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  • Hurricane Florence Update 09-17-2018
    Monday, September 17th, 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 09/17/2018):, More than 700 SCDES staff have been dispatched as part of our emergency response efforts., Our call centers have fielded more than 4,900 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. SCDES 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-entry assistance as needed., The Department also is working with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and local emergency management officials to monitor projected flooding and ensure potentially impacted health care facilities are addressed as needed., Special Medical Needs Shelters:, SCDES has 9 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 Monday, SCDES and the US Army Corps of Engineers began conducting post-storm assessments of regulated dams., Over the course of the heavy rain, there were several dams in the Pee Dee region that overtopped., As of 9 a.m. Monday, two low-hazard dams in Darlington County – Lake Darpo and Spring Lake – were reported to SCDES as breached., 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 09-16-2018, 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.
  • Hurricane Florence Update 09-18-2018
    Tuesday, September 18th, 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 09/18/2018):, More than 700 SCDES staff have been dispatched as part of our emergency response efforts., Our call centers have fielded more than 5,500 calls assisting the public, with questions related to special medical needs, health department services and other general concern  , Health Care Facilities:, On September 16, 2018, the Governor lifted the Mandatory Medical Evacuation (MME) order for health care facilities regulated by SCDES. SCDES 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-entry assistance as needed., The Department also is working with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and local emergency management officials to monitor projected flooding and ensure potentially impacted health care facilities are addressed as needed., Special Medical Needs Shelters:, SCDES has 7 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., SCDES and the US Army Corps of Engineers has conducted 162 post-storm assessments of regulated dams., Over the course of the heavy rain, there were several dams in the Pee Dee region that overtopped., As of 9 a.m. Tuesday, SCDES had confirmed 6 regulated dams had breached, : Lakewind (significant-hazard) – Chesterfield County Lake Darpo (low-hazard) – Darlington County Springwood Lake (low-hazard) – Darlington County Baxley 501 Pond (significant-hazard) – Marion County McMeeken (low-hazard) – Marlboro County McLaurins Mill Pond (significant-hazard) – Marlboro County, NOTE: 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 potential loss of human life or property damage in the event of failure or improper operation of the dam or…, 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., 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 09-17-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-16-2018, 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.
  • Hurricane Florence Update 09-19-2018
    Wednesday, September 19th, 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 09/19/2018):, More than 700 SCDES staff have been dispatched as part of our emergency response efforts., Our call centers have fielded more than 5,800 calls assisting the public, with questions related to special medical needs, health department services and other general concern  , Health Care Facilities:, On September 16, 2018, the Governor lifted the Mandatory Medical Evacuation (MME) order for health care facilities regulated by SCDES. SCDES continues to communicate with healthcare facilities that evacuated ahead of the storm to assess and monitor their status, identify any needs or issues they may have, and provide re-entry assistance as needed., The Department also is working with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and local emergency management officials to monitor projected flooding and ensure potentially impacted healthcare facilities are addressed as needed., Special Medical Needs Shelters:, SCDES has 2 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., SCDES and the US Army Corps of Engineers have conducted 264 post-storm assessments of regulated dams., Over the course of the heavy rain, there were several dams in the Pee Dee region that overtopped. A, s of 9 a.m. Wednesday, SCDES had confirmed 10 regulated dams had breached:, Lakewind, (significant-hazard) – Chesterfield County, Crawford Pond, (low-hazard) – Chesterfield County, Jordan Pond, (significant-hazard) – Darlington County, Lake Darpo, (low-hazard) – Darlington County, Springwood Lake, (low-hazard) – Darlington County, Baxley 501 Pond, (significant-hazard) – Marion County, McMeeken, (low-hazard) – Marlboro County, McLaurins Mill Pond, (significant-hazard) – Marlboro County, David’s Millpond, (significant-hazard) – Marlboro County, Covington Millpond, (low-hazard) – Marlboro County, NOTE: 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 potential loss of human life or property damage in the event of failure or improper operation of the dam or…, 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., 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 09-18-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-17-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-16-2018, 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.
