McMaster declares state of emergency as Hurricane Helene heads for Florida Panhandle later this week

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WBTW) — Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency Wednesday afternoon as Hurricane Helene appears destined to hit the Florida Panhandle before weakening and moving across parts of the Carolinas later in the week.

The governor’s executive order encourages state residents to monitor their local weather forecasts and to begin making plans for the storm. A tropical storm watch was issued Wednesday afternoon for coastal areas in Horry and Georgetown counties.

Helene officially became a hurricane Wednesday morning, and as of 5 p.m., the storm was about 460 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph., according to the National Hurricane Center. It was moving north at 12 mph.

The forecast calls for Helene is rapidly intensify into a Category 2 Wednesday evening and then grow into a major hurricane by Thursday morning.

News13 meteorologist Frank Johnson said Wednesday the Grand Strand should expect winds in the 40 mph range and 1 to 2 inches of rain starting late Thursday and lasting through the night. There will also be a risk of isolated tornadoes as the storm makes its way through the region.

The rainful could affect rivers and streams across the Carolinas, the National Weather Service said Wednesday. The Cape Fear River, Lumber River, Pee Dee River and Black Creek have the highest chance of reaching or returning to minor flood stage late this or early next week.

The Waccamaw River at Conway also has a high chance of reaching minor flood stage because of ongoing flooding upstream and incoming rainfall, according to the National Weather Service.

The governor’s order activates the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan and directs state emergency management officials “to coordinate with all state agencies in preparation for potential requests for state assistance from local officials and county emergency management leaders,” a news release from McMaster’s office said.

“Although South Carolina will likely avoid the brunt of Hurricane Helene’s impacts, the storm is still expected to bring dangerous flooding, high winds, and isolated tornadoes to many parts of the state,” McMaster said in the release. “This State of Emergency ensures that Team South Carolina has the necessary resources in place to respond to these potential impacts. South Carolinians in potentially affected areas should start to take precautions now and monitor local weather forecasts over the next several days.”

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has also issued a similar emergency declaration for his state.

The SCEMD has several resources available for people to prepare for hurricanes, including hurricane.sc . This site is an interactive tool for anyone needing a quick reference on hurricane preparedness.

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Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13 . He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook , X, formerly Twitter , and read more of his work here .

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