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 Equipment Power Shelters

South Carolina has two types of shelters: Medical Equipment Power Shelters and General Population Shelters. General Population Shelters are managed through coordination between the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS), SCEMD and local governments.

DPH oversees Medical Equipment Power Shelters. A Medical Equipment Power Shelter (MEPS) is an emergency shelter with limited support for people who require backup power for medical reasons. These are individuals who live at home and have a health condition that requires backup power for medical devices, refrigeration of medication, or specialized/hospital beds. Individuals in these shelters should bring a responsible adult companion with them. DPH does not provide health care services in these shelters.

During normal operations, DPH’s Care Line helps residents find important health care services they need. However, during a disaster, the Triage Line is activated to determine the eligibility of callers into a Medical Equipment Power Shelter (MEPS). If you are a person who requires uninterrupted power for medical devices, refrigeration of medication, or specialized/hospital beds, please call the Triage Line below.

Hospital and Long-Term Care Facility Evacuations

Before DPH issues a license to an inpatient 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 by Executive Order issued by the governor due to a weather emergency, the facility will follow its EEP. DPH stays in contact 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.

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. Utilizing unimpacted health departments and temporary clinics in community venues, DPH can provide health department services, WIC nutrition services for eligible women and children, and Tdap or other immunizations based on event type.