IN SPORTS: Update on area football game postponements because of weather B1 HURRICANE MATTHEW
Storm slams Haiti as Category 4 monster, Cuba next WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2016
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Haley orders evacuations ahead of storm BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has ordered the mandatory evacuation of coastal areas of South Carolina beginning at 3 p.m. today as Hurricane Matthew threatens to wreak havoc on coastal South Carolina starting Friday night. In particular, she cited the prospect of a storm surge. Evacuation routes on major roadways will become one-way at 3 p.m. today to facilitate the evacuation of an estimated 1.1 million people. She urged people to fill their automobiles with fuel and try to leave before the mandatory evacuations are in effect. “The worst thing would be
for everyone to leave at once,” she said. Schools in much of eastern South Carolina have been ordered closed, including schools in Florence, Darlington, Clarendon, Sumter and Lee counties, to make room for evacuees. Schools are often used as emergency evacuation locations in which evacuees can stay temporarily. Government offices have also been ordered closed to keep traffic off the roads, she said. “This is not something we want to play with,” Haley warned. “If you don’t get out in time, you might be stuck.” Meteorologist Frank Alsheimer of the National Weather Service in Columbia
said Tuesday the latest forecast track has the storm within 20 or 30 miles of the South Carolina coast Friday into Friday night. “Given that the hurricane force winds extend out over 40 miles, assuming the track remains as it currently is forecast, it would extend hurricane conditions all along the South Carolina coast,” Alsheimer said. “Certainly along the coast the storm surge is a significant concern.” The storm is expected to weaken as it crosses the Bahamas and moves north, Alsheimer said.
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The GOES East satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows Hurricane Matthew about SEE HALEY, PAGE A6 220 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica.
CLOSURES AND POSTPONEMENTS Schools • Public schools in Sumter, Lee and Clarendon counties are all closed today through Friday. • All Central Carolina Technical College campuses in Clarendon, Lee and Sumter counties will be closed today. All Kershaw County campuses will remain open on Wednesday. CCTC will provide updates each day as Hurricane Matthew emergency plans evolve. Daily announcements will be available on the college phone system, Facebook and www.cctech.edu. Events • The Fall Family Farm Day event scheduled for this Saturday at Old McCaskill’s Farm and featured in today’s Panorama story on page C1 has been postponed to Saturday, Oct. 15, because of expected weather conditions. Farm co-owner Kathy McCaskill said the event schedule and agenda will be exactly the same, as all participants have been able to reschedule. • The Downtown Sumter Pokémon Go Lure-a-thon 2.0 with Ray’s Hobbies and Toys Comic Convention has been postponed to Saturday, Nov. 5, because of inclement weather anticipated for this weekend. All of the details about the event will remain the same. See the sports pages for updated game schedules. Please send updated closures and postponements to pressreleases@theitem.com and we will post them online as soon as possible.
IVY MOORE / THE SUMTER ITEM
Food Lion customers were stocking up in case Hurricane Matthew blows into Sumter. This shopper explained that his wife had sent him to do the household shopping, concentrating on the hurricane staples such as water, bread, canned beans, nuts and snacks.
DHEC: Don’t forget special needs family members when preparing for hurricane ITEM STAFF REPORT Preparing properly for a natural disaster such as a hurricane can require a lot of thought, especially if your family includes the elderly, the infirm or the very young. South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Services has a list of emergency survival supplies residents may need during and after disasters such as hurricanes, including for family members who may not be able to prepare for themselves. Here are some of the items that your kit should include, according to DHEC: Cash or travelers checks. ATM’s and Pay-AtThe-Pump services won’t be available if the power is out; A battery-operated radio and spare batteries; A flashlight for each person and spare batteries; A week’s supply of water — one gallon per person per day; A fire extinguisher; A week’s supply of non-perishable food, plus a manual can opener, paper plates, plastic cups and utensils. Good choices are crackers, peanut butter, canned fruit, raisins and other dried fruit, canned beans, beverages such as fruit juices and milk in cans or boxes, canned soup, granola bars, cold cereal, instant coffee, hard candy, tea bags, cookies and seasonings; Plastic containers to hold dry foods, spare batteries, duct tape and matches; A four-week supply of prescription medications; A first aid kit; Rain gear; Trash bags; Matches (in a waterproof container); Pet food (if you have pets); Insect repellent; Charcoal; Ice and cooler; Plastic tarps; Unscented, regular strength bleach or other water purification
aids; Books and games; Sunscreen; A camera and spare batteries. You will want to take pictures of your house, inside and outside, for insurance purposes. Store in a waterproof container; Toilet paper; Paper towels; Moist towelettes; Duct tape; Sewing kit; Hat and work gloves; Sunglasses; Important documents stored in a waterproof container. These documents should include immunization records, passports, wills, insurance policies, deeds, contracts, stocks and bonds, social security cards and birth certificates; Bedding or sleeping bags; Extra clothing; Paper and pen; Basic tool kit; Personal hygiene and toiletry items. Don’t forget soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste; and Cleaning supplies, including disinfectant, towels, buckets, mops, etc. Special Needs Items As you put your kit together, be sure to take in the “special needs” of family members. These individuals include infants, the elderly and persons with disabilities or serious illnesses. For Baby: Formula (Preferably pre-prepared); Diapers; Bottles; Powdered milk; Baby food; Medications; Moist towelettes / baby wipes; and Diaper rash ointments. For Adults: Ask your doctor about storing prescription medications such as heart and high-blood pressure medications, insulin and other prescription drugs. Denture needs; Contact lenses and supplies; Extra eye glasses; Walking canes, walkers, etc.; and Oxygen tank. Source: http://www.scdhec.gov
Council gets blighted housing program A ringer update, approves celltower amendment BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com Sumter Planning Department Director George McGregor and Quality Assurance Manager John MacLoskie presented an update on the city’s Sumter Pride Program, the Neighborhood Initiative Program and demolition enforcement activities during Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Sumter City Council. McGregor presented City Council with an award given to the City’s Abandoned and Dilapidated Housing Demolition Program as the Outstanding Planning Project by the South Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association. MacLoskie told City Council that while some demolition projects have been slowed or derailed by title issues, currently 103 demolition projects have been submitted, 98 approved and 95 contracts let for demolition. He said 143 blighted structures have been demolished since February 2015. JIM HILLEY / THE SUMTER ITEM A hidden success of the blighted housing demolition Mayor Joe McElveen, right, presents a program, MacLoskie said, is the property owners who gift to Central Carolina Technical Colhave decided to repair blighted homes to make them
lege President Tim Hardee at Tuesday night’s council meeting.
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During Saturday’s Take a Kid Mountain Biking event at Poinsett State Park, rider Aidan Gruner, 12, showed how he could control six Hula Hoops at one time.
DEATHS, B5 Amy D. Hurley John M. Arooji Robert L. Davis Grover Lee Reed Julius T. Simmons Jr.
Morris China Jr. Andrew S. Benjamin Esther M. Robinson Anthony M. Powell
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