South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster gives update on storm preps
Oh there she is. Hello. Is this your first time here? No, it’s been a while. She’s my backup to my backup. Miss Josie’s got a wedding today. Her son’s getting her son. Oh, good. So I brought my backup. Okay, slide on in, everybody. If y’all turn those lights up a little brighter, nobody will bI able to see. Because you gotde any one of them.. Put them over there. He doesn’t mind. Yeah. That’sobody will bI really mighty bright. Yeah. Or could you point it up to ceiling a little bit? Y’all see this one?h. That’sobody will bI ready? Some of us got notes to look at, you know. Well, welcome everyone here. We at the emergency Management Division, and we’ve been here before, and I’m sure we’ll be here again. We don’t know when hurricanes, other storms, tornadoes are coming. Some of us can remember the days that we had none of these sophisticated instruments to help us predict these things, but they help a lot. But it’s still not 100% accurate. But we’ll tell you what we know and what we predict, and we are ready for this as we’ve ever been. Chaplain Denny. Thank you. Governor. Good afternoon. I’m Chaplain Denny with the South Carolina National Guard. If you would, I invite you to pray with me, gracious Lord, my faith tradition says in Ecclesiastes, there is a time for everything under the heavens, a time to plant, and a time to uproot, a time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to weep, and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend. We can infer from these words, Lord, that you give us the ability to choose how we respond to life situations. With the uncertainty of this storm’s path, it is a time to prepare. Keep us from how we complacency and help us remain vigilant as we pray for the best and prepare for the worst. I pray all this in your mighty and precious name, Lord. Amen. Amen. Thank you. He’s exactly right. Pray and hope for the best. And prepare for the worst. And the time to prepare is now. And not when the wind is blowing and the rain is falling down and things are getting shoved around. We remember Helene as one year ago today, and we remember that it was not go exactly where it was expected to go, and it produced results and damages that many people had not seen before, particularly in the up part of this, this state. And all along the the west side, we had pecan trees, groves knocked flat. I’d never seen that before. I suppose most people have not. But also in downtown Greenville, they had big oaks going down, taking down all the electrical wiring, and we couldn’t get in there to clean it up because of that electrical wiring tangled up with all those limbs of those trees. It was really something we hadn’t seen. Butthe particularly around Asheville, hadn’t seen anything like that either. So you never know how bad it’s going to be. This one does not look as strong as it looked yesterday. That could change tonight. Tomorrow it could be much stronger, could change direction. Because with these, the most sophisticated instruments, we cannot prepare for, for exactly what is to happen. So we have toe with prepare for it all. And in all that uncertainty, the only thing that is certain for sure is that your South Carolina team, representatives of most of whom you see here before, you already we’ve been through it before. We know how to do it. I issued the yesterday. Emergency before, declaration to allow us. We’ve already begun putting people in equipment in place. Helicopters, aerial resources, people on the highwaation to allow us. We’ve ready. The counties haveople in informed us that they do noters, believe that we need an evacuation order, a mandatory order, and we agree with that. And so we have no intention of issuing such, such an order. But don’t be misled. That does not mean that you might have big waves. We know that we’re going to have high winds. We know that we’re going to have a lot of water. We know that we’re going to have flooding. And in parts of the state, maybe some parts that we haven’t seen before. But the good news is that the probably will stay out in the ocean, but still a lot of rain, strong winds and serious the flooding is going to happen. And it could happen way up in the Midlands. We don’t know where it’s going to go. You remember in 2017 with Florence we had a storm came in, it parked over part of the state in North Carolina. And we we had water coming down we’d not seen before. And went to a part of the state that had not seen a hurricane before. That could happen again. We don’t think it will, but we hope it does not order that I issued yesterday cut the r doesould happen again.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster gives update on storm preps
Updated: 3:01 PM EDT Sep 27, 2025
