This is a developing story. The most recent update was 3:46 p.m. Sept. 29.
MYRTLE BEACH — A hurricane warning is now in effect for the counties of Horry, Georgetown and Williamsburg ahead of Hurricane Ian making landfall in the region this Friday.
Horry County and the cities of Conway and Surfside Beach have already declared localized states of emergency ahead of Hurricane Ian preparing to strike the county this Friday as a Category 1 hurricane.
Also, Myrtle Beach plans to close its beaches Friday, the Horry County School District plans to transition to eLearning on Friday and other cities in the county have made their own respective announcements and plans in preparation for the storm.
County and city officials warn of heavy rainfall, tropical storm winds and coastal flooding from the storm. No evacuation orders have been given for Horry County at this time.
Horry County declares state of emergency
Horry County Council has declared a localized state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Ian that will go into effect 9 a.m. Sept. 29, and remain in effect for 60 days, unless otherwise declared by County Council.
Also, the Horry County Emergency Management Department will move to Level 2 starting 9 a.m. Sept. 29, which means the county will start operating in a heightened state of awareness with emergency plans beginning to be implemented.
"County officials have begun discussions with the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, coastal communities including local municipalities, and will continue to monitor the situation closely," county officials said in a statement issued Sept. 28.
Horry County government offices, facilities and all circuit/family and magistrates courts will be closed Friday, Sept. 30.
All Horry County parks will be closed starting at 5 p.m. Sept. 29, and all county-sponsored athletics are cancelled from Sept. 29 through Oct. 1. Parks & Recreation Centers plan to be open Oct. 1 for indoor activities.
All Horry County Memorial Library branches will be closed Sept. 30. The Horry County Museum and L.W. Paul Living History Farm has cancelled all programming Sept. 30.
Horry County Emergency Management encouraged residents to prepare for the storm by clearing debris from storm drains or gutters to help mitigate potential flooding; securing yard items and decorations; avoiding flooded roadways; and continually monitoring reputable weather information sources for up-to-date hurricane information.
Myrtle Beach to close beaches Friday
Travis Glatki, Myrtle Beach's Emergency Management Division manager, said that the city is expecting 5 to 8 inches of rain, and storm surge coastal flooding of 2 to 4 feet. Because of this, Myrtle Beach plans to close its beaches on Sept. 30, as well as on Oct. 1, depending on weather conditions.
"The county is stating that the river levels are low, so even if we do get that much rain, we're not expecting any sort of widespread flooding," Glatki said. "The main concern is the coastal flooding with the high tide and the storm surge."
Although some of the earliest wind gusts are expected around 8 a.m. Sept. 30, Glatki said the tropical storm winds of 30 to 40 mph are not expected until Friday evening or night.
Glatki encouraged the public to get all errands done before Friday afternoon and Friday evening because the the heavy rain and strong winds are expected to start around that time. Also, he encouraged the public to avoid the coast as much as possible this weekend, due to the expected coastal flooding.
The city will use its mass notification system to update residents on what it is expected from the storm.
Myrtle Beach plans to do a partial activation of its emergency operations center to help with quick, efficient emergency response during the storm, and Glatki said that all city generators are "ready to go." Myrtle Beach Public Works officials have also lowered pond water levels to help alleviate potential flooding risk.
Also, in Myrtle Beach, a variety of city events that were planned for this weekend have been postponed and/or cancelled:
- Nights at Nance Concert Series has been rescheduled for Oct. 6.
- Myrtle Beach Fire Department's Public Safety Day has been rescheduled for Oct. 22.
- Pride in the Park has been rescheduled for Oct. 22.
- Myrtle's Market will be closed on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.
- Fall Jerk Festival has been rescheduled for Oct. 30.
- I Love Seafood Festival has been rescheduled for Nov. 5-6.
New dates for the 9th annual Britfest Car Show (originally set for Oct. 1) and Myrtle Beach Open Beach Volleyball (originally set for Sept. 30-Oct. 2) have not been announced by the city.
The Myrtle Beach International Airport will remain open. People are encouraged to check with their airlines on flight status throughout the rest of the week and this weekend.
Horry County School District to close facilities Friday
The Horry County School District issued a statement Sept. 28, stating that all HCS facilities will be closed this Friday, Sept. 30, due to the incoming storm.
The district will continue to operate Friday, however, with an eLearning day for all students, and school staff members will provide directions for students regarding Friday’s eLearning day.
Additionally, all after-school activities for the district are canceled for Thursday, Sept. 29, and Friday, Sept. 30.
All school district employees will work remotely with the exception of non-instructional staff, like nutrition services staff, bus drivers, maintenance technicians and building services staff.
"These employees will not report to work, but will be allowed to make up the day based upon schedules provided by their supervisors," according to the district. "Employees with questions regarding their work schedules should contact their respective supervisors."
For updates, school families and staff are encouraged to monitor the district's website or visit "Horry County Schools" on Facebook and Twitter.
Conway declares state of emergency
Conway City Council held an emergency council meeting virtually Sept. 29 to approve a local state of emergency for the city. The state of emergency will take effect immediately and last for 60 days.
