By Michael Smith
Editor
Gov. Henry McMaster issued a state of emergency Wednesday as one of the strongest hurricanes in recorded history spiraled precariously closer to the South Carolina coastline.
“The state of emergency allows one of the best, most experienced emergency response teams in the entire world to begin organizing response efforts,” McMaster said in a news release.
“South Carolina is fortunate to have time to allow us to prepare for Hurricane Irma’s potential landfall, and it is important that families and individuals in vulnerable areas use that time to review safety plans in case they are needed,” the release said.
As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, the center of Hurricane Irma was located 55 miles east northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was moving west northwest at 16 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
A wind gust of 62 mph had already been reported at San Juan shortly before the 5 p.m. advisory. Earlier in the day, sustained winds of 115 mph and a gust of 155 mph were recorded in Barbuda at a weather monitoring station before the station failed, the hurricane center said Wednesday.
Maximum sustained winds remained at 185 mph, making Irma an extremely powerful and potentially catastrophic Category 5 storm.
The latest projected path from the hurricane center shows a shift to the east, with Irma impacting South Florida coast as early as Sunday and South Carolina on Monday. Forecasters caution, though, it’s too soon to say exactly what path Irma will follow.
The S.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) said Tuesday it has been monitoring Hurricane Irma since the Labor Day weekend.
DOT crews in all 46 counties are inspecting equipment, checking the inventory of supplies such barricades, cones and replacement traffic signals, according to a news release.
All counties have a 10-day fuel supply for equipment and vehicles, the release said.
“Crews are inspecting low-lying areas that are prone to flooding. Drainage systems are being checked to make sure they are clear,” the release said. “Generators are in place to provide emergency power to critical facilities such as traffic management centers that monitor traffic through traffic cameras and other systems.“
SCDOT traffic engineers are monitoring interstate traffic as Florida and Georgia residents may travel north to avoid the path of the hurricane should it take that route. The staff at SCDOT Headquarters offices are taking steps in anticipation of supporting the field crews with supplies and whatever is needed.
Preparations are being made to inform the public of road conditions through the web and SCDOT’s Customer Service Call Center in the event this information is needed.
SCDOT is encouraging the public to monitor the situation on the 511 Traveler Service: www.511sc.org.
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