WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster held a press conference at 2 p.m. Saturday with state emergency management officials to address the public on a State of Emergency he declared around potential severe weather threats to the state.
The press conference took place at the South Carolina Emergency Operations Center in West Columbia.
Tropical Disturbance 94L is projected to hit South Carolina in the coming days. McMaster issued Executive Order 2025-33 on Friday afternoon to prepare people and first responders for the possible impacts of the storm.
The State of Emergency declaration activates the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan.
It also directs the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) to begin statewide preparation and coordination with all relevant local, state, and federal agencies in advance of the landfall of a potential Tropical Storm or Hurricane.
The order 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 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 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.
The official 2025 S.C. Hurricane Guide is available in English or Spanish at scemd.org.
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