshwater Wetlands  Mission, Scope and Authority  Retrospective Group Interviews  Stormwater Management 
  • Clean Marinas
    By meeting prescribed environmental performance criteria, marinas can qualify to fly the South Carolina Clean Marina flag to attract recreational and transient boaters to their facility. More than 30 states and territories operate Clean Marina programs using best management practices to protect and improve water quality at marinas. Clean Marina programs are voluntary programs run by many states…
  • Hurricane Dorian Update - Tues, September 3, 2019
    Tuesday, September 3, 2019  , This page will be updated regularly as information becomes available. , Hurricane approaching eastern coast of United States, If you have questions about Hurricane Dorian or need assistance, please visit the South Carolina Emergency Management Division at, www.scemd.org, ., With Hurricane Dorian approaching the South Carolina coast, SCDES is actively working to prepare for the storm. This website will be updated throughout the storm. For tips, please visit our, hurricane preparedness page, ., As of Sept. 3,, 221 SCDES staff across the state are mobilized, for storm preparation and response efforts., SCDES Careline, SCDES's, Care Line call center is open, to provide information and answer general questions:, 1-855-472-3432, ., Health Care Facilities, On Sept. 1, 2019, the Governor issued a, Mandatory Medical Evacuation Order, for health care facilities regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDES) in the evacuation zone. SCDES is currently in communications with all, 175 health care facilities impacted by the mandatory medical evacuation order, including:, 13 hospitals 25 nursing homes 92 assisted living facilities, 4 hospitals have closed or are in the process of closing:,  (1) Hilton Head Hospital, (2) Encompass Health Rehab Hospital of Bluffton, (3) Palmetto Lowcountry Behavioral Health, (4) Vibra Hospital of Charleston., 9 hospitals have been granted exemptions from mandatory medical evacuations, , allowing them to remain open for emergency medical services., Controlled Substances, Due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Dorian, along with the possible interruption of services and communications that may follow throughout South Carolina, the SCDES Bureau of Drug Control has authorized a, one-time, early refill of Schedule III-V prescriptions for valid refills that are due within the next seven days. Requirements and information for Schedule III-V, as well as Schedule II substances, may be found on our, Authorization for Emergency Dispensing, page., Special Medical Needs Shelters, During times of emergency, SCDES operates, Special Medical Needs Shelters, to provide shelter for people whose medical conditions exceed the capabilities of the Red Cross shelters, but are not severe enough to require a hospital stay. We do not provide health care services in those shelters. As of Sept. 3, there are, 4 shelters open and 20 shelters on standby, . Please call the Care Line at, 1-855-472-3432, to determine eligibility for Special Medical Needs Shelters., Dams, A CodeRed notification was delivered to dam owners and operators just before 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. The message was sent to all dam owners located in areas of concern based on predicted rainfall of five inches or more over a 24-hour period. Those areas included Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dillon, Dorchester, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Jasper, Marion, and Williamsburg…, assessing 22 dams, currently predicted to receive five inches or more of rain: 9 in Horry County 5 in Berkeley County 3 in Williamsburg County 2 in Dorchester County 1 in Marion County 1 in Charleston County 1 in Georgetown County For a complete list of these dams and their classifications,, click here, .  , Understanding Dam Classifications, Unless exempted by law, dams regulated by SCDES are classified based on size and hazards, and must meet one of the following criteria: 25 feet in height impounds (holds back) 50-acre feet or more of water classified as a high-hazard dam, regardless of size Hazard classification applies to the potential loss of human life or property damage in the event of failure or improper operation of the dam…, High-hazard (C1):, failure will likely cause loss of life or serious damage to infrastructure., Significant-hazard (C2):, failure will not likely cause loss of life but may damage infrastructure., Low-hazard (C3):, failure may cause limited property damage, If you have a concern about a dam that may have been impacted by the storm, please call SCDES at, (803) 898-1939, .  , Coastal Resources and Sandbags, SCDES has issued blanket emergency orders to local governments to allow property owners along the immediate beachfront to conduct sand scraping or install sandbags to provide temporary protection from anticipated wave uprush from the storm.  SCDES has asked local governments along the coast to provide updates on beachfront erosion and damage through our, MYCoast application, ., Petroleum Distribution Terminals, To facilitate the distribution of fuel across the state due to evacuations, SCDES requested and received a, No Action Assurance letter from EPA, . This helps ensure the availability of tanker trucks to be able to provide an adequate supply of fuel to areas impacted by mandatory evacuations. This action reassures the petroleum industry that EPA is using its discretion not to pursue enforcement for certain provisions related to loading of tanker trucks related to tank tightness and documentation., SCDES Office Closures, SCDES follows the closings and delays of county offices, . The latest information on delays and closures can be found at, https://www.scemd.org/closings, or on, local media, ., Stay Connected, Stay tuned to your local weather forecast and get the latest information about our preparation and response efforts by following us on, Twitter,  and, Facebook., Previous Updates, Hurricane Dorian Update - Monday, Sept 2, 2019, Hurricane Dorian Update - Sunday, Sept 1, 2019, Hurricane Dorian Update - Saturday, Aug 31, 2019
  • Hurricane Dorian Update - Wed, September 4, 2019
    Wednesday, September 4, 2019  , This page will be updated regularly as information becomes available. , Hurricane approaching eastern coast of United States, If you have questions about Hurricane Dorian or need assistance, please visit the South Carolina Emergency Management Division at, www.scemd.org . With Hurricane Dorian approaching the South Carolina coast, SCDES is actively working to prepare for the storm. This website will be updated throughout the storm. For tips, please visit our hurricane preparedness page. As of Sept. 4,, more than 220 SCDES staff across the state are mobilized, for storm preparation and response efforts., SCDES Careline, SCDES's, Care Line call center is open, to provide information and answer general questions:, 1-855-472-3432, ., Health Care Facilities, The Governor issued a, Mandatory Medical Evacuation Order, Sept. 1 for health care facilities located within the evacuation zone. SCDES is currently in communications with all, 175 health care facilities impacted by the mandatory medical evacuation order, including:, 13 hospitals 25 nursing homes 92 assisted living facilities As of Sept. 4, three hospitals have closed, one is sheltering in place, and nine hospitals have been granted exemptions from mandatory medical evacuations., Controlled Substances, SCDES has authorized a one-time early refill of Schedule III-V prescriptions for valid refills that are due within the next seven days. Additional information is available, here, ., Special Medical Needs Shelters, As of Sept. 4, there are, 5 special medical needs shelters open and 21 shelters on standby., Special Medical Needs Shelters, provide shelter for people whose medical conditions exceed the capabilities of the Red Cross shelters but are not severe enough to require a hospital stay. SCDES doesn’t provide health care services in these shelters. Please call the Care Line at, 1-855-472-3432, to determine eligibility for Special Medical Needs Shelters., Dams, A, CodeRed, notification was delivered Sept. 2 to all dam owners and operators located in areas of concern based on predicted rainfall, and SCDES staff conducted pre-storm assessments of 22 dams predicted to receive five inches or more of rain. See the, Sept. 3, update for additional information, including the list