State agencies to conduct full-scale hurricane evacuation exercise Wednesday
State and local agencies will conduct a full-scale exercise on Wednesday, June 4, to test lane reversal plans on I-26, U.S. 21, U.S. 278, U.S. 501, and S.C. 544. The drill will last from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.
No traffic lanes will be reversed or closed during the drill, but drivers should expect to see equipment, state personnel, and more law enforcement officers staged along the shoulder of the highway and at exits.
The Civil Air Patrol, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and South Carolina Forestry Commission will also be conducting aerial surveillance.
'These exercises help ensure that we are prepared to respond to a hurricane threatening our state,' said Robert G. Woods IV, the South Carolina Department of Public Safety director. 'Together with our state partners, we remain ready to quickly and efficiently move residents and visitors from the coast to the Midlands in the event that a mandatory evacuation order is given.'
Storm Team 2 releases 2025 Hurricane Ready Guide
Locally, lane reversal begins near mile marker 197 (Nexton Parkway) and I-26 in Charleston toward I-77 and I-26 in Columbia.
Officials said the exercise should not disrupt traffic flow as intersections will not be blocked, and drivers will be able to travel freely.
Forecasters are gearing up for a busy Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1 and runs through the end of September, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration putting the chance of an above-normal season at 60%.
The agency's outlook predicts a range of 13 to 19 named storms, six to 10 of which could become hurricanes. Three to five are forecast to become major hurricanes, with winds of 111 mph or higher.
'Forecasts are pointing to an active hurricane season,' said South Carolina Emergency Management Division Director Kim Stenson. 'Hurricane Helene was a reminder that it only takes one storm to cause major impacts for South Carolina. It's critical for everyone — not only people who live along the coast — to review and practice their hurricane plans now.
You can download Storm Team 2's Hurricane Ready Guide to find vital information about how to keep your family and property safe throughout the 2025 season.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
State nonprofit provides grant to 33 child care programs harmed by Hurricane Helene
The Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning awarded relief funding to 33 child care programs across the state to help with recovery efforts following damage from Hurricane Helene. The foundation, in collaboration with The Aspire Difference Foundation and Save the Children US, distributed a total of $49,500 in recovery grants. Each of the selected programs received $1,500 to address urgent needs like repairing structural damage, restoring HVAC systems, replacing classroom materials, covering food loss and staff wages, and removing debris. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 'These funds were a lifeline for programs working to reopen quickly and safely, as well as for programs that needed some financial relief for substantial costs incurred from hurricane-related damages,' Laura Wagner, Executive Director of GFEC+L, said in a statement. The foundation received 68 applications for the funding and chose 33 programs to award, based on documented need and readiness to comply with funding requirements. TRENDING STORIES: Georgia daycare worker charged in child abuse case 7 charged during Hall County undercover sting Radioactive shrimp heading for Walmart found at Georgia port GCEF+L said in a statement that the grants were crucial in restoring safe and nurturing environments for approximately 2,200 children and their families. Tracey Broxton from Little Feet Learning Academy noted the transformative impact of the funding, stating that the new fencing provided a safer environment for children, boosting morale among staff and parents. 'The new fencing provides a much safer and more secure environment for the children, allowing them to enjoy outdoor play with peace of mind,' Broxton said. This improvement in safety has also boosted the morale of the staff and parents.' Similarly, Shelbra McKnight from Bright Start Preschool highlighted the repairs made possible by the grant, including window repairs and playground improvements, which ensured a safer learning environment for young learners. 'With these funds, we repaired damaged but usable windows and restored compromised paneling, as well as replaced worn block walls on our playground, all essential steps in ensuring a safer, more secure learning environment for our youngest learners,' McKnight said. 'Most importantly, it gave our team peace of mind and allowed our children to return to a space that is safe, comfortable, and conducive to early learning and development.' These are the nearly three dozen organizations that received funding: Jesus Loves Me Daycare LLC – Ray City, Berrien County Sproutland Learning Center – Cochran, Beckley County Sweet & Tenderhearted Childcare – Portal, Bulloch County Love's Childcare Services Inc – Statesboro, Bulloch County Rashida's Day Care – Metter, Candler County Little Blessyn's Childcare Learning Center – Savannah, Chatham County Ready Set Grow Early Learning Academy – Savannah, Chatham County Tiny Hands Big Hearts In-Home Childcare – Port Wentworth, Chatham County Teachers Too Early Childcare & Learning Center, Inc. – Douglas, Coffee County Small Wonders Playcare Center – Evans, Columbia County R&L Mini Miracles Daycare – Martinez, Columbia County The Bradley School of Martinez – Martinez, Columbia County Learning Junction Preschool – Evans, Columbia County Bartley's Family Learning Center LLC – Springfield, Effingham County Sonja Glaze FCCLH – Elberton, Elbert County Boss Babies Childcare Center, LLC – Twin City, Emanuel County Marie Herndon FCCLH – Brunswick, Glynn County Love In Action Daycare – Hazlehurst, Jeff Davis County Joyful All Starz LLLP – Louisville, Jefferson County Carol's Kidz Early Care and Learning – Lakeland, Lanier County Connie Pruitt FCCLH – Naylor, Lanier County Child Resource Center, Inc. – Lakeland, Lanier County Micah's Playhouse, Inc. – Dublin, Laurens County Little Feet Learning Academy – Dublin, Laurens County Marsha Octave FCCLH – Hinesville, Liberty County Bemiss Academy Preschool – Valdosta, Lowndes County Bright Start Preschool – Valdosta, Lowndes County Stephanie Turman FCCLH – Thomson, McDuffie County Lollipop Learning Center – Tifton, Tift County Washington County NB & PW Club Inc. – Sandersville, Washington County MyNana's Clubhouse – Jesup, Wayne County Little Wonders Learning Center – Savannah, Chatham County Eula Howell FCCLH – Valdosta, Lowndes County GFEC+L said it is exploring additional disaster preparedness strategies, including an ongoing commitment to using unrestricted Foundation resources to help in future disasters. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Where Trump is popular, Democrats look to a new crop of candidates to help win back the House
FAIRVIEW, N.C. (AP) — Jamie Ager has spent much of the past year rebuilding his farm in the foothills of western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene tore through the region, cutting power, destroying fences and scattering livestock. Then, earlier this year, Ager lost his beef contract with local schools, a casualty of billions of dollars in cuts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Trump administration. Now, the fifth-generation farmer is running for Congress — part of a new crop of Democratic candidates the party is turning to as it tries to compete in the tough, often rural districts it may need to flip to retake the U.S. House in 2026. Democrats say these new recruits are uniquely suited to break through in districts where President Donald Trump's popularity dominates. Many, like Ager, are already a well-known presence in their communities. And in parts of North Carolina, Kentucky, Michigan and elsewhere, the party is betting local credibility can cut through skepticism where the Democratic brand has fallen. Ager says he sees national Democrats as out of touch with rural life: too 'academic' and 'politically correct and scripted.' 'That's just not what people are interested in,' he says. 'The ideas of helping poor people, being neighborly, the ideal of doing those things, I think, are worthy, good ideas that are actually popular. But the execution of a lot of those ideas has been gummed up, you know, not well executed.' A shifting House map Heading into next year's midterms, Democrats believe momentum is on their side. Historically, the president's party loses ground in the midterms. In 2018, during Trump's first term, Democrats flipped 41 seats to take control of the House. Republicans currently control the House by such a slim margin, Democrats need to pick up only a few seats to break the GOP's hold on Washington. The Republican-led tax break and spending cut bill has added to Democrats' optimism. About two-thirds of U.S. adults expect the new law will help the rich, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About half say it'll do more harm than good for middle-class people and people like them. Still, Republicans remain confident. They point to having fewer vulnerable seats than Democrats have this cycle. Only three Republicans hold House districts Democrat Kamala Harris won last year, while 13 Democrats represent districts Trump won. They also note Democrats' low opinion of their own party after last year's losses. In a July AP-NORC poll, Democrats were likelier to describe their own party negatively than Republicans, with many Democrats calling it weak or ineffective. In places where local dynamics may give Democrats a shot, it means finding the right candidates is especially important, party leaders say. 'Recruitment matters in these years when the environment is going to be competitive,' Democratic pollster John Anzalone said. Democrats hope a farmer in western North Carolina can regain trust With power, water and telecommunications down due to last year's hurricane, Ager's Hickory Nut Gap farm became a hub for the community — hosting cookouts and using propane to grill food for neighbors. Statewide, the storm caused nearly $60 billion in damage and killed more than 100 people. Little federal aid has reached the hardest-hit parts of western North Carolina. 'Helene hitting definitely put an exclamation point on, like, 'Whoa, we need help and support,'' Ager said. Democrats see Ager as a high-risk, high-reward candidate who could be successful in a district where Democrats have struggled. No Democrat has won North Carolina's 11th Congressional District since it was redrawn by the Republican-controlled legislature in 2011. A court-ordered redistricting ahead of the 2020 election made it slightly more favorable to Democrats, encompassing Asheville and much of western North Carolina. Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards still won by nearly 14 percentage points last year and is expected to seek reelection. Grayson Barnette, a Democratic strategist who helped recruit Ager, said in some districts it's a risk to run a candidate who hasn't held elected office before. 'But I would argue that's a good thing, especially when the Democrats just took the big hit we did,' Barnette said. 