Myrtle Beach area leaders issue State of Emergency orders ahead of Hurricane Isaias
Local leaders across the Grand Strand are acting quickly to enact emergency orders ahead of South Carolina potentially seeing its first hurricane of the season.
While South Carolina and local Horry County governments are already in a state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic, local emergency declarations have been reinforced as Hurricane Isaias, now a Category 1 storm, approaches the Atlantic coast.
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster said he has no plans to any evacuation orders, explaining it doesn’t seem “necessary” for this storm. State officials did say during a Friday press conference that coastal communities should be making preparations.
The National Hurricane Center reported mid-day Friday Isaias was expected to move up the Southeast coast from Florida over the weekend. The forecast showed that the storm could make landfall and affect areas as far west as Columbia and impact coastal communities such as Charleston, Hilton Head Island and Myrtle Beach. Or, the forecast reported, it could stay well offshore.
If Isaias makes landfall here it probably would be sometime Monday, according to the latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center, resulting in the first hurricane to affect South Carolina this season.
As uncertainty continues to mount as to what impact Hurricane Isaias will have on the Grand Strand, Horry County Council voted on Friday to declare a state of emergency and move its emergency operations into what’s known as OPCON 2, meaning the departments are in a “heightened state of awareness.”
Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach and the City of Conway made similar declarations during special meetings called Friday afternoon.
The action essentially allows municipalities to adopt emergency ordinances to meet the needs of any public emergency affecting life, health, safety or the property of the people in that particular area. Furthermore, it allows municipalities to engage in hurricane preparedness activities and necessary expenditures.
No declaration has been made in Surfside Beach thus far.
The track for Hurricane Isaias has shifted slightly west, gradually increasing the likelihood the Myrtle Beach area could be impacted by the storm, according to the National Weather Service. Due to the storm’s track nudging west and moving slightly slower, the area could see the storm close to or over the Carolina coastline on Monday.
However, it is possible the storm could still shift east, resulting in far fewer local impacts, forecasters say.
Currently, forecasters still predict impacts are likely for the Carolinas, but the magnitude of those impacts is still unknown, especially in regard to winds, surge and rainfall, Meteorologist Mark Willis with NWS in Wilmington, North Carolina said, but the area could see tropical storm-force wind starting Sunday night through Monday night.
While there’s considerable uncertainty about wind strength, the threat continues to increase, especially along and off the coast. Despite the storm’s trajectory, there will be strong rip currents starting Friday night and lasting through early next week, followed by rough sea and winds.
Residents are also advised to continue to monitor the forecast and make preparations now as we anticipate impacts of Hurricane Isaias in the coming days.
This story was originally published July 31, 2020 at 4:31 PM.