of 22 dams, their locations and classifications., If you have a concern about a dam that may have been impacted by the storm, please call SCDES at, (803) 898-1939, ., Private Wells, Before the storm, owners of private drinking water wells should seal their well by plugging or covering all openings to the casing before the storm to help prevent it from becoming contaminated by surface flooding. Wells should be inspected after the storm for damage and any plug or covering on casing vent should be removed. Only use water that has been properly disinfected for drinking, cooking…, here, . Please also see this brief, video about emergency well disinfection, . For questions about testing a private well that’s flooded, call your local SCDES Environmental Affairs office ., Storm Debris Disposal, Two types of landfills accept solid waste from the public: Class 2 landfills and Class 3 landfills. To dispose of storm debris at a Class 2 or Class 3 landfill, please call the facility in advance to ensure it's open and can accept the debris. More information is available, here, ., Drinking & Wastewater, SCDES conducted assessments of drinking water plants and intakes and wastewater plants within potential flood inundation areas. Staff have been in contact with 84 community drinking water systems and 76 wastewater treatment facilities located along the coast., Shellfish Harvesting Closure, On Sept. 3, SCDES closed summer shellfish harvesting along the coast., Coastal Resources and Sandbags, SCDES has issued blanket, emergency orders to local governments, that allow property owners along the immediate beachfront to conduct sand scraping or install sandbags. SCDES also has asked local governments to provide updates on beachfront erosion and damage through our MYCoast application ., Petroleum Distribution Terminals, To facilitate the distribution of fuel to areas impacted by mandatory evacuations, SCDES requested and received a No Action Assurance letter from EPA ., SCDES Office Closures, SCDES follows the closings and delays of county offices, . The latest information on delays and closures can be found at https://www.scemd.org/closings or on, local media, ., Stay Connected, Stay tuned to your local weather forecast and get the latest information about our preparation and response efforts by following us on Twitter  and Facebook. Previous Updates Hurricane Dorian Update - Tuesday, Sept 3, 2019 Hurricane Dorian Update - Monday, Sept 2, 2019 Hurricane Dorian Update - Sunday, Sept 1, 2019 Hurricane Dorian Update - Saturday, Aug 31, 2019
  • Notice of Violation
    Notice of Violations, As a result of the statewide assessments of dams following the recent historic rains and flooding, DHEC issued emergency orders covering 76 dams. DHEC sent a Notice of Violation (NoV) to owners of dams who did not provide documentation of their required action items by the deadline stated in the emergency order. Below are NoVs issued for dams in South Carolina as of November 18, 2015. What is a…, Name, Class*, Dam Number, County, A.W. Bailey Dam, C3 D 2034 Aiken, Corbett Lake, C3 D 2052 Aiken, Loblolly Timber Dam, C2 D 0210 Chester, O.E. Rose Dam, C2 D 3487 Clarendon, Joe Jeffords Pond Dam, C2 D 3526 Darlington, Chapmans Pond Dam, C2 D 3533 Darlington, Scott Derrick Pond Dam, C2 D 0905 Edgefield, Larry L. Younce Pond Dam, C2 D 0897 Edgefield, JW Yonce Pond Dam, C2 D 0896 Edgefield, Myra Smith Dam, C2 D 0907 Edgefield, Upper Northlake Dam, C2 D 4361 Greenwood, Town And Country Dam 1, C2 D 1271 Greenwood, Town And Country Dam 2, C2 D 1272 Greenwood, Cook Pond Dam, C2 D 1068 Kershaw, Eloise Watson Dam, C2 D 2530 Kershaw, W L Clyburn Dam, C2 D 2412 Lee, Barr Lake Dam, C2 D 1717 Lexington, Culler Pond, C3 D 3682 Orangeburg, Church of Redeemer Dam, C2 D 3738 Orangeburg, Cleveland Street Dam, C3 D 3743 Orangeburg, Clarkson Pond Dam, C3 D 0599 Richland, Stevenson's Lake Dam, C2 D 0546 Richland, West Lake Farms Dam, C2 D 4146 Richland, Ellerbees Millpond Dam, C2 D 1460 Sumter, Cains Millpond Dam, C2 D 1578 Sumter What the dam classifications mean: C1 - Failure may cause loss of life or serious damage to infrastructure. C2 - Failure will not likely cause loss of life but may damage infrastructure. C3 - Failure may cause limited property damage.