  • Hurricane Florence Update 09-20-2018
    Thursday, September 20th, 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, 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 09/20/2018):, More than 700 SCDES staff have been dispatched as part of our emergency response efforts., Our call centers have fielded more than 5,800 calls assisting the public, with questions related to special medical needs, health department services and other general concerns, Healthcare Facilities:, The Department is working with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and local emergency management officials to monitor projected flooding and ensure potentially impacted healthcare facilities are addressed as needed., Special Medical Needs Shelters:, SCDES has 1 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, ., Private Wells:, SCDES is waiving bacteriological testing fees for private wells impacted by the flood. Residents with questions about private wells should call, 1-888-761-5989, ., We will provide information on boiling your water, disinfecting your well, and testing your well. *NOTE: If the well was not flooded, the water quality is the same as before the flood., 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., SCDES and the US Army Corps of Engineers has conducted 264 post-storm assessments of regulated dams., Over the course of the heavy rain, there were several dams in the Pee Dee region that overtopped., As of 9 a.m. Thursday, SCDES had confirmed 11 regulated dams had breached:, Lakewind, (significant-hazard) – Chesterfield County, Crawford Pond, (low-hazard) – Chesterfield County, Jordan Pond, (significant-hazard) – Darlington County, Lake Darpo, (low-hazard) – Darlington County, Springwood Lake, (low-hazard) – Darlington County, McColl Pond, (low-hazard) – Dillon County, Baxley 501 Pond, (significant-hazard) – Marion County, McMeeken, (low-hazard) – Marlboro County, McLaurins Mill Pond, (significant-hazard) – Marlboro County, David’s Millpond, (significant-hazard) – Marlboro County, Covington Millpond, (low-hazard) – Marlboro County, NOTE: 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 potential loss of human life or property damage in the event of failure or improper operation of the dam or connected works., 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., 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 09-19-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-18-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-17-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-16-2018, 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.
  • Hurricane Florence Update 09-21-2018
    Friday, September 21st, 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, 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 09/21/2018):, More than 700 SCDES staff have been dispatched as part of our emergency response efforts., Our call centers have fielded more than 5,800 calls assisting the public, with questions related to special medical needs, health department services and other general concerns, Healthcare Facilities:, The Department is working with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and local emergency management officials to monitor projected flooding and ensure potentially impacted healthcare facilities are addressed as needed., Special Medical Needs Shelters:, SCDES has 1 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, ., Private Wells:, SCDES is waiving bacteriological testing fees for private wells impacted by the flood. Residents with questions about private wells should call, 1-888-761-5989, ., We will provide information on boiling your water, disinfecting your well, and testing your well. *NOTE: If the well was not flooded, the water quality is the same as before the flood., 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., SCDES and the US Army Corps of Engineers have conducted 264 post-storm assessments of regulated dams., Over the course of the heavy rain, there were several dams in the Pee Dee region that overtopped., As of 9 a.m. Friday, SCDES had confirmed 11 regulated dams had breached:, Lakewind, (significant-hazard) – Chesterfield County, Crawford Pond, (low-hazard) – Chesterfield County, Jordan Pond, (significant-hazard) – Darlington County, Lake Darpo, (low-hazard) – Darlington County, Springwood Lake, (low-hazard) – Darlington County, McColl Pond, (low-hazard) – Dillon County, Baxley 501 Pond, (significant-hazard) – Marion County, McMeeken, (low-hazard) – Marlboro County, McLaurins Mill Pond, (significant-hazard) – Marlboro County, David’s Millpond, (significant-hazard) – Marlboro County, Covington Millpond, (low-hazard) – Marlboro County, NOTE: 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 potential loss of human life or property damage in the event of failure or improper operation of the dam or connected works., 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., 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 09-20-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-19-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-18-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-17-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-16-2018, 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.
