A HURRICANE WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE LOWCOUNTRY.

A HURRICANE SURGE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE LOWCOUNTRY.

Gov. Henry McMaster has ordered the mandatory evacuation of all zones in South Carolina coastal counties and lane reversals on I-26.

Motorists should be aware that I-26 eastbound between Columbia and Charleston is now closed. Crews will be setting up the hurricane evacuation lanes from the I-26 & I-77 interchange near Columbia to the I-26 & I-526 interchange in Charleston. Motorists may continue to use I-526 which will remain open. The evacuation will use all four lanes traveling westbound and is scheduled to begin at noon.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol will begin clearing I-26 eastbound beginning in Columbia . When they confirm that all eastbound traffic has been cleared from those lanes, they will open the lanes to westbound traffic. Two additional routes, Highway 278 and Highway 21, both in Beaufort County, will be ready for a possible lane reversal at noon if necessary.

Don’t forget to get prescriptions filled, take care of pets, and take food and flashlights wherever they go. Gov. McMaster said 2,702 National Guard, State Guard, SLED, Department of Public Safety, Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, and local law enforcement personnel on standby and ready for deployment if the need arises. That includes 800 National Guardsmen,  285 State Guardsmen, and 1,617 law enforcement officers.