  • Hurricane Florence Update 09-12-2018
    This page will be updated regularly as information becomes available, ., SCDES is closely monitoring developments with Hurricane Florence. We are working with Governor McMaster and the South Carolina Emergency Management Division in accordance with the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan and the South Carolina Hurricane Plan., Stay tuned to your local weather forecast and get the latest information about our preparation and response efforts by following us on, Twitter,  and, Facebook., In response to Hurricane Florence, SCDES staff continues to actively assess and respond to ongoing public health and environmental needs across the state. For important information on steps you can take, please visit our, hurricane preparedness page, ., Latest Updates:, By executive order Governor McMaster has closed state government offices in the following counties, except for employees deemed essential by their agency director: - (09/13/2018) Berkeley; Calhoun; Charleston; Clarendon; Darlington; Dillon; Dorchester; Florence; Georgetown; Horry; Lee; Lexington; Marion; Marlboro; Orangeburg; Richland; Sumter; and Williamsburg. As part of our preparedness efforts…, Health Care Facilities:, On September 10, 2018, the Governor issued a Mandatory Medical Evacuation (MME) order for health care facilities regulated by SCDES in the evacuation zone., As of Wednesday at 9 a.m., more than 1,700 people had been evacuated from health care facilities along the coast., The Department continues to communicate with facilities to assess and monitor their status and identify any needs or issues they may have., Special Medical Needs Shelters:, SCDES has opened 3 special medical needs shelters, to provide shelter for people whose medical conditions exceed the capabilities of the general population shelters, but are not severe enough to require a hospital stay. We do not provide health care services in these shelters. *NOTE: if you think you may need this type of shelter, please call our CARELINE at, 1-855-472-3432, )., Dams:, As of Tuesday at 11 p.m., SCDES had assessed 181 dams., The Department has utilized the CodeRED system multiple times to notify more than 2,000 dam owners via voice call, text message and email. Dam owners were urged to evaluate their water levels and coordinate lowering levels with other owners downstream to avoid flooding., Coastal Resources:, SCDES has issued, blanket emergency orders, to local governments to allow property owners along the immediate beachfront to conduct sand scraping or install sandbags to provide temporary protection from anticipated wave uprush from the pending storm. The Department has asked local governments along the coast to provide updates on beachfront erosion and damage through our, MYCoast application, . Property owners should coordinate with local governments to obtain emergency order authorization. Visit SCDES's, Coastal Recovery page, for more information., SCDES Office Closures:, SCDES follows the closings and delays of county offices. For example, if Beaufort County offices are closed, our health clinics and offices in the county will be closed as well. The latest information on delays and closures can be found at, http://scemd.org, or on local media. We will update this information here as it becomes available., Berkeley, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Calhoun, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Charleston, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Clarendon, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Darlington, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Dillon, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Dorchester, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Florence, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Georgetown, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Horry, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Lee, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Lexington, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Marion, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Marlboro, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Orangeburg, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Richland, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Sumter, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Williamsburg, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Previous Updates:, Governor McMaster has signed, Executive Order No. 2018-28, issuing a, Mandatory Medical Evacuation of Healthcare Facilities, - (09/10/2018) Affected Areas: Beaufort (Zone A) Berkeley (Zones B, G, H, and I) Charleston (Zones A, B, and C) Colleton (Zones A, B) Dorchester (Zones D, E, and F) Georgetown (Zones A, B, and C) Horry (Zones A, B, and C) Jasper (Zones A, B)  , SCEMD wants you to Know Your Zone,  Governor McMaster issues, Executive Order 2018-30, , ordering, Closures of all State Government Offices, for all non-essential personnel in 26 counties. - (09/10/2018) SCDES has issued blanket , emergency orders , to local governments to allow property owners along the immediate beachfront to conduct minor renourishment, sand scraping or install sandbags to provide temporary protection to beachfront structures from wave uprush., Click here to view emergency orders., - (09/10/2018), Stay Connected, Stay tuned to your local weather forecast and get the latest information about our preparation and response efforts by following us on, Twitter, and, Facebook.