  • Hurricane Florence Update 09-24-2018
    Monday, September 24th, 2018 - updated at 4:00 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, please visit our , hurricane preparedness page, ., Latest Updates:, As part of our preparedness efforts, SCDES has taken the following actions (updated at 3 p.m. on 09/24/2018):,  More than 700 SCDES staff have been dispatched as part of our emergency response efforts., Our call centers have fielded more than 6,900 calls assisting the public, with questions related to special medical needs, health department services and other general concerns., SCDES Urges South Carolinians to Avoid Contact with Flood Waters:, SCDES recommends that you minimize contact with flood waters, because there are many health and safety concerns, including:, Health Concerns:, Infectious Diseases (e.g., tetanus, norovirus, hepatitis and TB) Diarrheal Diseases Wound Infections Chemical Hazards (e.g., gasoline, diesel and oil from submerged vehicles), Safety Concerns:, Drowning Animal & Insect Bites Fire ants float on flood waters and re-establish where they land Snakes can be anywhere water may have carried them Other wildlife (foxes, coyotes, beavers, etc.) can be relocated by flood waters Electrical Hazards – Water and electricity can be a dangerous combination. When returning to flooded homes, it is important to turn the power off at the breaker box so…, CDC’s Flood and Standing Waters, website., Healthcare Facilities:, The Department is working with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and local emergency management officials to monitor projected flooding and ensure potentially impacted health care facilities are addressed as needed., As of Monday at 12 p.m., the following health care facilities regulated by SCDES will be evacuated:, Tidelands Georgetown Memorial, (by Tuesday at 5 p.m.), South Island Assisted Living, (by Tuesday at 12 p.m.), Blue Ridge in Georgetown, (by Tuesday at 12 p.m.), Special Medical Needs Shelters:, SCDES has 1 special medical needs shelter 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, ., Environmental Assessments and Monitoring, SCDES conducted baseline water sampling last week for general chemistry, (e.g., pH, oil, grease), and metals analyses, (e.g., arsenic, lead, mercury, selenium), from the Waccamaw River and from the two coal ash ponds at the Santee Cooper Grainger Station, . The Department, along with Georgetown County Water and Sewer District and Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority, continues to monitor the conditions closely. Based on discussions with these public water utilities, they have plans in place to address any releases from Grainger Station. SCDES continues to be in contact with Santee Cooper regarding conditions at the Grainger Station., The Department also continues to work with the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division to conduct aerial assessments of the Pee Dee River Basin and Waccamaw River to observe public drinking water plants, wastewater plants and industrial areas., Boil Water Advisories:, As of Monday at 3 p.m.,, 1 boil water advisory for Trico Water in Dillon, has been reported to SCDES., Visit this page, for tips on how to purify bacteria-contaminated water by boiling., Private Wells:, SCDES is waiving bacteriological testing fees for private wells impacted by the flood. Residents with questions about private wells should call, 1-888-761-5989, ., We will provide information on boiling your water, disinfecting your well, and testing your well. *NOTE: If the well was not flooded, the water quality is the same as before the flood., 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., SCDES and the US Army Corps of Engineers have conducted 264 post-storm assessments of regulated dams., Over the course of the heavy rain, there were several dams in the Pee Dee region that overtopped., As of 9 a.m. Friday, SCDES had confirmed 11 regulated dams had breached:, Lakewind, (significant-hazard) – Chesterfield County, Crawford Pond, (low-hazard) – Chesterfield County, Jordan Pond, (significant-hazard) – Darlington County, Lake Darpo, (low-hazard) – Darlington County, Springwood Lake, (low-hazard) – Darlington County, McColl Pond, (low-hazard) – Dillon County, Baxley 501 Pond, (significant-hazard) – Marion County, McMeeken, (low-hazard) – Marlboro County, McLaurins Mill Pond, (significant-hazard) – Marlboro County, David’s Millpond, (significant-hazard) – Marlboro County, Covington Millpond, (low-hazard) – Marlboro County, NOTE: 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 potential loss of human life or property damage in the event of failure or improper operation of the dam or connected works., 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., 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 09-21-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-20-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-19-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-18-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-17-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-16-2018, 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.
