Laurens County Emergency Management

05/11/2026

Hey Laurens! We are LIVE with Regroup Mass Notification!

Don't forget to verify your information before you submit!

Share with all of your family, friends and neighbors! Let's help build a more resilient & prepared community!

05/01/2026

*For Immediate Release*

Laurens County, SC – May 1, 2026 — Laurens County Emergency Management is announcing a transition in their emergency notification system from CodeRED to Regroup Mass Notification. This change reflects the commitment of Laurens County Emergency Management’s efforts to improve communication, reliability, and public safety for residents, businesses, and visitors.

Following the conclusion of the County’s most recent service agreement with CodeRED, County officials conducted a review of available emergency communication platforms. After careful consideration, Laurens County Emergency Management will implement Regroup as the new mass notification system.

Regroup offers enhanced capabilities, including improved message delivery speed, expanded communication channels (such as text, email, and voice alerts), and a more reliable platform for disseminating critical information during emergencies and important community updates.

The implementation process for Regroup was completed in late April, and the system is expected to be fully operational with public alerts beginning no later than May 11, 2026. During the transition period, residents are encouraged to stay informed through the Laurens County Emergency Management’s official website, social media, and “Enotify” on the Laurens County SC website.

Laurens County officials emphasize that this transition is designed to strengthen emergency communication efforts and ensure timely, accurate information reaches the public when it matters most.

What Residents Need to Know:

📍The County will no longer utilize CodeRED for emergency alerts.

📍Regroup will serve as the primary mass notification system moving forward.

📍Residents will be provided with instructions on how to sign up for alerts through Regroup.

📍During the implementation process, all data from CodeRED will be automatically transferred to Regroup. However, if you are a current CodeRED subscriber within Laurens County and want to check the status of your contact information, please contact:
Rebecca Bagwell, Laurens County Emergency Management at 864-681-2162

📍Additional notifications may continue to be shared through the Laurens County Emergency Management’s website and official communication channels.

“Laurens County Emergency Management is committed to providing our communities with the most effective tools available to ensure public safety,” said Emergency Management Director Sonny Ledda. “Transitioning to Regroup allows us to enhance how we communicate during emergencies and better serve all Laurens County residents.”

“We encourage all our citizens to take advantage of this free program. By signing up, this is another tool in your toolbox to protect themselves and their families” said Deputy Director Rebecca Bagwell.

For more information and to sign up for emergency alerts, please visit the Laurens County Emergency Alerts webpage.

There are multiple ways to sign up for Regroup:

Text JOIN LAURENSALERT to 58339

Visit: https://tinyurl.com/Laurens-Regroup

04/19/2026

We had a great time closing out National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week with Laurens County 911! Serving up ice cream to some of the best out there and their families! Thank you for keeping our community and first responders safe!

04/08/2026

Per The South Carolina Forestry Commission:

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

03/28/2026

It may be a blustery day but come out to the county park for an Easter egg fun filled event!

03/25/2026

Please be aware of the TEST Amber Alert message that will occur today between 2pm-3pm by SLED.

SOUTH CAROLINA TO HAVE STATEWIDE AMBER ALERT TEST

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) will conduct a statewide test of the AMBER Alert system on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. EST.

During this time, an AMBER Alert test message will appear on the SLED website, and the AMBER Alert tone will activate on cell phones within South Carolina.

This test will be a safety exercise, not a real-world incident. The test is part of ongoing safety measures to ensure that new technology integrates into the existing state emergency alert system.

03/24/2026

SC Forestry Commission issuing statewide Red Flag Fire Alert, effective immediately

COLUMBIA—The South Carolina Forestry Commission is issuing a statewide Red Flag Fire Alert, effective immediately until further notice.

The alert is being issued to strongly discourage people from burning outdoors when weather conditions present an elevated risk of wildfire. In addition to drought intensifying from a lack of significant rainfall, forecasts are calling for higher winds, low humidities and no precipitation in the foreseeable future.

A Red Flag Fire Alert does not prohibit outdoor burning, provided that all other state and local regulations are followed, but the Forestry Commission uses the alert to strongly encourage citizens to voluntarily postpone any such burning until the alert is lifted. 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.

“The combination of dangerous conditions and dry fuels we’re going to see statewide for the next several days all add up to an elevated wildfire risk, and any fire that ignites is likely to burn intensely and spread rapidly,” said SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones. “With this alert, we’re asking people to respect the weather and hold off from burning outdoors until the weather improves. If you have burned recently, we encourage you to monitor the burn area to make sure the dry conditions don’t cause it to rekindle.”

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.

Shareable link:https://www.scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Advisory-RedFlagFireAlert-260324.pdf

03/23/2026

Come see us and all of our friends at the Laurens County Park this Saturday while we honor the memory of fallen firefighter Michael "Mike-Mike" Vinson.

There will be food, games, prizes, and all sorts of activities to do!

We will also have some free preparedness goodies to pass out!

03/15/2026

Stay weather aware! We are expecting severe weather early Monday morning into Monday afternoon.

03/14/2026

Flood cleanup can be dangerous. Mud and standing water may contain toxins and harmful germs, so take steps to protect yourself. Wear goggles, a mask, gloves, and rubber boots, and dry out your home as quickly as possible to help prevent mold growth. For more tips, visit: https://www.scemd.org/prepare/types-of-disasters/floods/

03/13/2026

Hear Thunder? Head Indoors!

Thunderstorms can be dangerous.
If you hear thunder, take shelter immediately and stay safe.
Don’t wait for the rain to start!