Hurricane Hanna: Evacuating Charleston, South Carolina

Tropical Storm Hanna marched across the Bahamas this morning and is expected to become Hurricane Hanna again later today. Because of how erratic the path of Hurricane Hanna has been, it has been difficult for the National Weather Service to predict the storm's landfall on the southeast coast of the United States. Current predictions as of the 8 am EST update suggest that Hurricane Hanna will make landfall late Friday in the Charleston South Carolina vicinity. Officials in Charleston will decide later today whether evacuation orders will be issued for Charleston as Hurricane Hanna nears.

I have witnessed the emptying of store shelves already in grocery stores and hardware stores in Charleston so residents are taking Hurricane Hanna seriously. Hurricane Hanna is currently predicted to make landfall as a Category 1 or 2 hurricane.

If Charleston receives evacuation orders for Hurricane Hanna, it will be the first time since Hurricane Hugo decimated the city in 1989. Hugo made landfall in Charleston as a Category 4 hurricane, causing $7 billion in damage on the US mainland.

If an evacuation of Charleston is called due to the approach of Hurricane Hanna, here are some important pieces of information:

1. Hurricane evacuation routes are clearly marked around Charleston, Lady's Island, James Island and Edisto. See this list for specific evacuation routes around Charleston.

2. Many Interstates including I-26 will have a contraflow plan in place, meaning that all lanes will be directed away from the city to relieve traffic congestion in the event of a mandatory evacuation of Charleston.

3. Keep in mind that much of Charleston and the islands will suffer significant flooding from storm surge in even a Category 1 hurricane. Be prepared to evacuate those areas prior to an official mandatory evacuation order for Charleston.

4. Call ahead to your evacuation destination if it is a public shelter or hotel to ensure that they can accommodate your needs, especially if you have pets.

5. Residents of the islands should evacuate immediately upon receiving an evacuation order. During 1989's Hurricane Hugo, the bridges to several islands were damaged and impassable.

6. Keep your emergency weather radio with you at all times tuned to your local broadcast station to get the most current conditions. If you have missed the window for Charleston's evacuation, take shelter in a sturdy building and bring supplies and food for at least 72 hours.

Sources:

www.nhc.noaa.gov
http://www.sctraffic.org/evacroutes.html