Weather Service Update:

● POTENTIALLY HISTORIC RAINFALL LIKELY BRINGS AREAS OF CATASTROPHIC FLOODING MID-TO-LATE WEEK. ● The very slow motion of Tropical Storm Debby over the Southeast will bring a prolonged period of impacts through mid-to-late week. Tropical storm force winds, storm surge, and several tornadoes are also possible for portions of the area. ● Longer term river flooding could inhibit recovery efforts into next week and beyond.

Dorchester County Council Declares State of Emergency



At the emergency Dorchester County Council Meeting held today, August 5, 2024, County Council approved a state of emergency effective from 3:00 PM today and continuing through Tuesday, August 13, 2024. This decision comes in response to the flooding projected to be produced by Tropical Storm Debby.

The declaration of a state of emergency allows Dorchester County to mobilize necessary resources and take proactive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents.

Dorchester County Monitors Storm and Begins Sandbag Distribution

Dorchester County continues to closely monitor Tropical Storm Debby which is expected to impact South Carolina later this week.

Residents are reminded to have a family plan in place, build or restock emergency preparedness kits, and to bring pets indoors. 

Flood Safety Tips:

• Avoid Floodwaters: Do not walk, swim, or drive through floodwaters. Just six inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
• Turn Around, Don’t Drown: Never drive around barricades. Local responders use them to safely direct traffic away from flooded areas.
• After Flooding: Avoid floodwaters as they may be contaminated. Be aware of the risk of electrocution. Do not return to your home until authorities indicate it is safe.

Sandbag Distribution

In preparation for impacts from the incoming storm, sandbag locations will open Sunday, August 4, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. Please note that there is a limit of ten sandbags per resident or business owner, and it is first-come, first-served.

Please bring a shovel as sites are a Fill It Yourself model with the county providing sand and bags. 

• Sandy Pines Convenience Site, 374 Sandy Pines Ln., Dorchester, SC 29437
• Old Bi-lo Parking Lot/New Dorchester County Health and Human Services Campus, (By Summerville High School) 1452 Boone Hill Rd., Summerville, SC 29483

Tips on how to properly fill and stack your sandbags:

• Fill bags one-half of the way full.
• Over-filled bags will result in a leaky sandbag wall.
• Stack sandbags so that the seams between the bags are staggered.
• Tuck the top of each bag under to ensure that each bag is sealed by its own weight

Dorchester County Call Center

As part of our ongoing commitment to your safety and well-being, we are opening the Dorchester County Call Center on Sunday, August 4 from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. This call center has been established to provide you with accurate and up-to-date information regarding the current situation related to Tropical Storm Debby.
Please continue to call 9-1-1 for any emergency.

Call Center Details:

Date: Sunday, August 4
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

*Call Center will re-open Monday at 8:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. We will continue to share updates regarding extending Call Center hours for the remainder of the week.

Contact Number: (843) 832-0393

Our trained operators are available to answer your inquiries, provide storm updates, share safety guidelines, and address any concerns you might have. 

Stay Informed

Information changes so it is important to stay updated so you know what to expect and when to expect it. Make sure to have several ways to receive information. 

• Download the FEMA app and receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service.
• Follow Dorchester County on Facebook and Twitter for updates. 
• Get the latest from Dorchester County Emergency Management. 

Visit DorchesterCountySC.gov for more general government storm-related information.

Preparing your Business (Source SCEMD):

Business owners should develop a recovery plan for their business by taking the following precautions:

• Include emergency preparedness information in company newsletters, company intranet, employee emails or other company communication tools.
• Consider a telephone calling tree or a voice recording to communicate with employees during an emergency.
• Designate an out-of-town number where employees can leave an, “I’m okay” message during a catastrophic disaster.
• If you have employees with disabilities or functional needs, talk with them about what their needs may be during a disaster.
• Plan for payroll continuity.
• Review and practice what you and your employees intend to do during and after an emergency.
• Establish facility shutdown procedures.
• Establish warning and evacuation procedures.
• Make plans for assisting employees who may need transportation.
• Make plans for communicating with employees' families before and after a hurricane.
• Purchase a NOAA Weather Radio with a warning alarm tone and battery backup.
• Survey your facility. Make plans to protect outside equipment and structures.
• Check if your phone system will work without electricity. If not, have at least one phone line that can operate without electricity.
• Make plans to protect windows. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection. Covering windows with plywood is a second option.
• Consider the need for backup systems such as portable pumps to remove floodwater and generators to provide emergency power.
• Prepare to move records, computers and other items within your facility or to another location.
• Consider how to recover any digital data if there is a significant power outage or if computers and servers are damaged. Keep tax and payroll records, records of inventory and essential information at an alternate site.
• Establish an alternate operating location and back-up suppliers.
• Maintain three to five days of inventory. If a disaster occurs, the loss isn’t as great.