Horry County in state of emergency as Hurricane Ian approaches

Horry County has declared a 60-day state of emergency as Hurricane Ian continues its approach.

The declaration — signed Sept. 28 by nine members of the county council — allows for the quick spending of money without prior consent from elected officials for any storm-related preparations, response or cleanup.

“At this time, Ian poses the possibility of producing significant impacts to our area to include heavy rains, flash flooding, river flooding, storm surge, beach erosion and rip currents, damaging winds, and tornadoes, the potential for property destruction and threats to life and safety, residents being displaced from their homes, road closures, power outages ...” the ordinance says in part.

The state of emergency also lets county leaders coordinate with state and federal officials for resources to aid with any storm-related impacts.