  • Hurricane Florence Update 09-25-2018
    Tuesday, September 25th, 2018 - updated at 3:00 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, please visit our , hurricane preparedness page, ., Latest Updates:, As part of our preparedness efforts, SCDES has taken the following actions (updated at 3 p.m. on 09/25/2018):,  More than 700 SCDES staff have been dispatched as part of our emergency response efforts., Our call centers have fielded more than 7,300 calls assisting the public, with questions related to special medical needs, health department services and other general concerns., SCDES Urges South Carolinians to Avoid Contact with Flood Waters:, SCDES recommends that you minimize contact with flood waters, because there are many health and safety concerns, including:, Health Concerns:, Infectious Diseases (, e.g, ., tetanus, norovirus, hepatitis and TB) Diarrheal Diseases Wound Infections Chemical Hazards (, e.g., , gasoline, diesel and oil from submerged vehicles), Safety Concerns:, Drowning Animal & Insect Bites Fire ants float on flood waters and re-establish where they land Snakes can be anywhere water may have carried them Other wildlife (foxes, coyotes, beavers, etc.) can be relocated by flood waters Electrical Hazards – Water and electricity can be a dangerous combination. When returning to flooded homes, it is important to turn the power off at the breaker box so…, CDC’s Flood and Standing Waters, website., Health Care Facilities:, The Department is working with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and local emergency management officials to monitor projected flooding and ensure potentially impacted health care facilities are addressed as needed., As of Tuesday at 3 p.m., two health care facilities regulated by SCDES – South Island Assisted Living and Blue Ridge in Georgetown – have been evacuated. Additionally, the following regulated facilities are in the process of evacuating:, Tidelands Georgetown Memorial, (by Tuesday at 5 p.m.) Tidelands Georgetown Memorial will evacuate all currently admitted patients but their emergency room will remain open., Oasis Residential Home, (by Wednesday at 12 p.m.), Special Medical Needs Shelters:, SCDES has 1 special medical needs shelter 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, ., Environmental Assessments and Monitoring, SCDES conducted baseline water sampling last week for general chemistry, (, e.g.,, pH, oil, grease), and metals analyses, (, e.g., , arsenic, lead, mercury, selenium), from the Waccamaw River and from the two coal ash ponds at the Santee Cooper Grainger Station., The Department, along with Georgetown County Water and Sewer District and Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority, continues to monitor the conditions closely. Based on discussions with these public water utilities, they have plans in place to address any releases from Grainger Station. SCDES continues to be in contact with Santee Cooper regarding conditions at the Grainger Station., The Department also continues to work with the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division to conduct aerial assessments of the Pee Dee River Basin and Waccamaw River to observe public drinking water plants, wastewater plants and industrial areas., Boil Water Advisories:, As of Tuesday at 9 a.m.,, 1 boil water advisory for Trico Water in Dillon, has been reported to SCDES., Visit this page, for tips on how to purify bacteria-contaminated water by boiling., Private Wells:, SCDES is waiving bacteriological testing fees for private wells impacted by the flood. Residents with questions about private wells should call, 1-888-761-5989, ., We will provide information on boiling your water, disinfecting your well, and testing your well., *NOTE: If the well was not flooded, the water quality is the same as before the flood., 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., SCDES and the US Army Corps of Engineers have conducted 264 post-storm assessments of regulated dams., Over the course of the heavy rain, there were several dams in the Pee Dee region that overtopped., As of 12 p.m. Monday, SCDES had confirmed 11 regulated dams had breached:, Lakewind, (significant-hazard) – Chesterfield County, Crawford Pond, (low-hazard) – Chesterfield County, Jordan Pond, (significant-hazard) – Darlington County, Lake Darpo, (low-hazard) – Darlington County, Springwood Lake, (low-hazard) – Darlington County, McColl Pond, (low-hazard) – Dillon County, Baxley 501 Pond, (significant-hazard) – Marion County, McMeeken, (low-hazard) – Marlboro County, McLaurins Mill Pond, (significant-hazard) – Marlboro County, David’s Millpond, (significant-hazard) – Marlboro County, Covington Millpond, (low-hazard) – Marlboro County, NOTE: 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 potential loss of human life or property damage in the event of failure or improper operation of the dam or connected works., 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., 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 09-24-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-21-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-20-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-19-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-18-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-17-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-16-2018, 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.
