Press Releases

Hurricane Florence continues affect Florence County in the form of wind and rainfall as the storm moves through the area. While the storm has decreased in intensity, it still remains a threat to the citizens of Florence County. We can expect tropical storm winds through Saturday in addition to between 15 to 25 inches of rain through Sunday. Wide spread power outages, localized flooding and washed out roads and bridges are likely with the effects of the storm lasting through Sunday morning.

Florence County Council has authorized the County Administrator, the Director of Emergency Management and Florence County Sheriff Kenney Boone to impose a curfew and mandatory evacuation of threatened areas if conditions warrant. As the danger of traveling during this storm increases exponentially at night, a county-wide curfew has been ordered from 8:00 PM to 7:00 AM for all non-emergency activities. Exceptions to the curfew include essential public safety/medical employees and essential industry staff until further notice.

In addition, a mandatory evacuation has been ordered of the area along Black Creek including Nena Lane, Split Rail Drive, E. Black Creek Drive, Staghorn Lane, Atlee Court, Crooked Creek Drive and Creekside Drive beginning immediately and to be completed by noon tomorrow.

The evacuation order also includes the area along Lynches River near Effingham to include Ben Gause Road, Hawkins Landing Road, Meadowprong Road (dirt portion), Roundtree Road, Fork Road and North Old Georgetown Road in the area of New Hope and Lynches River County Park beginning immediately and to be completed by noon tomorrow.

Residents evacuating these areas are asked to leave with some proof of residency for reentry purposes once the order to evacuate is rescinded. Stay tuned to local weather and news outlets for updated weather reports and download the Florence County Sheriff’s Office free app for I-Phone and Android telephones for instant alerts.

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Major Michael M. Nunn
General Counsel/P.I.O.