  • Hurricane Florence Update 09-13-2018
    This page will be updated regularly as information becomes available, ., SCDES is closely monitoring developments with Hurricane Florence. We are working with Governor McMaster and the South Carolina Emergency Management Division in accordance with the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan and the South Carolina Hurricane Plan., Stay tuned to your local weather forecast and get the latest information about our preparation and response efforts by following us on, Twitter,  and, Facebook., In response to Hurricane Florence, SCDES staff continues to actively assess and respond to ongoing public health and environmental needs across the state. For important information on steps you can take, please visit our, hurricane preparedness page, ., Latest Updates:, By executive order Governor McMaster has closed state government offices in the following counties, except for employees deemed essential by their agency director: - (09/13/2018) Berkeley; Calhoun; Charleston; Clarendon; Darlington; Dillon; Dorchester; Florence; Georgetown; Horry; Lee; Lexington; Marion; Marlboro; Orangeburg; Richland; Sumter; and Williamsburg. Gov. Henry McMaster lifts mandatory…, for zones in Beaufort, Colleton, and Jasper counties, with the exception of Edisto Beach., : - (09/11/2018)  , As part of our preparedness efforts, SCDES has taken the following actions, - (updated at 12 p.m. on 09/13/2018):, Health Care Facilities:, On September 10, 2018, the Governor issued a Mandatory Medical Evacuation (MME) order for health care facilities regulated by SCDES in the evacuation zone., The following 7 hospitals have reported to SCDES that they are now closed:, Grand Strand Medical Center Palmetto Behavioral Hospital Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Tidelands Rehab Hospital Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital Vibra Hospital of Charleston Williamsburg Hospital, The following 8 hospitals were granted exemptions to the MME orde, r, allowing them to continue to treat their most acutely ill patients: Bon Secours – St. Francis Xavier (Roper) East Cooper Medical Center Health South Rehab Hospital of Charleston (Encompass) MUSC Roper St. Francis – Mount Pleasant Hospital Roper Hospital Summerville Medical Center Trident Medical Center, As of Thursday at 9 a.m., more than 2,200 people had been evacuated from 113 health care facilities along the coast, . The Department continues to communicate with facilities to assess and monitor their status and identify any needs or issues they may have., Special Medical Needs Shelters:, SCDES has opened 12 special medical needs shelters, to provide shelter for people whose medical conditions exceed the capabilities of the general population shelters, but are not severe enough to require a hospital stay. We do not provide health care services in these shelters. *NOTE: if you think you may need this type of shelter, please call our, CARELINE, at, 1-855-472-3432, ., Dams:, As of Thursday at 9 a.m., SCDES had, assessed 262 dams, in the projected path of the storm., The Department has utilized the CodeRED system multiple times to notify more than 2,000 dam owners via voice call, text message and email. Dam owners were urged to evaluate their water levels and coordinate lowering levels with other owners downstream to avoid flooding., Coastal Resources:, SCDES has issued, blanket emergency orders, to local governments to allow property owners along the immediate beachfront to conduct sand scraping or install sandbags to provide temporary protection from anticipated wave uprush from the pending storm. The Department has asked local governments along the coast to provide updates on beachfront erosion and damage through our, MYCoast application, . Property owners should coordinate with local governments to obtain emergency order authorization., SCDES Office Closures:, SCDES follows the closings and delays of county offices. For example, if Beaufort County offices are closed, our health clinics and offices in the county will be closed as well. The latest information on delays and closures can be found at, http://scemd.org, or on local media. We will update this information here as it becomes available., Berkeley, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Calhoun, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Charleston, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Clarendon, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Darlington, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Dillon, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Dorchester, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Florence, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Georgetown, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Horry, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Lee, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Lexington, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Marion, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Marlboro, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Orangeburg, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Richland, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Sumter, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Williamsburg, - September 13, 2018    CLOSED, Stay Connected, Stay tuned to your local