  • Hurricane Florence Update 09-26-2018
    Wednesday, September 26th, 2018 - updated at 3:00 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, please visit our , hurricane preparedness page, ., Latest Updates:, As part of our preparedness efforts, SCDES has taken the following actions (updated at 3 p.m. on 09/26/2018):,  More than 700 SCDES staff have been dispatched as part of our emergency response efforts., Our call centers have fielded more than 7,700 calls assisting the public, with questions related to special medical needs, health department services and other general concerns., SCDES Urges South Carolinians to Avoid Contact with Flood Waters:, SCDES recommends that you minimize contact with flood waters, because there are many health and safety concerns, including:, Health Concerns:, Infectious Diseases (, e.g, ., tetanus, norovirus, hepatitis and TB) Diarrheal Diseases Wound Infections Chemical Hazards (, e.g., , gasoline, diesel and oil from submerged vehicles), Safety Concerns:, Drowning Animal & Insect Bites Fire ants float on flood waters and re-establish where they land Snakes can be anywhere water may have carried them Other wildlife (foxes, coyotes, beavers, etc.) can be relocated by flood waters Electrical Hazards – Water and electricity can be a dangerous combination. When returning to flooded homes, it is important to turn the power off at the breaker box so…, CDC’s Flood and Standing Waters, website., Health Care Facilities:, The Department is working with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and local emergency management officials to monitor projected flooding and ensure potentially impacted health care facilities are addressed as needed., As of Tuesday at 3 p.m., two health care facilities regulated by SCDES – South Island Assisted Living and Blue Ridge in Georgetown – have been evacuated. Additionally, the following regulated facilities are in the process of evacuating:, South Island Assisted Living, (by Tuesday at 12 p.m., Blue Ridge in Georgetown, (by Tuesday at 12 p.m., Tidelands Georgetown Memorial, (by Tuesday at 5 p.m.) Tidelands Georgetown Memorial will evacuate all currently admitted patients but their emergency room will remain open., Oasis Residential Home, (by Wednesday at 12 p.m.), Special Medical Needs Shelters:, SCDES has 1 special medical needs shelter 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, ., Environmental Assessments and Monitoring, SCDES conducted baseline water sampling last week for general chemistry, (, e.g.,, pH, oil, grease), and metals analyses, (, e.g., , arsenic, lead, mercury, selenium), from the Waccamaw River and from the two coal ash ponds at the Santee Cooper Grainger Station., The Department, along with Georgetown County Water and Sewer District and Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority, continues to monitor the conditions closely. Based on discussions with these public water utilities, they have plans in place to address any releases from Grainger Station. SCDES continues to be in contact with Santee Cooper regarding conditions at the Grainger Station., The Department also continues to work with the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division to conduct aerial assessments of the Pee Dee River Basin and Waccamaw River to observe public drinking water plants, wastewater plants and industrial areas., Boil Water Advisories:, As of Wednesday at 9 a.m.,, 1 boil water advisory for Trico Water in Dillon, has been reported to SCDES., Visit this page, for tips on how to purify bacteria-contaminated water by boiling., Shellfish Beds:, SCDES has closed some shellfish harvesting beds in Georgetown County due to flooding from Hurricane Florence. The closure affects all shellfish harvesting from North Inlet south to the South Santee River. The affected area will reopen once water quality data indicate that bacteria levels are once again suitable for shellfish harvesting., Private Wells:, SCDES is waiving bacteriological testing fees for private wells impacted by the flood. Residents with questions about private wells should call, 1-888-761-5989, ., We will provide information on boiling your water, disinfecting your well, and testing your well., *NOTE: If the well was not flooded, the water quality is the same as before the flood., 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., SCDES and the US Army Corps of Engineers have conducted 264 post-storm assessments of regulated dams., Over the course of the heavy rain, there were several dams in the Pee Dee region that overtopped., As of 12 p.m. Wednesday, SCDES had confirmed 11 regulated dams had breached:, Lakewind, (significant-hazard) – Chesterfield County, Crawford