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster gave an update on tropical storm preparations on Saturday afternoon. “The forecast for the incoming tropical depression has improved since yesterday, but it still poses a significant threat to our entire state with heavy rain and dangerous flooding expected,” McMaster said. “The storm’s track and intensity remain uncertain, but what is certain is that Team South Carolina will be ready. Stay tuned to local updates and make sure you’re prepared for all possibilities.”Watch full news conference above. On Friday, McMaster issued Executive Order 2025-33, declaring a State of Emergency in preparation for the potential impacts of Tropical Disturbance 94L, and asks South Carolinians to monitor forecasts and begin taking proper precautions. The governor’s order activates the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan and directs the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) to commence statewide preparation and coordination procedures with all relevant local, state, and federal agencies in advance of the landfall of a potential Tropical Storm or Hurricane. The order also allows state and local emergency management agencies to be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimbursement for storm-related expenses.”As this storm approaches our coast, I am issuing a State of Emergency to ensure Team South Carolina is able to access and deploy the resources and personnel needed to prepare for and respond to this storm,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “While the storm’s arrival, speed, and intensity remain hard to predict, we do know that it will bring significant wind, heavy rainfall, and flooding across the ENTIRE state of South Carolina. We have seen this before. Now is the time to start paying attention to forecasts, updates, and alerts from official sources and begin making preparations.” South Carolina residents and visitors in potentially vulnerable areas should review their hurricane plans now. Everyone should monitor the storm via local news media and follow updates from the National Hurricane Center, especially people in low-lying areas. South Carolinians in potentially impacted areas are reminded to: Review emergency plans: Talk with family members about where to go and how to stay in touch if you need to evacuate.Build a disaster supply kit: Stock at least three days of water, nonperishable food, flashlights, batteries, first aid supplies, and necessary medications. Don’t forget pets and infants.Stay informed: Download the S.C. Emergency Manager app, follow SCEMD and county emergency management agencies on social media, and listen to local news outlets for updates.Plan for power outages: Charge cell phones and gather backup chargers.SCEMD has several resources available for people to prepare for hurricanes, including hurricane.sc. This site is an interactive tool for anyone needing a quick reference on hurricane preparedness.
COLUMBIA, S.C. —
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster gave an update on tropical storm preparations on Saturday afternoon.
“The forecast for the incoming tropical depression has improved since yesterday, but it still poses a significant threat to our entire state with heavy rain and dangerous flooding expected,” McMaster said. “The storm’s track and intensity remain uncertain, but what is certain is that Team South Carolina will be ready. Stay tuned to local updates and make sure you’re prepared for all possibilities.”
Watch full news conference above.
On Friday, McMaster issued Executive Order 2025-33, declaring a State of Emergency in preparation for the potential impacts of Tropical Disturbance 94L, and asks South Carolinians to monitor forecasts and begin taking proper precautions.
The governor’s order activates the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan and directs the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) to commence statewide preparation and coordination procedures with all relevant local, state, and federal agencies in advance of the landfall of a potential Tropical Storm or Hurricane.
The order also allows state and local emergency management agencies to be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimbursement for storm-related expenses.
“As this storm approaches our coast, I am issuing a State of Emergency to ensure Team South Carolina is able to access and deploy the resources and personnel needed to prepare for and respond to this storm,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “While the storm’s arrival, speed, and intensity remain hard to predict, we do know that it will bring significant wind, heavy rainfall, and flooding across the ENTIRE state of South Carolina. We have seen this before. Now is the time to start paying attention to forecasts, updates, and alerts from official sources and begin making preparations.”
South Carolina residents and visitors in potentially vulnerable areas should review their hurricane plans now. Everyone should monitor the storm via local news media and follow updates from the National Hurricane Center, especially people in low-lying areas.
South Carolinians in potentially impacted areas are reminded to:
Review emergency plans: Talk with family members about where to go and how to stay in touch if you need to evacuate.Build a disaster supply kit: Stock at least three days of water, nonperishable food, flashlights, batteries, first aid supplies, and necessary medications. Don’t forget pets and infants.Stay informed: Download the S.C. Emergency Manager app, follow SCEMD and county emergency management agencies on social media, and listen to local news outlets for updates.Plan for power outages: Charge cell phones and gather backup chargers.
SCEMD has several resources available for people to prepare for hurricanes, including hurricane.sc. This site is an interactive tool for anyone needing a quick reference on hurricane preparedness.