South Carolina governor orders evacuation
ahead of hurricane
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[October 05, 2016]
By Harriet McLeod
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Reuters) - South Carolina
Governor Nikki Haley declared a state of emergency on Tuesday and
ordered an evacuation of more than a million people in coastal areas
starting Wednesday afternoon in anticipation of Hurricane Matthew.
Florida and Georgia have also called states of emergency for a storm
that has pounded the Caribbean with 145 mile-per-hour (230 kph) winds
and surging seas and was expected to start affecting U.S. coastal areas
late on Thursday or early Friday.
Haley pleaded with people to get 100 miles (160 km) away from the coast,
but did not say if there would be penalties for those who refuse to
comply.
"We don't do voluntary or mandatory anymore. An evacuation is an
evacuation," Haley told reporters.
By declaring a state of emergency, Haley can mobilize 1,800 members of
the National Guard.
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Highways will have all traffic lanes directed away from the coast for
the evacuation, and the state will close schools and county government
offices in 26 of the state's 46 counties staring Wednesday.
Matthew will be a Category 2 or Category 3 hurricane when it brushes or
hits South Carolina on Friday night, she said. Officials anticipate 100
mph (160 kph) winds and five- to seven-foot (1.5- to 2-meter) storm
surges in coastal South Carolina, she said.
Heavy storms in South Carolina last October killed at least 17 people.
Several coastal schools, universities and municipalities, including the
city of North Charleston, announced they would close starting on
Wednesday.
Emergency officials in the Myrtle Beach area advised residents of
evacuation zones and routes.
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A man walks past a flooded street while Hurricane Matthew passes, in
Cite-Soleil in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, October 4, 2016.
REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
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Florida Governor Rick Scott, who declared a state of emergency for
all 67 counties on Monday, has activated 200 members of the Florida
National Guard to support any needed hurricane response and put
another 6,000 on standby.
Other state agencies prepared by ensuring fuel supplies in potential
evacuation zones, readying shelters and highways to handle any
evacuees, and taking inventory of emergency food supplies in state
schools and warehouses.
In Georgia, Governor Nathan Deal issued a state of emergency for 13
counties in coastal areas.
"I've ordered the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security
Agency (GEMHSA) to work with appropriate state and local agencies to
ensure all precautions are taken to protect residents and minimize
risks to property and roads," Deal said in a statement.
(Reporting by Harriet McLeod; Editing by Daniel Trotta and Tom
Brown)
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