Hampton County Emergency Management

04/27/2026

NEWS RELEASE: Governor Henry McMaster has declared May as South Carolina Hurricane Preparedness Month, encouraging residents to prepare now for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division, State Emergency Response Team members, and county emergency managers are urging people, communities, and businesses to plan ahead, gather supplies, and stay informed.

The state's Hurricane Preparedness Month theme, “Plan Ahead. Stay Ahead,” encourages South Carolinians to take simple steps now before a storm is on the horizon. Being prepared ahead of time helps you stay one step ahead of any storm.

Know Your Zone. In South Carolina, hurricane evacuation decisions are based on designated zones in coastal counties. You can quickly find your zone using the SC Emergency Manager mobile app, downloading the 2026 South Carolina Hurricane Guide (https://www.scemd.org/stay-informed/publications/hurricane-guide/) or by visiting https://hurricane.sc/.

Prepare Your Home. Check your home now to make sure it’s ready for hurricane season. Inspect your roof, clean your gutters, and review your insurance coverage. Take photos and make a list of your belongings for documentation so you’re prepared if damage occurs.

Remember Your Route. Identify your nearest hurricane evacuation route before the season begins. If your area is ordered to evacuate, follow guidance from local authorities and blue hurricane evacuation signs throughout the state, as they are more reliable than GPS navigation.

With more than 180 miles of coastline and many low-lying communities, South Carolina faces a high risk from hurricanes and tropical storms. While coastal areas often see the greatest impact, these storms can cause damage across the entire state. Flooding and storm surge remain the most serious threats, while high winds and tornadoes can also lead to significant destruction.

Recent storms have shown just how far-reaching these impacts can be, bringing power outages, fallen trees, tornadoes, and inland flooding to communities well beyond the coast. These events serve as a strong reminder that preparation is essential, no matter where you live in the state.

Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, making early preparation essential.

Link to release: https://www.scemd.org/news/hurricane-preparedness-month-3/

04/22/2026

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) has issued an Air Quality Alert for fine particulates for the following counties in South Carolina:

Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Clarendon, Colleton, Dorchester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Georgetown, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Laurens, Lee, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Sumter, Union, and Williamsburg, along with Columbia and Richmond counties in Georgia.

The Air Quality Alert is in effect through Thursday, April 23rd. An Air Quality Alert means that the fine particulate concentrations within the specified area may approach or exceed unhealthy standards due to large wildfires burning over southern Georgia.

Southerly winds on the west side of high pressure centered just off the Southeast coast will continue transport smoke from the southern Georgia wildfires into South Carolina and the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA). As of the early afternoon hours Wednesday, air quality was already deteriorating over the CSRA region and the Midlands. As stable conditions develop this evening and overnight, smoke is expected to expand in coverage and become more noticeable. Smoke from the wildfires is expected to continue to affect the region on Thursday.

SCDES recommends that individuals with respiratory health issues limit time spent outdoors and/or move all activities indoors to avoid the smoke or fine particulates. Keep windows and doors closed. Run an air conditioner if you have one but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke and fine particulates from getting inside. Please note that locations closest to the wildfire activity are more likely to experience smoke at any given time.

South Carolina Air Quality Forecast: https://des.sc.gov/programs/bureau-air-quality/air-quality-forecast
For more information about fine particulates, please visit: https://fire.airnow.gov
For more information about wildfires/prescribed burns, please visit: https://www.scfc.gov/

If you see or smell smoke, take the necessary precautions to protect your health.

04/18/2026

The burning ban remains in effect across South Carolina.
Dry conditions, gusty winds, and low humidity are keeping wildfire risk high across the state. The South Carolina Forestry Commission has issued a State Forester’s Burning Ban until further notice.

A State Forester’s Burning Ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris burning, prescribed burning, campfires, bonfires, and other recreational fires in all unincorporated areas of the state.

-Get the latest wildfire updates: https://www.scfc.gov/
-Learn how to prepare: https://www.ready.gov/wildfires
-Follow your local U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) for weather updates

04/17/2026

04/16/2026

SC Forestry Commission to issue statewide burning ban; restriction on all outdoor burning goes into effect at 7 a.m. Friday

COLUMBIA—The South Carolina Forestry Commission is issuing a State Forester’s Burning Ban for all counties, effective at 7 a.m. Friday, April 17.

A State Forester’s Burning Ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris burning, prescribed burning, campfires, bonfires and other recreational fires in all unincorporated areas of the state.

Forestry Commission officials cite a particularly dangerous mix of elevated wildfire risk factors through the weekend that warrant limiting all ignitions in the interest of public safety.

Rapidly escalating drought conditions across the state, a critical decrease in relative humidities over the next several days and gusty winds that are expected to accompany an approaching cold front will combine to create extreme fire danger.

"When it’s this dry – energy release component values are at high-to-critical levels – we’re just as likely, if not more, to see wildfires that are fuel-driven rather than wind-driven. Add the other volatile conditions of increased wind and lower relative humidity, and it becomes an especially precarious situation,” said SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones. "These conditions not only increase the likelihood of wildfires igniting easily and spreading rapidly, but would also make them more difficult for firefighters to control.”

While the ban does not apply to fires used for the preparation of food or fires used in appropriate enclosures (portable outdoor fireplaces, chimineas or permanent fire pits constructed of stone, masonry, metal or other noncombustible material that conforms with all applicable South Carolina fire codes), Forestry Commission officials urge the utmost caution burning outdoors under these exemptions.

Likewise, citizens should exercise extreme vigilance operating any equipment that could create sparks, avoid parking on dry grass and refrain from using fireworks.

The ban will stay in effect until further notice, which will come in the form of an official announcement from the Forestry Commission.

Shareable release:https://www.scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Advisory-StateForestersBurningBan-20260416.pdf

04/08/2026

Forestry Commission issuing statewide Red Flag Fire Alert
COLUMBIA—The South Carolina Forestry Commission is issuing a statewide Red Flag Fire Alert, effective at 6 a.m. Wednesday, April 8.

The alert is being issued to strongly discourage people from burning outdoors when weather conditions present an elevated risk of wildfire.

In addition to a widespread deficit of rainfall that continues to intensify drought over much of the state, Wednesday’s forecast includes gusty winds higher than 20 mph and relative humidities under 25% in places.

Because current weather conditions are very conducive to fires escaping easily and spreading rapidly, anyone considering outdoor burning should take extra precautions if they still choose to burn under a Red Flag Fire Alert. Those who have burned recently should return to monitor their burn areas and ensure the dry conditions don’t cause any rekindling.

“Wildfire potential is always higher this time of year, and our use of the Red Flag Fire Alert a few weeks ago made a huge difference in the number of new ignitions,” said SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones. “This warning is a great tool that encourages citizens to voluntarily postpone any such burning until the alert is lifted. We’re simply asking for people to respect the weather, be smart and stay safe.”

Adding to the danger, particularly in the western part of the state, are the heavy fuel loads that remain in our forests from Hurricane Helene. Not only can these downed, drying trees and other fuels act as kindling, increasing the risk of wildfire ignition and spread, but they also are likely to impede firefighters’ access, adversely impacting response capability.

Although a Red Flag Fire Alert does not ban outdoor burning, it does trigger certain county or local ordinances that restrict outdoor fires, so residents should contact their local fire departments to check whether such restrictions apply in their areas. The alert will remain in effect until lifted by the Commission, whose fire managers will continuously monitor the situation.

Press release:https://www.scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Advisory-RedFlagFireAlert-260408.pdf