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Hurricane season 2023: Updated emergency contacts, resources Beaufort SC residents should know

Sarah Claire McDonald
·10 min read
FEMA

Today officially marks the beginning of the 2023 hurricane season for South Carolina residents.

The NOAA’s National Hurricane Center defines the timeline of each year’s annual official hurricane season for the Atlantic basin as occurring from June 1 to Nov. 30, with tropical cyclone activity potentially occurring before and after those dates. Additionally, the NOAA details that the Atlantic hurricane season’s peak is on Sept. 10, with “most activity occurring between mid-August and mid-October.”

At the moment, the organization is currently predicting the outcome of this year’s hurricane season with varying percentages with the highest ruling for a “near-normal season.” The current predictions called for a 40% chance of a near-normal season, a 30% chance of an above-normal season and a 30% chance of a below-normal season.

“NOAA is forecasting a range of 12 to 17 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher). Of those, five to nine could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including one to four major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). NOAA has a 70% confidence in these ranges,” detailed a news release published by NOAA on May 25.

Prior to any storms making their debut, it’s essential to start making preparations to help keep you and your family safe in the event of an evacuation or to endure potentially dangerous or deadly weather from such a storm that may be expected to impact South Carolina.

If something were to occur, it’s important to already have a list of important contacts and resources on hand.

Here is a compiled list of essential phone numbers, websites to check, Facebook pages to monitor and other emergency resources to help stay up-to-date on important, live information amid any emergency situation this year. Some of the following information has changed from previous years.

Local Agencies for Beaufort County

Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office: https://bcso.net/. For emergencies, call 9-1-1. For non-emergency dispatch, call 843-524-2777. For a routine law enforcement question, call 843-255-3200 for Northern Beaufort County and 843-255-3300 for Southern Beaufort County. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeaufortCountySheriffsOfficeSC/. Twitter: @bcsopio. NextDoor: https://nextdoor.com/agency-detail/sc/beaufort/beaufort-county-sheriffs-office-2/. Nixle: https://local.nixle.com/signup/widget/i/1550.

Town of Hilton Head Island: Storm updates: https://www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/hurricane/updates/. Flood hazard guide: https://www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/flood/. Hilton Head Island Hurricane Resource Center: https://www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/hurricane/. Have any additional questions or concerns after checking the provided sources? Contact Thomas Dunn, Hilton Head’s Emergency Manager, at ThomasD@hiltonheadislandsc.gov or 843-682-5156. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/townofhhi/. Twitter: @TownofHHI.

Town of Bluffton: www.townofbluffton.sc.gov and https://www.townofbluffton.sc.gov/656/Hurricane-Season. Information and important resources brochure: https://www.townofbluffton.sc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2020/Town-of-Bluffton-Hurricane-Season-Information-Brochure-PDF. Town of Bluffton Evacuation routes: https://www.townofbluffton.sc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1397/Town-of-Bluffton-Evacuation-Routes-PDF. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TownBlufftonSC. Twitter: @TownofBluffton.

City of Beaufort: https://www.cityofbeaufort.org/. Hurricane readiness information: https://www.cityofbeaufort.org/602/Hurricane-Readiness. 843-525-7070. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CityBeaufortSC. Twitter: @CityBeaufortSC.

Town of Port Royal: https://www.portroyal.org/ and https://www.portroyal.org/259/Emergency-Preparedness. 843-986-2200. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PortRoyalSC/. Twitter: @TownofPortRoyal.

Bluffton Police Department: https://www.townofbluffton.sc.gov/211/Police. For emergencies, call 9-1-9. For non-emergencies, call 843-524-2777. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blufftonpolice/. Twitter: @BlufftonPolice.

Hilton Head Island/Beaufort County Reentry hotline: https://www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/hurricane/return/#:~:text=You%20can%20call%20the%20Hilton,254%2D6400%20for%20more%20information. Hotline: 833-254-6400 for more information. Residents must make sure to bring either a photo ID that contains their local address or a utility bill with their name and island address on it to reenter Hilton Head Island.

Local Radio Stations

According to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, Beaufort County residents may tune into the following local radio stations during emergency situations as they will broadcast information for the Sheriff’s Office. These include,

DBC Radio Group

Bluffton

Savannah

Lowcountry Radio Group

Statewide Emergency Management Contacts

South Carolina Division of Emergency Management: www.scemd.org. 803-737-8500. Twitter: @SCEMD. Facebook: www.facebook.com/SCEMD/. Instagram: @scemd. Email: WebAlert@emd.sc.gov. Code Red Alerts sign-up: https://www.scemd.org/stay-informed/emergency-alerts/codered-alerts/.

Federal Emergency Management Agency: www.fema.gov. South Carolina/Region 4 general contact: 770-220-5200. FEMA helpline: 1-800-621-3362. Twitter: @fema. Facebook: www.facebook.com/FEMA/. Region 4 email: FEMA-R4-Info@fema.dhs.gov.

National Hurricane Center: www.nhc.noaa.gov. Twitter: @NWSNHC and @NHC_Atlantic. Facebook: www.facebook.com/NWSNHC.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster’s Office: https://governor.sc.gov/. 803-734-2100. Twitter: @scgovernorpress. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HenryMcMaster/.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Hurricane Resource Page: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hurricanes/main/index.html. Twitter: @NASAAtmosphere.

