Full-scale hurricane evacuation exercise set for Wednesday, June 5

COLUMBIA — The South Carolina Department of Public Safety and the South Carolina Department of Transportation, along with partners from the South Carolina Emergency Management Division and other state and local agencies, will conduct a full-scale hurricane evacuation exercise on Wednesday, June 5, to test lane-reversal plans for all three major coastal areas of the state. Hurricane season began June 1 and ends Nov. 30. No traffic lanes will actually be reversed during this exercise.

This hurricane evacuation exercise, which will last from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., is designed to test lane-reversal plans for Interstate 26, U.S. 21, U.S. 278, U.S. 501 and S.C. 544 in the event of a coastal evacuation order. Personnel and equipment from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety and the South Carolina Department of Transportation will be deployed. Additional support is provided by the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, the South Carolina Forestry Commission, the Civil Air Patrol and the South Carolina Army National Guard.

“Annual hurricane evacuation exercises like these are critical to the safety of residents and visitors of our state,” said S.C. Department of Public Safety Director Robert G. Woods IV. “With the potential for an active hurricane season this year, our ability to test our course of action and communication with state and local partners is critical. Rest assured that we will remain vigilant and prepared to move residents and visitors to safety if an evacuation order is issued.”

The exercise will simulate reversal operations on U.S. 278 and U.S. 21. The deployment of equipment and personnel will be made on these roads leading out of Hilton Head and Beaufort. SCDOT equipment will be stationed on U.S. 278 from Almeda to Hampton in Hampton County. Law enforcement personnel and traffic-control devices will be deployed along Interstate 26 from the intersection of the 197 mm (Nexton Parkway) and I-26 in Charleston to I-77 and I-26 in Columbia. Traffic-control equipment and personnel will be stationed on U.S. 501 beginning at S.C. 544 and ending at U.S. 378 as well as between S.C. 22 and the Marion By-Pass. The Civil Air Patrol, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the South Carolina Forestry Commission will be flying assigned aerial surveillance routes.

“We’ve seen the forecasts calling for a historically active hurricane season,” said S.C. Emergency Management Division Director Kim Stenson. “With each storm that forms this year, the greater South Carolina’s chances become of seeing at least some type of impacts from a hurricane. It’s been several years since we’ve had to ask people to evacuate. While we hope we don’t have to again this year, it is important for us all, even folks at home, to practice our hurricane plans just in case a storm heads toward our state this year.”

Secretary of Transportation Justin Powell expressed the importance of planning and preparation for potential hurricane evacuations:

“This annual drill is an important part of our ongoing preparation for emergency weather. SCDOT works closely together with our partner agencies to ensure we are prepared and stand ready to respond to keep the people of South Carolina safe.”

As a reminder, the exercise will not interfere with the flow of traffic. Intersections will not be blocked, and motorists will be allowed to move freely. However, the Highway Patrol cautions motorists traveling I-26, U.S. 501 and S.C. 544 as well as U.S. 278 and U.S. 21 to exercise caution and be aware that law enforcement officers and state personnel will be on the shoulder of the highway and at exits.

For more information about the upcoming hurricane season, visit the SC Emergency Management Division’s website: Hurricane.SC and download the SCEMD Emergency Manager app to stay up-to-date during hurricane season. View and download the South Carolina Emergency Management Division’s 2024 Hurricane Guide.