Pond, (low-hazard) – Chesterfield County, Jordan Pond, (significant-hazard) – Darlington County, Lake Darpo, (low-hazard) – Darlington County, Springwood Lake, (low-hazard) – Darlington County, McColl Pond, (low-hazard) – Dillon County, Baxley 501 Pond, (significant-hazard) – Marion County, McMeeken, (low-hazard) – Marlboro County, McLaurins Mill Pond, (significant-hazard) – Marlboro County, David’s Millpond, (significant-hazard) – Marlboro County, Covington Millpond, (low-hazard) – Marlboro County, NOTE: 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 potential loss of human life or property damage in the event of failure or improper operation of the dam or connected works., 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., 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 09-25-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-24-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-21-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-20-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-19-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-18-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-17-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-16-2018, 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.
  • Hurricane Florence Update 09-27-2018
    Thursday, September 27th, 2018 - updated at 3:00 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, please visit our , hurricane preparedness page, ., Latest Updates:, As part of our preparedness efforts, SCDES has taken the following actions (updated at 3 p.m. on 09/27/2018):,  More than 700 SCDES staff have been dispatched as part of our emergency response efforts., Our call centers have fielded more than 8,100 calls assisting the public, with questions related to special medical needs, health department services and other general concerns., SCDES Urges South Carolinians to Avoid Contact with Flood Waters:, SCDES recommends that you minimize contact with flood waters because there are many health and safety concerns, including:, Health Concerns:, Infectious Diseases (, e.g, ., tetanus, norovirus, hepatitis and TB) Diarrheal Diseases Wound Infections Chemical Hazards (, e.g., , gasoline, diesel and oil from submerged vehicles), Safety Concerns:, Drowning Animal & Insect Bites Fire ants float on flood waters and re-establish where they land Snakes can be anywhere water may have carried them Other wildlife (foxes, coyotes, beavers, etc.) can be relocated by flood waters Electrical Hazards – Water and electricity can be a dangerous combination. When returning to flooded homes, it is important to turn the power off at the breaker box so…, CDC’s Flood and Standing Waters, website., Health Care Facilities:, The Department is working with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and local emergency management officials to monitor projected flooding and ensure potentially impacted health care facilities are addressed as needed., As of Thursday at 12 p.m., the following health care facilities regulated by SCDES have been evacuated:, South Island Assisted Living, (by Tuesday at 12 p.m.), Blue Ridge in Georgetown, (by Tuesday at 12 p.m.), Tidelands Georgetown Memorial, (by Tuesday at 5 p.m.) - Tidelands Georgetown Memorial will evacuate all currently admitted patients, but their emergency room will remain open, ., Oasis Residential Home, (by Wednesday at 12 p.m.), Special Medical Needs Shelters:, SCDES has 1 special medical needs shelter 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, ., Immunization Clinics, SCDES will use its WIC mobile Clinic to provide some key services to residents in areas recovering from severe flooding.  SCDES's mobile care van will travel to the Cheraw and Marion area later this week to offer WIC services to eligible women and children along with Tdap and Flu shots for adults.  , Environmental Assessments and Monitoring, SCDES conducted baseline water sampling last week for general chemistry, (, e.g.,, pH, oil, grease), and metals analyses, (, e.g., , arsenic, lead, mercury, selenium), from the Waccamaw River and from the two coal ash ponds at the Santee Cooper Grainger Station., The Department, along with Georgetown County Water and Sewer District and Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority, continues to monitor the conditions closely. Based on discussions with these public water utilities, they have plans in place to address any releases from Grainger Station. SCDES continues to be in contact with Santee Cooper regarding conditions at the Grainger Station. The Department…, Boil Water Advisories:, As of Thursday at 9 a.m.,, 1 boil water advisory for the City of Florence,  has been reported to SCDES., Visit this page, for tips on how to purify bacteria-contaminated water by boiling., Shellfish Beds:, SCDES has closed some shellfish harvesting beds in Georgetown County due to flooding from Hurricane Florence.  