When hurricanes, floods, or other weather emergencies threaten our state, the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) takes actions to help protect South Carolinians.
While the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) is the primary coordinating agency in the state during a weather emergency, DPH and other state agencies perform critical roles that help protect our residents and help our state recover from hurricanes and other disasters as quickly as possible. DPH assists with pre-storm evacuation support, active monitoring of health care facilities during an event and post-event recovery operations. In addition, DPH is part of the South Carolina Emergency Operations Center before, during, and after emergencies, supporting a comprehensive emergency response.
Medical Needs Shelters
South Carolina has two types of shelters: General Population Shelters and Medical Needs Shelters. General Population Shelters are managed through coordination between the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS), SCEMD and local governments, not DPH.
DPH does oversee Medical Needs Shelters. These are shelters that provide lodging for people whose medical conditions exceed the capabilities of the general population shelters but are not severe enough to require a hospital stay. These are individuals who live at home and have a health condition that requires specialized, electric-powered equipment or need medication that requires refrigeration. Individuals in these shelters must bring an adult caregiver with them to care for them, as DPH does not provide health care services in these shelters.
Hospital and Long-term Care Facility Evacuations
Before DPH issues a license to an in-patient facility like a hospital or nursing home, the facility is required to have an Emergency Evacuation Plan (EEP). These plans must address evacuations and all types of disasters, including power outages and flooding. These plans also should address sheltering, staffing, transportation, etc.
If a hospital or long-term care facility is evacuated due to a weather emergency by Executive Order issued by the governor, the facility will follow its EEP. DPH stays in connection with evacuated facilities to help address any issues that may arise during the safe evacuation of residents and staff.
In addition, DPH works with hospitals and local officials to ensure medical services are available as soon as safely possible after the storm or other weather emergency has passed.
Care Line
As needed, DPH uses its Care Line to help provide information to South Carolinians about medical needs shelters or any DPH health department services that may be interrupted due to severe weather.
Available Services
After a hurricane or flood, DPH stands ready to assist wherever possible by providing key services to residents in areas recovering from severe weather. The agency can provide available services at unimpacted health departments in every county in the state and may also hold temporary clinics in community venues as well as provide WIC nutrition services for eligible women and children.