weather forecast and get the latest information about our preparation and response efforts by following us on, Twitter, and, Facebook., Previous Updates:, SCDES has opened 3 special medical needs shelters as of Wednesday September 12;, to provide shelter for people whose medical conditions exceed the capabilities of the general population shelters, but are not severe enough to require a hospital stay. We do not provide health care services in these shelters. *NOTE: if you think you may need this type of shelter, please call our CARELINE at, 1-855-472-3432, ., As of Wednesday at 9 a.m, ., more than 1,700 people had been evacuated from health care facilities along the coast. The Department continues to communicate with facilities to assess and monitor their status and identify any needs or issues they may have., As of Tuesday at 11 p.m., SCDES had assessed 181 dams., The Department has utilized the CodeRED system multiple times to notify more than 2,000 dam owners via voice call, text message and email. Dam owners were urged to evaluate their water levels and coordinate lowering levels with other owners downstream to avoid flooding. SCDES has issued, blanket emergency orders, to local governments to allow property owners along the immediate beachfront to conduct sand scraping or install sandbags to provide temporary protection from anticipated wave uprush from the pending storm. The Department has asked local governments along the coast to provide updates on beachfront erosion and damage through our, MYCoast application, . Property owners should coordinate with local governments to obtain emergency order authorization. Visit SCDES's, Coastal Recovery page, for more information On September 10, 2018, the Governor issued a, Mandatory Medical Evacuation (MME) order for health care facilities, regulated by SCDES in the evacuation zone. Governor McMaster has signed, Executive Order No. 2018-28, issuing a, Mandatory Medical Evacuation of Healthcare Facilities, - (09/10/2018) Affected Areas: Beaufort (Zone A) Berkeley (Zones B, G, H, and I) Charleston (Zones A, B, and C) Colleton (Zones A, B) Dorchester (Zones D, E, and F) Georgetown (Zones A, B, and C) Horry (Zones A, B, and C) Jasper (Zones A, B)  , SCEMD wants you to Know Your Zone,  Governor McMaster issues, Executive Order 2018-30, , ordering, Closures of all State Government Offices, for all non-essential personnel in 26 counties. - (09/10/2018) SCDES has issued blanket , emergency orders , to local governments to allow property owners along the immediate beachfront to conduct minor renourishment, sand scraping or install sandbags to provide temporary protection to beachfront structures from wave uprush., Click here to view emergency orders., - (09/10/2018), Stay Connected, Stay tuned to your local weather forecast and get the latest information about our preparation and response efforts by following us on, Twitter, and, Facebook.
  • Hurricane Florence Update 09-14-2018
    Friday, September 14th, 2018 - updated at 2 p.m , This page will be updated regularly as information becomes available, ., SCDES is closely monitoring developments with Hurricane Florence. We are working with Governor McMaster and the South Carolina Emergency Management Division in accordance with the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan and the South Carolina Hurricane Plan., Stay tuned to your local weather forecast and get the latest information about our preparation and response efforts by following us on, Twitter,  and, Facebook., In response to Hurricane Florence, SCDES staff continues to actively assess and respond to ongoing public health and environmental needs across the state. For important information on the steps you can take, please visit our , hurricane preparedness page, ., Latest Updates:, As part of our preparedness efforts, SCDES has taken the following actions, (, updated at 2 p.m. on 09/14/2018, ):, More than 700 SCDES staff have been dispatched to communities across South Carolina to provide emergency response., Our call centers have fielded more than 4,500 calls assisting the public with questions, related to special medical needs, health department services and other general concerns., Health Care Facilities:, On September 10, 2018, the Governor issued a Mandatory Medical Evacuation (MME) order for health care facilities regulated by SCDES in the evacuation zone., The following 7 hospitals have reported to SCDES that they remain closed:, Grand Strand Medical Center Palmetto Behavioral Hospital Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Tidelands Rehab Hospital Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital Vibra Hospital of Charleston Williamsburg Hospital, As of Friday at 9 a.m., more than 2,400 people had been evacuated from 114 healthcare facilities along the coast., The Department continues to communicate with facilities to assess and monitor their status and identify any needs or issues they may have., Special Medical Needs Shelters:, SCDES has opened 13 special medical needs shelters, to provide shelter for people whose medical conditions exceed the capabilities of the general population shelters, but are not severe enough to require a hospital stay. We do not provide health care services in these shelters., *NOTE: if you think you may need this type of shelter, please call our CARELINE at, 1-855-472-3432, ., Dams:, As