Gov. Henry McMaster has declared May as South Carolina Hurricane Preparedness Month. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division, county emergency managers, the National Weather Service, and all members of the State Emergency Response Team urge people, communities, and businesses to start preparing for the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season ahead of time.

Designating May as Hurricane Preparedness Month provides South Carolinians with ample time to take necessary precautions and stay informed about potential risks across the state.

The state's Hurricane Preparedness Month theme is "Don't Wait, Prepare Today." This means that this month is an opportunity for residents to take action now, ensuring they have the plans and resources needed to stay safe before hurricane season begins.

Know Your Zone. In South Carolina, state and local officials issue hurricane evacuations based on zones in coastal counties. Know your hurricane evacuation zone instantly with the SC Emergency Manager mobile app and Hurricane.sc, South Carolina's online hurricane guide.

Prepare Your Home. Do a safety check of your home to ensure it is prepared to withstand the effects of a hurricane. Schedule a roof inspection, double-check your hurricane shutters, and review your insurance policies to ensure they cover the types of damages that hurricanes can cause. Create a list and take photos of your belongings for documentation. Review your insurance policies now to make sure they cover all your needs.

Remember Your Route. Knowing the closest hurricane evacuation route before the start of hurricane season is important. Once you identify your route, remember it and follow it during an evacuation. Rely on the blue hurricane evacuation signs rather than a GPS for the most accurate and reliable guidance.

For regular updates on preparations, County road and traffic changes, live-streams of state and local press conferences, evacuation orders, recovery efforts, County services, and post-storm damage reports, follow:

• Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office
• Beaufort County Emergency Management Division
• Beaufort County Government

Beaufort County will again be running videos encouraging residents to prepare now--before hurricane season begins. The videos will be running on BCTV and all Beaufort County's social media platforms.

Watch the County's Hurricane Preparedness video here.

South Carolina is one of the most vulnerable states to hurricanes and tropical storms. Six coastal counties border the Atlantic Ocean. These counties have more than 200 miles of general coastline. Densely populated coastal areas, especially during peak tourist seasons, coupled with the generally low coastal elevations significantly increase the state's vulnerability.

Hurricanes not only threaten the coast, but all areas of South Carolina. Storm surge and flooding are the most deadly and destructive hazards associated with tropical storms and hurricanes. High winds and tornadoes can cause severe damage to buildings and homes far inland.

Hurricane season begins June 1 and lasts through November 30.