GEORGETOWN COUNTY (WBTW) — Georgetown County government moved to Operating Condition (OPCON) 4 Thursday afternoon in preparation for effects from Hurricane Joaquin. OPCON 4 indicates an “alert” status in preparation for a possible threat. The county’s Emergency Management Division, in conjunction with S.C. Emergency Management and the National Weather Service, is monitoring the situation closely.
The Georgetown County Emergency Operations Center has not been activated, but Georgetown County will continue to monitor the storm, review operational plans, and keep the public updated.
Though South Carolina is currently well outside the cone of error for Hurricane Joaquin, the Georgetown County Emergency Management Division is asking local residents to be prepared for flooding as the storm passes our coast. The National Weather Service predicts the storm could bring tropical storm force conditions for northeast South Carolina, including gusty winds in our coastal regions over the weekend.
However, the biggest concern for Georgetown County is flooding. Regardless of Joaquin’s eventual track, very heavy rainfall is expected beginning this afternoon and through the weekend, with additional heavy rainfall possible early next week. As the ground is already saturated, flooding could develop quickly with anyheavy rainfall, said Sam Hodge, emergency manager for Georgetown County. Georgetown County could see as much as 10-15 inches of rain in the coming days, according to forecasts.
For more information, updates on the storm situation and more, visit www.gtcounty.org or follow Georgetown County government’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. The county’s automated information hotline is also active. The hotline, at 843-545-3900, is available 24 hours a day.