of Friday at 9 a.m., SCDES had, assessed 262 dams, in the projected path of the storm., The Department has utilized the CodeRED system multiple times to notify more than 2,000 dam owners via voice call, text message and email. Dam owners were urged to evaluate their water levels and coordinate lowering levels with other owners downstream to avoid flooding., As of 2 p.m. Friday, the total number of, Regulated Dams under Surveillance, was 27., SCDES Office Closures:, SCDES follows the closings and delays of county offices. For example, if Beaufort County offices are closed, our health clinics and offices in the county will be closed as well. The latest information on delays and closures can be found at, http://scemd.org, or on local media. We will update this information here as it becomes available. Barnwell - September 14, 2018 - (Closed) Beaufort - September 14, 2018 - (Closed) Berkeley - September 14, 2018 - (Closed) Calhoun - September 14, 2018 - (Closed) Charleston - September 14, 2018 - (Closed) Chester - September 14, 2018 - (Closed) Chesterfield - September 14, 2018 - (Closed) Clarendon - September 14,…, Previous Updates:, Hurricane Florence Update 09-13-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-12-2018, Stay Connected, Stay tuned to your local weather forecast and get the latest information about our preparation and response efforts by following us on, Twitter,  and, Facebook.
  • Hurricane Florence Update 09-15-2018
    Saturday, September 15th, 2018 - updated at 12 p.m., This page will be updated regularly as information becomes available, ., SCDES is closely monitoring developments with Hurricane Florence. We are working with Governor McMaster and the South Carolina Emergency Management Division in accordance with the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan and the South Carolina Hurricane Plan., Stay tuned to your local weather forecast and get the latest information about our preparation and response efforts by following us on, Twitter,  and, Facebook., In response to Hurricane Florence, SCDES staff continues to actively assess and respond to ongoing public health and environmental needs across the state. For important information on the steps you can take, please visit our , hurricane preparedness page, ., Latest Updates:, As part of our preparedness efforts, SCDES has taken the following actions (updated at 12 p.m. on 09/15/2018):, More than 700 SCDES staff have been dispatched to communities across South Carolina to provide emergency response., Our call centers have fielded more than 4,800 calls assisting the public, with questions related to special medical needs, health department services and other general concerns., Health Care Facilities:, On September 10, 2018, the Governor issued a Mandatory Medical Evacuation (MME) order for health care facilities regulated by SCDES in the evacuation zone., The following 5 hospitals have reported to SCDES that they remain closed:, Grand Strand Medical Center Palmetto Behavioral Hospital Tidelands Rehab Hospital Vibra Hospital of Charleston Williamsburg Hospital, The following 2 hospitals have resumed only emergency department services, (the rest of the hospital remains closed): Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital, As of Friday at 9 a.m., more than 2,400 people had been evacuated from 114 health care facilities along the coast., The Department continues to communicate with facilities to assess and monitor their status and identify any needs or issues they may have., Special Medical Needs Shelters:, SCDES has opened 13 special medical needs shelters, to provide shelter for people whose medical conditions exceed the capabilities of the general population shelters but are not severe enough to require a hospital stay. These are individuals who live at home and have a health condition that requires specialized, electric-powered equipment or need medication that requires refrigeration. Individuals in these shelters must bring an adult caregiver…, *NOTE: if you think you may need this type of shelter, please call our CARELINE at, 1-855-472-3432, ., Dams:, SCDES, assessed 262 dams, prior to the storm. The Department utilized the CodeRED system multiple times to notify more than 2,000 dam owners via voice call, text message and email. Dam owners were urged to evaluate their water levels and coordinate lowering levels with other owners downstream to avoid flooding., As of 9 a.m. Saturday, the total number of, Regulated Dams under Surveillance, was 27. SCDES is partnering with the State Guard’s Engineering Unit to monitor these structures as conditions allow., SCDES Office Closures:, SCDES follows the closings and delays of county offices. For example, if Beaufort County offices are closed, our health clinics and offices in the county will be closed as well. The latest information on delays and closures can be found at, http://scemd.org, or on local media. We will update this information here as it becomes available., SCDES Offices are closed on Saturday, Previous Updates:, Hurricane Florence Update 09-14-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-13-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-12-2018, Stay Connected, Stay tuned to your local weather forecast and get the latest information about our preparation and response efforts by following us on, Twitter,  and, Facebook.
