Hermine heads to Dorchester, Berkeley counties: schools, government offices announce closings

Tornado

Data from a hurricane hunter aircraft indicate its winds had increased to 75 mph, the center said.
At 8 p.m., the National Hurricane Center said Hermine was expected to cross the coast of Florida tonight or early Friday.

It should weaken as it crosses land, the center said.
The center continued to predict four to eight inches of rain across the Carolinas.
Early Thursday morning, the National Weather Service had issued a statement saying Dorchester and Berkeley counties were under a tropical storm warning until further notice.
Hermine is expected to arrive Friday.
In response, local school districts and government offices have been announcing closings.
Dorchester District 2Dorchester District 4Pinewood Prep and Berkeley County School District announced that all schools will be closed Friday.
The Dorchester County library announced both its Summerville and St. George locations will be closed, and Dorchester County Administrator Jason Ward said county offices will be closed.
North Charleston also announced its city offices will be closed.
The town of Summerville said town parks and administrative offices will be closed Friday.
Berkeley County announced its offices and the courthouse will be closed.
It also announced a citizen advisory hotline that can be reached beginning at 8 a.m. Friday to seek information from the Berkeley County Emergency Preparedness Department. Call 843-719-4800, 843-719-4166 or 843-719-4047. In the case of an emergency, please call 911; do not call the hotline numbers.
“Severe weather conditions with heavy rains and gusting winds will make traveling hazardous. The safety of students and employees is always the first consideration in such decisions,” Dorchester District 2 said.
The Audubon Center and Sanctuary at Francis Beidler Forest will also be closed Friday, though it plans to reopen Saturday for its educator appreciation weekend.
Most varsity football games have been rescheduled for tonight instead of Friday.
As of 12:12 p.m. Thursday, the National Weather Service warned of storm force winds from Friday morning through early Saturday morning.
Winds are expected of between 30 and 40 mpg with gusts up to 55 mph, though the service also warned, “emergency plans should include a reasonable threat for strong tropical storm force wind of 58 to 73 mph.”
A flash flood watch is in effect, and the service also said the situation is “somewhat favorable” for tornadoes.
The S.C. Department of Transportation cautioned drivers not to attempt to drive through standing water and to not drive around barriers that DOT might erect to close roads.
As of 5:40 a.m., the local storm effects are expected to include winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts of up to 50 mph, rainfall of four to eight inches and potential flash flooding.
A flash flood watch was issued from Friday morning through 2 a.m. Saturday.
The National Weather Service said there is a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon today.

Prepare now

The National Weather Service provided the following list to help residents prepare for the storm:
- Now is the time to bring to completion all preparations to protect life and property in accordance with your emergency plan.
- Outside preparations should be wrapped up as soon as possible before weather conditions deteriorate.
- Keep cell phones well charged and handy. Also, cell phone chargers for automobiles can be helpful after the storm. Locate your chargers and keep them with your cell phone.
- In emergencies, it is best to remain calm. Stay informed and focused on the situation at hand. Exercise patience with those you encounter.
- Be a good Samaritan and helpful to others.
- Drive with extra caution, especially on secondary roads.
- Remember, many bridges and causeways may be closed once higher winds arrive. Also, if you encounter water covering the road, seek an alternate route. Always obey official road signs for closures and detours.
- If you are a visitor and still in the area, listen for the name of the city or town in which you are staying within local news updates. Be sure you know the name of the county in which it resides.
- Closely monitor noaa weather radio or other local news outlets for official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes to the forecast.

Power outages

Local power companies announced Thursday morning that they were making preparations to respond to any power difficulties.
“Transmission and distribution crews are stocking and fueling line trucks and other fleet vehicles in advance of the storm,” according to a prepared statement from the utility.
Santee Cooper, as well as SCE&G reminds everyone to:
• Santee Cooper customers should report power outages and monitor restoration online at www.santeecooper.com/stormcenter or by calling 1-888-769-7688.
SCE&G customers should report outages by texting “OUT” to 467234 (gosceg) or by calling 1-888-333-4465.
• Treat all downed lines as though they are energized and report them to us immediately.
• Stay away from flooded areas and debris. These areas can conceal downed power lines.
• Do not drive through standing floodwaters.
• Resist the temptation to drive around looking at storm damage. You could hinder rescue efforts or restoration efforts and jeopardize your safety.
“While we don’t know what the impact of Hermine may be, we’re prepared to respond to storm-related service interruptions,” said Bill Turner, SCE&G’s vice president of electric operations. “We also want to encourage our customers to be prepared in advance of the storm and stay safe.”
Published at Journal Scene

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