'We have to look in the mirror and say, 'Let's try something new.'' In a district where nearly 62% of residents live in very low-density areas, Barnette believes Ager's identity — as a business owner, coach and father with deep local roots — could cut through. His unpolished, direct style, he says, may resonate more than a polished political résumé. In the video launching his campaign, Ager shows flooding on the farm and is seen on the porch of his home, feeding chickens, driving a tractor and spending time with his wife and three sons. 'I'm not flashy, but I'm honest,' he says in the video. Ager doesn't call himself a Democrat in the roughly two-minute video and rarely used the word during a three-hour interview. Still, his ties to the party run deep: His brother serves in the state House, following in the footsteps of their father. His grandfather served six years in the U.S. House. Asked whether that might be a liability in the district, Ager shrugged: 'Then don't vote for me.' Trump's big bill could reshape a conservative district in Michigan In western Michigan, state Sen. Sean McCann is a different kind of candidate from Ager. He's buttoned-up and soft-spoken, with a long resume in elected office and deep roots in Kalamazoo, having served for a decade on the city commission before winning a seat in the state House in 2010. In a district anchored by conservative and religious values, Democrats see McCann as the kind of steady, experienced figure who can make inroads — especially as backlash builds to Trump's tax bill, which includes deep spending cuts. At a recent meeting at Kalamazoo's Family Health Center, where nearly 65% of patients rely on Medicaid, the center's president warned the proposed Medicaid cuts would be devastating. 'It's about being home in the community and listening to our community's values — and carrying those to Washington,' McCann said. The district is represented by Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga, who won reelection by nearly 12 percentage points in 2022. But Huizenga hasn't said whether he'll seek another term, and Trump carried the district by only 5.5 percentage points in 2024. Democrats hope strong ties help elsewhere Across the country, Democrats are watching similar races in places like Iowa and Kentucky, where local candidates with strong community ties are running. In Iowa's 2nd District, state Rep. Lindsay James — a fourth-term lawmaker and Presbyterian pastor — is weighing a run in the northeast part of the state. In Kentucky's 6th, which includes Lexington and Richmond, former federal prosecutor Zach Dembo is running his first campaign, describing himself as a political outsider. It's a mix of profiles: Ager, the farmer-turned-candidate feeding neighbors after a hurricane. McCann, the public servant meeting with health workers in his hometown. And others like them trying to reconnect a skeptical electorate. 'Yes, the Democratic Party has some taint to it,' Ager said. 'But when I go talk to Republicans who are friends that I've known forever, there's genuine admiration and mutual respect for each other. And that comes from being in this community forever.' ___ This story has been corrected to show McCann is a state senator, not a state representative. ___ Associated Press reporter Maya Sweedler in Washington contributed to this report.
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Los Angeles Times
On Putin's advice, Trump launches assault on mail-in ballots and voting machines
President Trump said Monday he would renew his assault on mail-in voting after Russia's autocratic leader, Vladimir Putin, told him to do so at their meeting in Alaska last week. The president provided few details, but wrote on social media that he would 'lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, and also, while we're at it, Highly 'Inaccurate,' Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES.' Already in March, Trump had issued an executive order directing the Justice Department to 'take all necessary action' to prevent mail-in ballots received after election day from being counted. The order also attempted to impose a proof of citizenship requirement for voter registration. Those portions of the executive action has been enjoined by courts over constitutional concerns. But another provision, directing the independent U.S. Election Assistance Commission to shift its guidance on voting machines banning the use of certain bar codes and quick-response codes, has been allowed to proceed. The U.S. Constitution states that the timing, place and manner of elections 'shall be prescribed in each state' by local legislatures, and that Congress has the ability to pass laws altering state election regulations. The president is given no authority to prescribe or govern election procedures. Trump's action comes on the heels of his meeting with Putin in Anchorage, where the Russian leader told him that mail-in ballots led to his electoral defeat in 2020, according to the president. The U.S. intelligence community has assessed that Putin attempted to influence the last three U.S. presidential elections in Trump's favor. 'Vladimir Putin said something — one of the most interesting things. He said, 'Your election was rigged because you have mail-in voting,'' Trump told Fox News in an interview. Trump has criticized mail-in voting since entering politics in 2015. But his presidential campaign embraced the practice leading up to the 2024 election, encouraging his supporters — especially those affected by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina — to take advantage of mail-in voting opportunities. 'Absentee voting, early voting and election day voting are all good options,' Trump said at the time. 'Republicans must make a plan, register and vote!'