The closure affects all shellfish harvesting from North Inlet south to the South Santee River. The affected area will reopen once water quality data indicate that bacteria levels are once again suitable for shellfish harvesting., Private Wells:, SCDES is waiving bacteriological testing fees for private wells impacted by the flood. Residents with questions about private wells should call, 1-888-761-5989, ., We will provide information on boiling your water, disinfecting your well, and testing your well., *NOTE: If the well was not flooded, the water quality is the same as before the flood., 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., SCDES and the US Army Corps of Engineers have conducted 264 post-storm assessments of regulated dams., Over the course of the heavy rain, there were several dams in the Pee Dee region that overtopped., As of 12 p.m. Thursday, SCDES had confirmed 11 regulated dams had breached:, Lakewind, (significant-hazard) – Chesterfield County, Crawford Pond, (low-hazard) – Chesterfield County, Jordan Pond, (significant-hazard) – Darlington County, Lake Darpo, (low-hazard) – Darlington County, Springwood Lake, (low-hazard) – Darlington County, McColl Pond, (low-hazard) – Dillon County, Baxley 501 Pond, (significant-hazard) – Marion County, McMeeken, (low-hazard) – Marlboro County, McLaurins Mill Pond, (significant-hazard) – Marlboro County, David’s Millpond, (significant-hazard) – Marlboro County, Covington Millpond, (low-hazard) – Marlboro County, NOTE: 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 potential loss of human life or property damage in the event of failure or improper operation of the dam or connected works., 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., 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 09-26-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-25-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-24-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-21-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-20-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-19-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-18-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-17-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-16-2018, 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.
  • Hurricane Florence Update 09-28-2018
    Friday, September 28th, 2018 - updated at 12:00 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, 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 09/28/2018):,  More than 700 SCDES staff have been dispatched as part of our emergency response efforts., Our call centers have fielded more than 8,100 calls assisting the public, with questions related to special medical needs, health department services and other general concerns., SCDES Urges South Carolinians to Avoid Contact with Flood Waters:, SCDES recommends that you minimize contact with flood waters because there are many health and safety concerns, including:, Health Concerns:, Infectious Diseases (, e.g, ., tetanus, norovirus, hepatitis and TB) Diarrheal Diseases Wound Infections Chemical Hazards (, e.g., , gasoline, diesel and oil from submerged vehicles), Safety Concerns:, Drowning Animal & Insect Bites Fire ants float on flood waters and re-establish where they land Snakes can be anywhere water may have carried them Other wildlife (foxes, coyotes, beavers, etc.) can be relocated by flood waters Electrical Hazards – Water and electricity can be a dangerous combination. When returning to flooded homes, it is important to turn the power off at the breaker box so…, CDC’s Flood and Standing Waters, website., Health Care Facilities:, The Department is working with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and local emergency management officials to monitor projected flooding and ensure potentially impacted health care facilities are addressed as needed., As of Friday at 9 a.m., the following health care facilities regulated by SCDES have been evacuated:, South Island Assisted Living, (on September 25th), Blue Ridge in Georgetown, (on September 25th), Tidelands Georgetown Memorial, (on September 25th) - Tidelands Georgetown Memorial will evacuate all currently admitted patients, but their emergency room will remain open, ., Oasis Residential Home, (on September 26th), Special Medical Needs Shelters:, SCDES has 1 special medical needs shelter 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, ., Immunization Clinics, SCDES will use its WIC mobile Clinic to provide some key services to residents in areas recovering from severe flooding.  