All youth athletics with Conway Parks and Recreation are cancelled from Thursday, Sept. 29, through Sunday, Oct. 2, including tackle, flag, baseball, softball, soccer, cheerleading and volleyball, as well as Tiny Tigers scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 1.
Then, the Kids Carnival, which was scheduled for Oct. 1, will be held in conjunction with Smoke on the Waccamaw BBQ Festival on Saturday, Oct. 15, according to Conway Parks and Recreation.
Tornado risk is currently marginal for the city. Damage assessments will begin Saturday, Oct. 1, according to city officials.
"We're not anticipating a flood like we've had in the past, but the potential is there," Conway City Administrator Adam Emrick said. "That's something we're preparing for."
The Conway High School Educational Foundation's Hall of Fame Banquet, which was originally scheduled for Sept. 29, has been postponed.
The Conway Farmers Market, North Myrtle Beach Farmers Market, Georgetown Farmers Market and Valor Park Farmers Market, which were all scheduled for this weekend, have now been cancelled.
Starting Sept. 28, a ban on open burning has taken effect immediately within Conway due to hazardous conditions expected from the storm.
The following items can be burned: Chiminea, fire pits, portable outdoor fireplaces and other approved containers using manufacturer's guidelines, as long as it is not within 15 feet of a structure. Piles of debris, bonfires, fields, yards and ditches are not allowed to be burned, per city officials.
City officials encouraged the public to prepare a hurricane kit, check on any neighbors or friends who may need help preparing and secure debris and items around their home, like outdoor furniture, trash bins and flag poles. People should also clear away any dead or fallen tree branches.
Officials also encouraged the public to have an available evacuation plan if necessary, especially if they live in a low-lying area.
North Myrtle Beach moves to Level 2
The City of North Myrtle Beach moved to Level 2 Emergency at 9 a.m. Sept. 29, and it plans to move to Level 1 Emergency at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 30.
Level 2 Emergency (OPCON 2) means that North Myrtle Beach city emergency officials are maintaining enhanced awareness that a disaster or emergency could occur. Horry County also moved to this level on Sept. 28.
A Level 1 Emergency (OPCON 1) indicates that a full alert has gone into effect for the city and a disaster is occurring or imminent.
Storm surge and tropical flooding in North Myrtle Beach is expected and the threat has been increased. Flash flooding and coastal flooding should be expected, along with sustained winds of 30 mph and wind gusts of more than 50 mph.
Hazardous beach conditions are expected through Saturday, Oct. 1, and possibly later. High tides will increase the impact of coastal flooding and erosion. The highest levels will begin on Friday, Sept. 30, and last through at least Saturday, per city officials.
The heaviest flooding rains are expected Sept. 30 into the night. However, conditions could change for the worse, per city officials.
There is a risk of tornadoes Sept. 30 into the night. Tropical storm force winds will begin Sept. 30. Rain totals are still very high at 4-6 inches with some areas receiving more, according to city officials.
Surfside Beach declares state of emergency
The city of Surfside Beach declared a state of emergency Sept. 29 ahead of Hurricane Ian making landfall on Friday, Sept. 30.
City officials also announced Sept. 29 that it will suspend all sanitation services on Friday, due to the weather conditions expected from Hurricane Ian.
All Friday sanitation services have been rescheduled to allow the city's public works staff to focus on emergency situations that may arise from the hurricane, per city officials.
Friday curbside recycling will now take place on Oct. 3. Friday yard debris will now be serviced on Oct. 4. Friday's commercial dumpster route will be serviced on Oct. 2.
Surfside Beach's Public Works department has already started removing banners from light poles and lowering the water levels of the town's two largest lakes, Dogwood Lake and Lake Elizabeth, which creates more capacity for stormwater runoff.
"Our public safety personnel, police and fire departments are closely monitoring the storm as it approaches," according to a statement from Surfside Beach on Sept. 27.
"While the path of Hurricane Ian is still unclear, this is a good reminder for area residents to plan and prepare. Look for and secure any loose items on your property that could be thrown by the wind."
Surfside Beach residents may notify public works of any downed trees or limbs or other conditions affecting roads and public right-of-ways by calling the town's non-emergency dispatch line at, (843)913-6368.
National Weather Service updates region on storm potential
Hurricane Ian will hit South Carolina Friday, Sept. 30 as a Category 1 hurricane. Wind impacts of up to 70 mph are expected Friday, especially across northeast S.C. Heavy rainfall could cause flash flooding, and there is an existing threat of isolated tornadoes, per the NWS as of 1 p.m. Sept. 29.
The new hurricane warning went into effect from the National Weather Service at around 11:15 a.m. Sept. 29.
Meanwhile, a tropical storm warning is in effect for the remainder of the counties in northeast S.C. and southeast N.C.
A storm surge warning is in effect from Little River to the South Santee River, as well as north of Little River, per the National Weather Service as of 1:30 p.m. Sept. 29.
The storm first made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane along the western coast of Florida Sept. 28.
Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency for the state of South Carolina this week in preparation for Hurricane Ian making landfall.
