Aiken County reviews hurricane evacuation plans.
Hurricane season is here, and County Emergency Management Coordinator David Ruth said the division has been reviewing its plans and checking on evacuation road signs in the event of a weather-related disaster and/or evacuation to inland areas.
Ruth said nothing “totally significant” has impacted the county in the years since Hurricane Hugo hit the coast in 1989, kicking up hurricane-force winds here, but that does not mean another storm couldn’t do the same or even worse.
Gov. Mark Sanford made several stops along the coast Monday, urging residents to put plans in place for the hurricane season, which started June 1 and will run through Nov. 30.
There are 247 evacuation shelters in the state, which is nine more than a year ago. They could house 156,000 people if all were used.
According to the 2009 South Carolina Hurricane Guide, South Aiken High School and North Augusta High School are listed as shelter locations.
Ruth said this area has the ability to house as many as 10,000 residents at schools and churches as evacuees from the Georgia border to Charleston are generally directed to Aiken County.
Sanford said this year is predicted to be an average season with 12 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes. He still encouraged residents to have a plan and have hurricane kits with water, medicines and other supplies.
In the case of an emergency, alerts will be broadcast over key participating radio stations like WBBQ 104.3 FM and WEKL 105.7 FM.
Additionally, residents who have National Weather Service radios can tune them to 162.450, 162.550 or 162.500.
Copies of the 2009 South Carolina Hurricane Guide are available for download at www.aikencounty.net.
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