Hurricane Irene to Make Minimal Impact in Midlands

Local authorities are keeping an eye on Hurricane Irene as it skims past South Carolina this weekend. 

The storm will have minimal impact on the Midlands, said Shawn Smith, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Columbia. 

"We're going to be far enough inland that we're not going to see any preciptation from Irene," Smith said.

Midlands residents can expect some gusty winds between 15 and 20 mph Friday and Saturday afternoon as the storm approaches the northeastern part of South Carolina, he said. 

Still, local law enforcement are watching closely.

"We'll keep an eye on what's happening as far as the tracking of the storm goes," said Deputy Curtis Wilson with the Richland County Sheriff's Department, "but there's no real need for any extra measures."

Major John Allard of the Lexington County Sheriff's Department said they're not taking any special precautions at the time either. 

"We've been advised we shouldn't expect any tropical weather," Allard said. 

Areas along the northeast coast, however, are preparing for strong winds and thunderstorms. , Smith said.

Hurricane Irene is expected to make landfall Saturday somewhere between Wilmington, N.C. and the outer banks, he said.

Both the Richland and Lexington sheriff's departments are prepared to send volunteers after the storm if necessary.

"That's always in place," Wilson said. "Whenever there's a crisis, we'll always have volunteers who'll be ready to make that trip."

If the storm causes significant damage, the governor of North Carolina would ask the governor of South Carolina for assistance, Allard said. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division would then contact counties to ask for volunteers.