Hurricane Evacuation Routes

 

Evacuation Information

 

“Move from the water, and brace for the wind”

 

If you are advised to evacuate your home and move to a safe, temporary

location, there are a few things you should remember:

 

• Follow the instructions and advice of your local government. If you are advised to evacuate, do

so promptly. If certain travel routes are specified or recommended, use those routes. Once an

order is given you may not be allowed to select your route. If you plan to leave, leave early.

• Travel considerations:

− Before leaving your residence, prepare your family Emergency Kit (see page 5 for list of supplies)

and take it with you in the car.

− Leave well in advance to avoid being affected by flooding roads, fallen trees or power lines.

− Make sure the gas tank in your car is full, and listen to the radio as you travel for additional information

and instructions from emergency officials.

− Make sure you have a South Carolina highway map in your vehicle.

− Evaluate and be prepared to use parallel routes out of the community – this may include

smaller roads that run parallel to the interstates and other highways.

− If you must travel with more than one vehicle, plan to leave early to avoid traffic.

• When an emergency is declared and an evacuation order is announced, designated shelters are

opened and operated by the American Red Cross and announced on local radio and television

stations.

• While shelters are available in a hurricane situation, there is not enough shelter space in Charleston

County for all citizens. Therefore, officials urge citizens to use alternative housing options,

such as traveling to a friend’s or relative’s inland home or to a motel. And remember, even inland

shelters and motels may experience loss of electrical power. Take your Emergency Supplies Kit

with you.

• A shelter should be considered a last resort to use if you have nowhere else to get out of harms

way. Citizens who go to a shelter are asked to bring blankets and pillows, some food for the first

day and any necessary medications and supplies. It is highly recommended citizens bring their

Emergency Supplies Kits.

 

 Evacuation Routes

When a hurricane threatens South Carolina’s coast, you may plan to leave voluntarily or you may be

ordered to evacuate. Blue hurricane evacuation route signs are posted along roads to guide you

inland to safety.

South Carolina local and state law enforcement officers and the South Carolina Army National Guard

will be posted along these routes to assist you. Motorists who wish to deviate from the primary

evacuation routes may experience delays or may not be allowed to change routes.

Motorists should be on the lookout for electronic message boards along the evacuation routes and

should follow any instructions displayed. These boards may direct motorists to tune in to a local AM

radio station to hear route-specific traffic information and other special emergency messages.

Edisto Island and Adams Run

• Take SC 174 to US 17.

• Take US 17 south to SC 64. This will take you to Walterboro, and

then to North Augusta.

Yonges Island, Meggett, Hollywood, and Ravenel

• Take SC 165 to US 17, then US 17 south to SC 64.

Johns Island, Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island

• Take SC 700 (Maybank Highway) to Road S-20 (Bohicket Road) to

US 17.

• Take US 17 south to SC 64 where you will go to Walterboro, then on

to North Augusta.

 

James Island and Folly Beach

• Take SC 171 (Folly Road) to US 17.

• Take US 17 south to I-526 east to the reversed lanes of I-26.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City of Charleston

• The west side of the city (West Ashley) will use SC 61 to US 78, then to Aiken and North

Augusta.

• Downtown will use the normal west-bound lanes of I-26.

North Charleston

• Take US 52 (Rivers Avenue) to US 78 to US 178 to Orangeburg, or continue on US 52 to US

176, or continue north on US 52.

• The right lane of US 52 at Goose Creek will continue on to Moncks Corner. In Moncks Corner, it

will be directed onto SC 6, where SC 6 will take you toward Columbia.

• The left lane of US 52 at Goose Creek will go on to US 176 to Columbia.

• Evacuees using SC 642 will travel west toward Summerville, and then take Road S-22 (Old

Orangeburg Road) to US 78 west.

 

East Cooper

• Mount Pleasant: Take I-526 west or US 17 south to I-26 west.

• Sullivan’s Island: Take SC 703 to I-526 Business to access I-526 west, and then take I-26 west.

• Isle of Palms: Take the Isle of Palms connector (SC 517) to go to US 17 where the right lane will

turn north onto US 17. Next, take SC 41 to SC 402; then to US 52 to SC 375; then to US 521 to

SC 261; and then US 378 to Columbia.

Note:

• Evacuees using the left lanes of the Isle of Palms connector will turn left to go to I-526 west

and then on to I-26 west.

• Evacuees on I-526 west approaching I-26 from East Cooper will be directed to the normal

lanes of I-26 westbound if in the right lane of I-526.

• Those in the left lane of I-526 will be directed into the reversed lanes of I-26.

Awendaw and McClellanville

• Take SC 45 to US 52, where you will be directed to the right onto US 52 to SC 375; then to US

521 to SC 261; and then to US 378 to Columbia.

 How to Prepare for a Hurricane?

 Hurricane Emergency Information

Hurricane Season

After the Storm “Hurricane Clean Up”

Please visit this site for the complete Hurricane Guide: http://www.charlestoncounty.org/index2.asp?p=/guides.htm  

Information Courtesy of: Charleston County