Horry County lines up resources, watches Hanna

People all over the Carolinas want to know what Hanna will do, that includes the people at Horry county emergency management.

Wednesday morning, the county raised its readiness level to OPCON 3.

That means necessary personnel is on standby and the Emergency Operations Center is open for daily operations.

Horry County’s emergency management director, Randy Webster said he is focused on tropical storm Hanna.

And the county's emergency management team is going to be paying close attention to this storm until it is no longer a threat to Horry County.

Webster said county officials are in constant contact with the state, other coastal counties, and a number of weather services tracking tropical storm Hanna.

"We’re getting into a point of time where certain decision have to be made in terms of what we're going to do in the community as far as any type of evacuations or any other messages we need to get out." said Webster.

According to Joe Farmer, Public Information Director for South Carolina’s Emergency Management Division, the following resources are on stand-by in South Carolina to respond to the possible effects of Tropical Storm Hanna:

• 569 law enforcement officers with the Department of Public Safety are on stand-by to respond as needed.
  
• The South Carolina National Guard has 2500 Guardsmen on duty.
  
• The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has 260 law enforcement officers on alert for potential deployment across the state as needed for rural search and rescue.
  
• The Department of Transportation has authorized weight and balance restriction waivers for large trucks to all the free-flow of supplies through the state.
  
• DOT has also contacted construction companies involved with road projects to insure potential evacuation routes will be clear.
  
• DHEC has identified approximately 700 healthcare professionals, who have volunteered for disasters through the state’s SC Serve program. These professionals include doctors, nurses, pharmacists and social workers.
  
• DHEC has 6 SC Med mobile medical units, equipped with cots, first aid supplies, and air conditioning, which can provide temporary treatment centers for the injured. Since these units are mobile, they can be moved to areas where they are of most benefit to those who need them.
  
• DHEC has established 4 Rapid Needs Assessment Teams that assess conditions and community needs following a disaster. These teams are composed of representatives from numerous disciplines across public health, including environmental health professionals, nurses, social workers and administrative support. They review community conditions and needs, providing feedback to DHEC’s Emergency Operations Center for effective and efficient allocation of resources to the area.
  
• The Department of Social Services employees are prepared to staff potential evacuation shelters along with American Red Cross volunteers as needed.
  
• The South Carolina Emergency Operations Center remains at operational condition 3.
  
• The State Emergency Response Team is currently activated for around-the-clock operations.

Webster said now is the time for people who live in Horry county need to have supplies ready and a clear hurricane plan.

"All those decisions that we've been talking about for the last several months is now time to out into action and standby and wait for the officials information on what to do next, but heed the information and the warnings that come out and take all this very seriously." said Webster.

Thursday, county officials plan to re-open the emergency operations center at 9:00 a.m.

Webster said depending on Hanna’s path, once they get started Thursday morning, they will be on task and ready to respond until the storm leaves.