SCDES's mobile care van will travel to Cheraw and Marion to offer WIC services to eligible women and children along with Tdap and Flu shots for adults. The mobile unit will be available these times and locations: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Friday, Sept. 28, at Chesterfield County DSS (203 Commerce Dr., Cheraw) 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 29, at the CD Joyner Auditorium (161 Elizabeth St., Marion), SCDES is waiving all fees for the immunizations at the mobile clinics on Friday and Saturday., Environmental Assessments and Monitoring, SCDES conducted baseline water sampling last week for general chemistry, (, e.g.,, pH, oil, grease), and metals analyses, (, e.g., , arsenic, lead, mercury, selenium), from the Waccamaw River and from the two coal ash ponds at the Santee Cooper Grainger Station., The Department, along with Georgetown County Water and Sewer District and Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority, continues to monitor the conditions closely. Based on discussions with these public water utilities, they have plans in place to address any releases from Grainger Station. SCDES continues to be in contact with Santee Cooper regarding conditions at the Grainger Station. The Department…, SCDES was notified by Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority on Thursday that the Conway Wastewater Treatment Plant is back online and able to treat wastewater. , SCDES remains in close contact with Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority and other Public Water and Wastewater Systems across the affected area regarding the status of their systems and support to their customers., Boil Water Advisories:, As of Friday at 9 a.m., SCDES is aware of the following boil water advisories: Boil water advisory from the City of Florence has been lifted. Boil water advisory for Trico Water in Dillon which impacts 6 homes is still in effect. A precautionary boil water advisory has been issued for the Lakeside community of Bennettsville., Visit this page, for tips on how to purify bacteria-contaminated water by boiling., Shellfish Beds:, SCDES has closed some shellfish harvesting beds in Georgetown County due to flooding from Hurricane Florence.  The closure affects all shellfish harvesting from North Inlet south to the South Santee River. The affected area will reopen once water quality data indicate that bacteria levels are once again suitable for shellfish harvesting., Private Wells:, SCDES is waiving bacteriological testing fees for private wells impacted by the flood. Residents with questions about private wells should call, 1-888-761-5989, ., We will provide information on boiling your water, disinfecting your well, and testing your well., *NOTE: If the well was not flooded, the water quality is the same as before the flood., 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., SCDES and the US Army Corps of Engineers have conducted 264 post-storm assessments of regulated dams., Over the course of the heavy rain, there were several dams in the Pee Dee region that overtopped., As of 12 p.m. Friday, SCDES had confirmed 11 regulated dams had breached:, Lakewind, (significant-hazard) – Chesterfield County, Crawford Pond, (low-hazard) – Chesterfield County, Jordan Pond, (significant-hazard) – Darlington County, Lake Darpo, (low-hazard) – Darlington County, Springwood Lake, (low-hazard) – Darlington County, McColl Pond, (low-hazard) – Dillon County, Baxley 501 Pond, (significant-hazard) – Marion County, McMeeken, (low-hazard) – Marlboro County, McLaurins Mill Pond, (significant-hazard) – Marlboro County, David’s Millpond, (significant-hazard) – Marlboro County, Covington Millpond, (low-hazard) – Marlboro County, NOTE: 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 potential loss of human life or property damage in the event of failure or improper operation of the dam or connected works., 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., 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 09-27-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-26-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-25-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-24-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-21-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-20-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-19-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-18-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-17-2018, Hurricane Florence Update 09-16-2018, 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.