The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs through Nov. 30, is officially here, and forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are predicting a “near-normal” year of storm activity.
Meteorologists at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center believe we’ll see between 12 to 17 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher). Of those, as many as nine could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including four storms that could become major hurricanes (winds of 111 mph or higher).
As the guardians of the state’s largest utility network—more than 75,000 miles of electric distribution lines serving nearly 2 million people across all 46 counties—South Carolina’s not-for-profit electric cooperatives have emergency plans in place to deal with violent weather should a hurricane threaten the Palmetto State.
Along with the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD), co-ops urge all state residents to have their own plans in place to protect friends, family, pets and property. Learn what to do before, during and after violent storms with these resources.
South Carolina Living Storm Center
South Carolina Living’s storm center pages are filled with information to help co-op members prepare for and survive natural disasters. Readers will find useful how-to guides on building a storm kit, evacuating with pets, staying safe when power lines are down, and how to report power outages. There’s even a live, statewide outage map to track storm damage and the status of repairs in co-op-served territories. See all the resources at SCLiving.coop/storm-center.
SC Emergency Manager mobile app
Available for free in the Apple App Store and on Google Play, this handy app links users to every SCEMD resource they need before, during and after a storm, including evacuation and shelter maps and planning checklists.
SCEMD.org
No smartphone? No problem. All of the app’s planning resources, maps and links to the latest emergency information are available on SCEMD.org. In the case of a hurricane (or any natural disaster), SCEMD will update the site to provide the best real-time information users need.
South Carolina Hurricane Guide
From both the website and the app, you can download SCEMD’s latest South Carolina Hurricane Guide, a comprehensive booklet filled with tips and resources. To download your copy, visit scemd.org/stay-informed/publications/hurricane-guide.
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2023 Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Names
Arlene*
Bret*
Cindy*
Don
Emily
Franklin
Gert
Harold
Idalia
Jose
Katia
Lee
Margot
Nigel
Ophelia
Philippe
Rina
Sean
Tammy
Vince
Whitney
* Tropical Storm Arlene formed and quickly dissipated in the Gulf of Mexico June 1–3. Tropical Storm Bret formed in the Atlantic June 19 and dissipated in the Caribbean June 20. Tropical Storm Cindy formed and dissipated in the Atlantic June 22–26.