Gov. Sanford calls for voluntary evacuation of the Grand Strand

Gov. Mark Sanford called Thursday for voluntary evacuation of Horry and Georgetown counties after reviewing the latest projections of Tropical Storm Hanna's path. He asked those in campers and mobile homes and residents who live east of U.S. Highway 17 to heed the call.

Highway Patrol will be monitoring the traffic along the Grand Strand's evacuation routes and busy roadways but the troopers will not be directing traffic.

"It is incumbent for us to lay out the danger and let people decide for themselves," Sanford said.

Sanford said he is ruling out the possibility of a mandatory evacuation.

"We don't think it's in order and we're not going to call for it."

The Grand Strand can expect a high tide storm surge of 4-6 feet as Hanna nears on Friday night and 60 mph winds by 11 p.m., according to Sanford's office.

The state's Emergency Operations Center, near Columbia, has been operating around the clock since Tuesday with 75 state agency officials and representatives from volunteer organizations there to coordinate response plans, said Ron Osborne, director of the state Emergency Management Division. The state is providing minimal staffing in three area shelters, Osborne said.

A 24-hour supply of water and about 150,000 meals are warehoused in case they are needed, Osborne said.

The Charleston County center, among other coastal EOCs, is also running a 24-hour operation. Meanwhile, the Department of Natural Resources is conducting a river sweep and Sanford said he spoke with U.S. Secretary Michael Chertoff of the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday about disaster resources that could be available to South Carolina.

No nursing homes are being asked to evacuate. State offices will stay open.

Sanford said he considers this preparations for Hanna to be more of a "run-through."

"This could be a dress rehearsal for a thing called Ike," Sanford said.

AccuWeather, a private forecasting company, is calling Ike a monstrous storm, but whether it will impact South Carolina is too early to tell.

For more on Hanna and Ike, check Charleston.net and Friday's Post and Courier.