  • Hurricane Florence Update 09-16-2018
    Sunday, September 16th, 2018 - updated at 12 p.m., This page will be updated regularly as information becomes available, ., SCDES is closely monitoring developments with Hurricane Florence. We are working with Governor McMaster and the South Carolina Emergency Management Division in accordance with the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan and the South Carolina Hurricane Plan., Stay tuned to your local weather forecast and get the latest information about our preparation and response efforts by following us on, Twitter,  and, Facebook., In response to Hurricane Florence, SCDES staff continues to actively assess and respond to ongoing public health and environmental needs across the state. For important information on the steps you can take, please visit our , hurricane preparedness page, ., Latest Updates:, As part of our preparedness efforts, SCDES has taken the following actions (updated at 12 p.m. on 09/16/2018):, More than 700 SCDES staff have been dispatched as part of our emergency response efforts., Our call centers have fielded more than 4,800 calls assisting the public, with questions related to special medical needs, health department services and other general concerns., Health Care Facilities:, On September 16, 2018, the Governor lifted the Mandatory Medical Evacuation (MME) order for health care facilities regulated by SCDES., The following 3 hospitals reported to SCDES that they have re-opened:, Palmetto Lowcountry Behavioral Hospital Vibra Hospital of Charleston Williamsburg Hospital, The following 3 hospitals have resumed some services:, Grand Strand Medical Center (emergency department and trauma services) Tidelands Georgetown Memorial (emergency department services) Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital (emergency department services) The Department continues to communicate with health care facilities that evacuated ahead of the storm to assess and monitor their status, identify any needs or issues they may have, and provide re…, Special Medical Needs Shelters:, SCDES has 11 special medical needs shelters open, to provide shelter for people whose medical conditions exceed the capabilities of the general population shelters but are not severe enough to require a hospital stay. These are individuals who live at home and have a health condition that requires specialized, electric-powered equipment or need medication that requires refrigeration. Individuals in these shelters must bring an adult caregiver…, *NOTE: if you think you may need this type of shelter, please call our CARELINE at, 1-855-472-3432, ., Dams:, SCDES, assessed 262 dams, prior to the storm. The Department utilized the CodeRED system multiple times to notify more than 2,000 dam owners via voice call, text message and email. Dam owners were urged to evaluate their water levels and coordinate lowering levels with other owners downstream to avoid flooding., On Saturday, SCDES and the US Army Corps of Engineers assessed dams along the Gills Creek Watershed; no issues were identified at that time., As of 9 a.m. Saturday, the total number of, Regulated Dams under Surveillance, was 27. SCDES is partnering with the State Guard’s Engineering Unit to monitor these structures as conditions allow., SCDES Office Closures:, SCDES follows the closings and delays of county offices. For example, if Beaufort County offices are closed, our health clinics and offices in the county will be closed as well. The latest information on delays and closures can be found at, http://scemd.org, or on local media. We will update this information here as it becomes available., Previous Updates:, Hurricane Florence Update 09-15-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-14-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-13-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-12-2018, Stay Connected, Stay tuned to your local weather forecast and get the latest information about our preparation and response efforts by following us on, Twitter,  and, Facebook.