State Ditches Voluntary Hurricane Evacuations

What if you told a coastline full of residents and tourists that they could go ahead and evacuate, but nobody left? Apparently, you waste resources on a voluntary evacuation order for no good reason. 

Beginning this year, state emergency management officials will not be issuing voluntary evacuations days in advance of a coming storm. In the past, a non-existent response from the public has left state officers and Red Cross personnel coordinating voluntary evacuations that aren't being utilized, according to The State.

"We're one of the last states to have a voluntary evacuation order," said Derrec Becker, spokesman for the emergency division. "Instead, we'll just have an evacuation order by the governor, and that’s it."

The expectation is that, when a single evacuation order is given, it will be clearer for coastal residents that it is, in fact, time to go. Folly Beach Mayor Tim Goodwin told The State he was worried about losing the early warning and hopes that evacuations are ordered early enough to get everyone out.

Cathy Haynes, Charleston County Emergency Management Department operations chief, told The Post and Courier that local officials can request an evacuation order from the governor, if necessary.

"When the governor orders an evacuation, we hope people will take it seriously right then, not wait 12 hours to see what’s going to happen," Hanyes said.