McMaster on keeping Irma evacuation order: ‘There’s still a lot of danger out there’

While the worst of Tropical Storm Irma might have passed through Beaufort County during high tide at noon Monday, S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster said Monday he would not immediately lift the mandatory evacuation order restricting residents from the county’s barrier islands.

On Friday night, McMaster ordered the evacuation of the following Beaufort County’s barrier islands, effective 10 a.m. Saturday: Hilton Head, Daufuskie, Hunting, Harbor and Fripp. A decision on lifting that evacuation — which would allow more than 40,000 residents to return to their homes — will be made in cooperation with county officials, McMaster said during a Monday afternoon press conference.

“While the storm may have passed, evacuation cannot be lifted until it’s safe to return,” he said. “There’s still a lot of danger out there.”

Tropical storm force winds from Irma, which was downgraded from a hurricane, spanned 415 miles from its center, resulting in downed trees, flooded roads and power outages across South Carolina’s coast.

For Beaufort County, storm surge seemed to be the most serious problem. A tidal gauge at Fort Pulaski near Savannah, the closest instrument to Beaufort County, was recorded at 12.24 feet earlier Monday, though the level has since receded to 11.23 feet. During Hurricane Matthew last fall, a record was set at 12.5 feet.

Almost 147,000 power outages were reported statewide, with 32,400 in Beaufort County alone, McMaster said. More than 2,000 SCE&G workers are working to restore power.

Wind gusts as high as 66 miles per hour were recorded in Beaufort Monday. For context, gusts peaked at 88 mph on Hilton Head Island last fall during Hurricane Matthew. Winds are expected to peak Monday afternoon into the evening.

The highest wind gusts in South Carolina, 72 mph, were recorded at Folly Beach.

No storm-related fatalities have been reported in the Palmetto State as of Monday afternoon, but echoing pleas law enforcement have made all day, McMaster urged the public to stay indoors.

“There’s no need to put yourself, your family or first responders at risk, so we’re asking everyone to not attempt to drive even after it stops raining,” he said.

For Tropical Storm Irma questions, call South Carolina’s storm hotline at 1-866-246-0133.

This story was originally published September 11, 2017 at 11:37 AM with the headline "McMaster on keeping Irma evacuation order: ‘There’s still a lot of danger out there’."