Federal Alliance for Safe Homes: https://www.flash.org/ and https://flash.org/peril/hurricane/. 850-385-7233. Twitter: @FederalAlliance. Facebook: www.facebook.com/pg/federalalliance/. Email: info@flash.org.

South Carolina Department of Public Safety: https://scdps.sc.gov/. Real time traffic updates: https://apps.beaufortcountysc.gov/traffic-cameras/. Traffic and road closure information: 511sc.org and SCDOT 511 app. South Carolina Highway Patrol contact: 803-896-7920 as well as Troop Six Headquarters Post C (Beaufort/Jasper Counties) 843-726-8801. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scdps.pio/. Twitter: https://twitter.com/SCDPS_PIO.

Dominion Energy: https://www.dominionenergy.com/south-carolina/vanities: (Features South Carolina programs, safety tips, information on outages, emergency contacts for downed lines and detailed information and links for how to report a power outage in your area, as well as other preparation tips and helpful links.) South Carolina homepage: https://www.dominionenergy.com/south-carolina. Downed/Sparking Lines: 888-333-4465. Gas Leaks: 800-815-0083. Map of outages in the area: https://outagemap.dominionenergysc.com/. Twitter: @domenergysc. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dominionenergy.

Palmetto Electric Cooperative: https://www.palmetto.coop/. If you have already checked your main breaker and are experiencing a power outage, call PowerTouch at 866-445-5551 or login to MyEnergy Online at https://epayment.palmetto.coop/onlineportal/. If you see a downed power line, call 9-1-1. Hilton Head Office: 843-681-5551. New River Office: 843-208-5551. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PalmettoElectricCoop?ref=sgm. Twitter: @PalmettoCoop.

South Carolina Office of Attorney General: https://www.scag.gov/. To report price gouging at gas stations: https://www.scag.gov/about-the-office/news/south-carolina-s-price-gouging-law-now-in-effect/, email: pricegouging@scag.gov, call 803-737-3953, Tweet @SCPriceGouging or more information at https://www.scag.gov/about-the-office/news/how-to-report-suspected-price-gouging/. Twitter: @SCAttyGenOffice. Facebook: www.facebook.com/SCAttyGen.

South Carolina Department of Transportation: https://www.scdot.org/. Road conditions: https://ris.scdot.org/RoadConditionsForm.aspx?&zoom=8&center=33.673795076577846,-80.93943916500001. SC 511: https://www.511sc.org/#zoom=6.798938790502389&lon=-80.98257578840082&lat=33.28370007547154&dmsg&rest&cams&other&cong&wthr&acon&incd&trfc. Twitter: @SCDOTLowCountry and @SCDOTPress.

Emergency Notification Subscriptions

SCEMD CodeRED emergency alerts: https://www.scemd.org/stay-informed/emergency-alerts/codered-alerts/.

BCSO Nixle alerts: https://bcso.net/beaufort-county-sheriffs-office/advisories/.

Town of Hilton Head Island emergency alerts: https://www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/services/esubscribe.cfm.

Town of Bluffton emergency alerts: https://www.townofbluffton.sc.gov/AlertCenter.aspx.

City of Beaufort emergency alerts: https://www.cityofbeaufort.org/AlertCenter.aspx.

Town of Port Royal emergency alerts: https://www.portroyal.org/AlertCenter.aspx.

Hurricane-Related Resource Apps

SC Emergency Manager: This is the official app of SCEMD. It allows users to build emergency plans, keep track of supplies, stay connected to friends and family and have access to a tools section which contains a flashlight, emergency locator whistle and the ability to report any damage to emergency officials. Coastal residents can use the map’s features to locate the nearest emergency shelters, know when they are open and locate their flood zone. The app also has the ability to function without the need of a data connection, which can be helpful in case of emergency.

Apple App Store download: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sc-emergency-manager/id1378105431

Google Play download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.scemd.app

SC 511: This is an official app by SCDOT that provides real-time traffic information on all South Carolina interstate highways as well as some highways along the coast. This statewide system is also linked to a website for additional use and provides users with information on construction, lane closures, crashes, congestion and severe weather affecting traffic and is up-to-date and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Apple App Store download: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/511-south-carolina-traffic/id657933886.

Google Play download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.iteris.itisc511&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1.

FEMA: The FEMA App allows users to receive real-time weather alerts, locate emergency shelters in your area, prepare for common hazards as well as other helpful resources.

Apple App Store download: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fema/id474807486.

Google Play download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.fema.mobile.android&hl=en.

In addition, users may also download the FEMA app via text messaging. On an Android device, text ANDROID to 43362 (4FEMA); On an Apple Device, text APPLE to 43362 (4FEMA).

Clime: NOAA Weather Radar Live: This app allows its users to view animated real-time weather radar images and hyperlocal storm patterns in addition to seeing weather highlights from your lock screen.

Apple App Store download: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/noaa-weather-radar-weather-forecast-hd-radar/id749133753.

Google Play download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apalon.weatherradar.free&referrer=adjust_reftag%3DcpZd5T2LETvQO%26utm_source%3DWebsite%2BButton

Weather - The Weather Channel: A reliable source for anything weather-related. This app helps keep you up-to-date with radar, weather tracking, videos, news stories and more. It is offered for iPhone/iPad and Android.

Apple App Store download: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-weather-channel-forecast-radar-alerts/id295646461

American Red Cross: The American Red Cross has several helpful free-to-download apps that are helpful in case of emergency.