Are you ready if a hurricane comes?

Wondering what to do if Hurricane Dorian comes calling next week? The governor declared a state of emergency for South Carolina in advance of that possibility. We ARE in the cone of probability for Dorian, so keep a close eye on the forecast. The track may change – and probably will – but the time to prepare is NOW, before the storm is upon us….

If an evacuation is ordered, you need to know ahead of time where you will go. Have a plan now, before the storm, so that you don’t waste valuable time trying to decide where to evacuate.

As part of the plan, keep a list of relatives and friends to notify in case you do need to leave home. They will be worried if they don’t know where you are and whether you are safe.

Know your evacuation routes, too. Which roads you’ll use will depend on where you live along the Grand Strand. It may take 28 hours or more to evacuate the coast ahead of a major storm.

Major roads west include SC 544, US 501, SC 22 (Carolina Bays Parkway) and SC 9. Again, having a plan and following it is critical to a safe, successful evacuation.

Keep an emergency kit of supplies. If a storm strikes Myrtle Beach directly, electricity and other utilities could be disrupted for days. Have at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food, along with essentials such as batteries, paper products and hygiene supplies.

It’s recommended that you have three days’ worth of drinking water for every person in your household. And if a storm threatens, keep the car filled with fuel and have enough cash on hand to last a few days.

Have your important papers, insurance documents and valuable items in a “to go” kit, ready to take with you when you evacuate. Being ready is more than half the battle when it comes to hurricane season.

Be sure to bring in or tie down any loose items such as chairs and trash receptacles to keep them from causing damage or injury if they are carried away by wind or water.

Storm surge, or higher-than-normal ocean level brought about by a low pressure system and wind, is the leading cause of hurricane-related deaths and damage in the United States. An evacuation is ordered because of storm surge, not wind. Storm surge can travel miles inland.