State officials continue to monitor Tropical Depression Nine

State officials continue to monitor Tropical Depression Nine.
The State Emergency Operations Center has been activated and staffed by emergency personnel from multiple state agencies and emergency organizations.
“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,” said Gov. Henry McMaster in a press release. “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.”
As of the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Depression Nine is moving northwest at six mph with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. Tropical Depression Nine is expected to strengthen into a hurricane off the South Carolina coast, bringing heavy rain, storm surge, and coastal flooding to South Carolina. Strong winds along the coast are also possible. Coastal counties should prepare for storm surge and flooded roads.
The South Carolina Emergency Management Division has activated the State Emergency Operations Center to Operational Condition 2. The SCEMD logistics system has been activated to assist local agencies. Requests have ranged from sandbags to swift water rescue teams, which are being actioned.
The South Carolina National Guard has activated 150 National Guard Soldiers with Task Force Coastal and is currently in-processing to respond to Tropical Depression Nine. Thirty high-water vehicles are mission-ready, with additional general-purpose forces on standby to assist local and state partners. Engineer teams and aviation assets are also prepared to deploy as needed. The South Carolina State Guard stands ready to support operations with chainsaw teams and other capabilities.
South Carolina Department of Transportation crews have been preparing equipment and addressing known drainage hot spots along the coast. Crews are also prepositioning equipment in locations that have historically had challenges during tropical weather. The SCDOT is ready to transition to 24-hour operations and will deploy assistance crews as needed throughout the state as the storm develops.
SC State Fire stands ready to coordinate mission resource requests for search and rescue teams, including swift water rescue teams, throughout this storm response. South Carolina’s Emergency Response Task Force System, comprising six Urban Search and Rescue Teams with water rescue capabilities, the South Carolina Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team, and the Palmetto Incident Support Team, is prepared to respond as a force multiplier to local first responders.
The South Carolina Department of Public Safety is prepared to execute coordinated traffic management operations. It will deploy 150 state law enforcement officers to assist with the safe movement of vehicular traffic from flood-prone areas along the coastline, with emphasis on the Beaufort and Charleston regions. SCDPS will coordinate with SCDOT to support statewide safety efforts, including traffic direction, hazard clearance, and road closures resulting from potential flooding, downed power lines, or hazardous conditions.
On Friday, the S.C. Department of Environmental Services used its emergency notification system to alert owners of regulated dams in areas that could receive heavy rainfall, advising them to take steps to prepare their dams. Staff with SCDES’s Dam Safety Program are in the field, proactively assessing certain dams and making specific recommendations directly to dam owners.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is partnering with the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services to assist SCDPS in working traffic control points beginning Monday. SLED will have personnel working in the Low Country region and personnel working in the Southern region, all working day and night shifts. SLED aircraft is available, and SLED regional captains will maintain constant contact with local law enforcement agencies to ensure they have the necessary support to keep their communities safe.
People are urged to stock up now on food, water, medications, flashlights, batteries, and other essential supplies to last at least three to five days.
Make sure cell phones and backup batteries are charged.  Review your family emergency plan.
Know how you will stay in contact with friends, family, and other essential contacts if communications are disrupted.  Remember to check on neighbors, particularly those who may need extra assistance, and bring pets inside.
Visit the SCEMD website at www.scemd.org for more information and updates.