The South Carolina Response Team today announced the opening of shelters across the state for residents and visitors who are evacuating from coastal areas as Hurricane Matthew approaches. Shelters began opening on Wednesday, October 5, and as of 5 PM there are 32 shelters open.
Shelters are generally the place of last resort. Individuals and families are encouraged to have emergency plans in place. These plans should include relatives or friends with whom you can stay or locations to which you will travel. In the event that you must use a shelter, be sure to make arrangement for your pets; pets are not allowed in official shelters with the exception of two listed below.
The Department of Social Services is designated as the lead agency for coordinating mass care operations. In particular, DSS works with the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, the Department of Health and Environmental Control and other state agencies and volunteer relief organizations in disaster situations to coordinate the capability to meet basic human needs (shelter, food, bulk distribution of emergency relief supplies, disaster welfare inquiries, and emergency social services).
SCDSS is has placed an additional 60 shelters in stand-by mode, ready to host evacuees if needed.
As of 5:00 p.m. today, October 5, 2016, the following emergency shelters are open for people evacuating Hurricane Matthew:
Aiken County
South Aiken High School
232 East Pine Log Road
Aiken, SC
Allendale County
Allendale Elementary School
4561 Allendale-Fairfax Hwy.
Allendale, SC
Fairfax Elementary School
734 E. 14 th Street
Fairfax, SC
Bamberg County
Bamberg-Ehrnhardt School
267 Red Rider Dr.
Bamberg, SC
Ghents Branch Baptist Church
1974 Ghents Branch Rd.
Denmark, SC
Denmark-Olar High School
197 Viking Circle
Denmark, SC
Barnwell County
Barnwell Elementary School
10524 Marlboro Ave.
Barnwell, SC
Berkeley County
Berkeley Elementary School
715 Hwy 6
Monks Corner, SC
Cane Bay High School **PET FRIENDLY**
1624 State Road
Summerville, SC
St. Stephens Elementary School
1053 Russellville Rd.
St. Stephens, SC
Westview Middle School
101 Westview Blvd.
Goose Creek, SC
Westview Primary School
98 Westview Blvd.
Goose Creek, SC
Charleston County
AC Corcoran Elementary School
8585 Vistavia Road
N. Charleston, SC
Burns Elementary School **PET FRIENDLY**
3750 Dorchester Road
Charleston, SC 29405
Ladson Elementary School
3321 Ladson Road
N. Charleston, SC
Midland Park Elementary
2415 Midlands Park Road
N. Charleston, SC
North Charleston High School
1087 East Montague Ave.
N. Charleston, SC
Stall High School
3625 Ashely Phosphate Road
N. Charleston, SC
Colleton County
Colleton County Middle School
1379 Tuskegee Airman Drive
Walterboro, SC
Dorchester County
Dubose Middle School
1005 Dubose School Road
Summerville, SC
Fort Dorchester High School.
8500 Patriot Blvd
North Charleston, SC
Oakbrook Middle School
4704 Old Fort Drive
Ladson, SC
St. George Middle School
600 Minus Street
St. George, SC
Summerville High School
1011 Boone Hill Road
Summerville, SC
Woodland High School
4128 US Highway 78
Dorchester, SC
Jasper County
Ridgeland High School Complex
250 Jaguar Trail
Ridgeland, SC
Lexington County
White Knoll High School
5643 Platt Springs Road
Lexington, SC
Spartanburg County
Spartanburg Expo Center
6655 Pottery Road
Spartanburg, SC 29303
Williamsburg County
CE Murray High School
222 CE Murray Blvd
Greeleyville, SC
Hemingway High School
402 South Main Street
Hemingway, SC
Kingstree Senior High
615 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue
Kingstree, SC
Tupperware Gym
Tupperware Road 258
Hemingway, SC
Visit scemd.org for a complete list of shelters as well as updates.