COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP, WLTX) — South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster says many have evacuated the state's coast ahead of Hurricane Dorian, but he's asking more people to leave.
So far, 244,000 people have heeded the governor's mandatory evacuation order which was issued Sunday night. But that's about 30 percent of the 830,000 who fall under the order.
"The time to leave is now," McMaster said Tuesday afternoon during an update with state emergency officials.
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Dorian is currently forecast to affect the South Carolina coast late Wednesday and all day Thursday. As such, hurricane watches and warnings are in effect for the coast. A tropical storm watch is in effect for Sumter, Orangeburg, Clarendon, and Bamberg Counties in the Midlands. Hurricane watches and warnings are in effect along the coast.
McMaster said the evacuations have been orderly, and people are moving efficiently. Transportation officials reversed all lanes of Interstate 26 between Charleston and Columbia Monday to make it easier for people to leave the area.
South Carolina Department of Transportation Director Christy Hall they'd seen an increase in traffic on the roadway, with a peak average of about 3,200 vehicles per hour.
The reversals are set to end Wednesday at noon so crews can seek shelter at safe locations outside of the storm's projected path.
Officials were encouraging people to leave before tropical storm force winds arrive on Hilton Head Island sometime Wednesday and move up the coast for 24 hours.
The state has opened shelters for evacuees. For a full list, go to the South Carolina Emergency Management Division's emergency shelter page.
McMaster also ordered coastal schools and government offices closed Tuesday, but said he would wait and see how many schools might be needed for shelters before talking to districts about cancelling classes in inland areas later this week.
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