Here’s how to leave the Myrtle Beach area if there is a hurricane evacuation

This story was updated Sept. 1, 2019.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season traditionally reaches its peak in mid August and stretches to late October.

Hurricane Dorian reached Category 5 status Sunday morning, and projections still show the storm will likely turn north toward the Carolinas coast this week.

Evacuations for Zone A in Horry County were issued Sunday evening, but emergency management officials always stress the importance of every zone being prepared and knowing your evacuation zone ahead of time.

Here’s what you need to know if there is an evacuation:

Evacuation procedures

Lane reversal: When an evacuation order is issued, lane reversals occur for two sections of U.S. Highway 501 from S.C. 544 to S.C. 378 and U.S. 501 from S.C. 22 to the U.S. 501/576 split in Marion.

Officials say once you get into a lane reversal pattern, you will not be able to get back out. Do not enter a lane reversal pattern unless law enforcement directs you to.

Zones

If the governor calls for mandatory evacuations, he will likely do so by picking zones to evacuate.

Here are the zone locations in Horry County:

Zone A (red):

• All areas east of U.S. Business 17 up to the intersection with U.S. 17

• All areas east of U.S. 17 to the norther county line

Zone B (yellow):

• Areas South of Highway 707 and Longwood Drive
  
  

• All areas in Longwood Plantation to the Waccamaw River

• All areas east of US 17 to the northern county line

• All areas east of US 17 Bypass to US 17

Zone C (orange):

• Areas between Hwy 701 and Hwy 544
  
  

• South of Brown’s Chapel Avenue and Hwy 814

• All areas east of Highway 90 to US 7 to the northern county line

• All areas east of Highway 31 (Carolina Bays Parkway) to Hwy 90

Evacuation routes

Officials recommend bringing a road map with you as you evacuate. The following are the current evacuation routes listed on Horry County Government’s website:

• North Myrtle Beach and northward: Evacuees north of Briarcliffe Acres will take S.C. 9 north to I-95 and beyond.
  
  
• Briarcliffe Acres south to Myrtle Beach 10th Avenue North: Evacuees in Briarcliffe Acres south to 10th Avenue North will take S.C. 22 (Conway Bypass) to U.S. 501 to Marion. In Marion, take U.S. 76 to Florence to access 1-95 southbound or stay on U.S. 501 to S.C. 38 to access I-95 northbound.
• Myrtle Beach from 10th Avenue North south to the Myrtle Beach International Airport: Evacuees from the Myrtle Beach area south of 10th Avenue North and north of the Myrtle Beach International Airport will take U.S. 501 to Conway. Then, take U.S. 378 to Columbia or continue on U.S. 501 to Marion. In Marion, take U.S. 76 to Florence to access I-95 southbound or stay on U.S. 501 to S.C. 38 to access I-95 northbound.
• Myrtle Beach International Airport southward through Surfside Beach: Evacuees from the Myrtle Beach International Airport south through Surfside Beach will take S.C. 544 to U.S. 501 to Conway. Then, take U.S. 378 to Columbia or continue on U.S. 501 to Marion. In Marion, take U.S. 76 to Florence to access I-95 southbound or stay on U.S. 501 to S.C. 38 to access I-95 northbound.
• Garden City Beach south to Winyah Bay: Evacuees from Garden City Beach south to Winyah Bay will take U.S. 17 south through Georgetown. Then, take U.S. 521 to S.C. 261 to U.S. 378 to Columbia. Alternatively, take U.S. 17 south to U.S. 701 in Georgetown to S.C. 51 to U.S. 378 at Kingsburg.

This story was originally published May 11, 2018 at 12:12 PM with the headline "Here’s how to leave the Myrtle Beach area if there is a hurricane evacuation."