Hurricane evacuation myths, realities and what to do

By Tom Dunn CONTRIBUTOR

The most important thing residents need to understand about hurricane evacuations is to have a plan and leave early.

If you leave before the evacuation order, you can decide where you want to go and how you want to get there.

If you wait until the evacuation order, you are at the mercy of the official evacuation plan. You lose control of your route, and you will have to go with the flow of the evacuation routes.

If you can leave before the mandatory evacuation order, have a plan and put together an evacuation kit.

If you are unable to leave before the mandatory evacuation order, understand the evacuation routes and know where they are sending you.

No matter when you leave, be patient on the road – you might be on it a long time.

Here are some myths about evacuation and the realities:

Myth: Barrier islands will evacuate first or will be the only areas evacuated.

Reality: Beaufort County is a single zone and all of Beaufort County will be evacuated together. There will be no phased or partial evacuations.

Myth: Local governments can call for a hurricane evacuation.

Reality: Only the governor can order an evacuation.

Myth: The governor will issue a voluntary evacuation.

Reality: The term “voluntary evacuation” is no longer used. The governor will order only a mandatory evacuation.

Myth: I don’t need to develop a plan. I will be able to easily find a hotel, fuel and food.

Reality: With the large amount of people leaving the coast, including residents and visitors from Florida, Alabama and Georgia, hotels will fill up quickly. Also, fuel and food might be in limited supply or the lines may be significant.

With the large volume of people and ve-

Please see HURRICANES on page 16A

Grilling Safety

• Keep your grill clean

• Gas and charcoal grills should be used outside only and 10ft from structures

• Never leave a grill unattended

• Never add fluids after coals are lit

• Never attempt to move a hot grill – let it cool completely

Home Safety Inspection

Wonder if your home is safe? We can help. Call us and we will be happy to walk through your home with you and help make things safer. If you prefer to do it yourself, go to www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov and go to Public Safety, then Fire Rescue and on the lower right side of the page, you will find a Fire Safety Checklist so you can do your own walk through.

DIAL 911 FIRST!

• Calling other parties can delay response (security, front desk, property management)

• Our 911 call takers are trained in CPR, EMD (Emergency Medical Dispatch), EFD (Emergency Fire Dispatch), and the SCCJA (South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy).

• Location accuracy results in a more efficient response.

• RapidSOS is a location application that pinpoints a 911 callers’ location within feet working with many cell phone providers.

• Questions need to be answered by persons on scene of the emergency so that information, as it is happening, can be relayed to the responding crews.

• Language line available to assist non-English speaking callers.

Battery Safety

Only use the battery designed for the specific device. Put batteries in correctly and use the correct charging cord. Stop using a battery if you notice a change in color, odor, shape or it starts leaking.

AA batteries, AAA batteries & 9 volt batteries (all alkaline batteries) can be disposed of with your household garbage while lithium ion batteries should be recycled. Keep all batteries out of the hands of small children and check that battery compartments are secured shut.

Pulse Point

Get the app – help save lives. Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths. The PulsePoint Respond app alerts bystanders – like you –who can help victims before professional help can arrive. PulsePoint Respond alerts you to nearby people in need. It’s like an amber alert for sudden cardiac arrest victims. It tells you where the event is happening and also where you can find the nearest AED. To download the app, search PulsePoint Respond and PulsePoint AED on the Apple App store or Google Play store. Visit www.pulsepoint.org for more information.

Cpr Aed Classes

American Heart Association CPR / AED classes are offered each month at no charge to those who live or work on Hilton Head Island. Get certified! We can also help you get certified in First Aid. Call 843-682-5141 to register.

Free Blood Pressure Checks

Free blood pressure checks are always available at any fire station. You will be provided with a blood pressure check card to assist you in maintaining a record of your blood pressure readings and staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Learn more fire and life safety tips while visiting our fire stations by Geocaching! Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunt game using GPS-enabled devices. To learn more, go to https://www.geocaching.com.

• Bike safety is at Station 1 –70 Cordillo Parkway

• Alligator safety is at Station 2 –65 Lighthouse Road

• Calling 911 is at Station 3 –534 William Hilton Parkway

• Boating Safety is at Station 4 -

400 Squire Pope Road

• Close before you doze is at Station 5 –

20 Whooping Crane Way

• Water safety is at Station 6 –

12 Dalmatian Lane

• Smoke alarms are at Station 7 –

1001 Marshland Road

• Fire Safety is at Fire Rescue Headquarters - 40 Summit Drive.

HURRICANES from page 14A hicles moving away from the coastal areas, inland locations will be inundated with evacuees. Areas that do not normally have massive increases in populations will not have the resources to manage and accommodate the multitudes of additional people, creating long lines and limited resources.

Make a Plan

Having a plan is the most important thing you can do for yourself and your family. Your evacuation plan does not have to be complicated or cumbersome.

Here are a few basic things you can do to develop your evacuation plan:

• Decide where you’re going to go and have alternates. It is recommended that you pick three potential evacuation locations (cities/towns).

• Identify three places to stay in those locations (friends, family, hotels, etc.).

• Print out the contact information for the places you plan to stay.

• Print maps and directions to the locations.

• Know the locations of and directions to pharmacies, hospitals, urgent care centers,

veterinarians, etc.

• Include your pets’ needs in your plan: shelter, food, water, medications, leash, collar with tags, potty pads, etc.

• If you are staying in a hotel, understand the facility: Is it pet friendly? Do you need a room with accessibility options? What is the cancellation policy?

Have an evacuation kit

An evacuation kit should include items that will meet the health, food and wellness needs of your family. You might not need the items in the kit while you are evacuating, but you might need them when you return home. Plan on enough supplies for three days.

For more detailed information, visit the websites of the Town of Hilton Head Island, the Town of Bluffton, and Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. Find the South Carolina Hurricane Guide for 2023 at scemd.org. You can also download their app to help create your own plan.

Tom Dunn is the emergency management coordinator for the Town of Hilton Head Island.

843.837.4000

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