Storm Preparedness
Atlantic Hurricane Season: June 1-November 30.
2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook
NOAA National Weather Service forecasters at the Climate Prediction Center predict above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year due to a confluence of factors, including near-record warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean, development of La Nina conditions in the Pacific, reduced Atlantic trade winds and less wind shear, all of which tend to favor tropical storm formation. View the full press release here.
Prepare Your Home, Build Your Emergency Kit
You can take steps to minimize the loss of life or property during a hurricane. Ensure you have your disaster supplies while the shelves are still stocked, and don’t forget to review your insurance policy early, especially considering flood insurance typically has a 30-day waiting period.
Prepare Your Home
Do a safety check to make sure your home is best able to withstand the effects of a hurricane. Some key steps to take: have your roof inspected, double-check hurricane shutters, maintain well-trimmed trees and shrubs around your property, and know where your utility shut offs are located.
Call your insurance company or agent and ask for an insurance check-up to make sure you have enough insurance to repair or even replace your home and/or belongings. Be sure to create a detailed list and capture photos or videos of your possessions. Remember, home and renters insurance doesn’t cover flooding, so you’ll need a separate policy for it. Flood insurance is available through your company, agent, or the National Flood Insurance Program at floodsmart.gov.
NEW! Electric Vehicle Hurricane Preparedness
Never Drive Through Flood Water
Water infiltration into the high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle can lead to damage, heightening the risk of a battery fire. Such fires may erupt instantaneously or manifest days, weeks, or even months after exposure to saltwater.
Leaving Electric Vehicles Behind
- NEVER park EVs inside a garage in flood-prone areas.
- DO NOT leave electric vehicles plugged into a charger.
- ALWAYS ensure they are parked at least 50 feet away from any structure or other vehicles. Exposure to storm surge can damage the battery, leading to a fire risk. When leaving an EV behind, maintain the battery at less than 30% state of charge.
- NEVER attempt to drive or charge a vehicle that has been submerged in floodwaters.
General Lithium-ion Battery Safety
Properly dispose of any lithium-ion batteries or devices containing lithium-ion batteries exposed to floodwaters. Using or charging batteries exposed to floodwaters poses a serious risk of fire. DO NOT discard these batteries in regular trash.
Emergency Supplies Kit
Whether you’re evacuating or sheltering-in-place, you’re going to need supplies not just to get through the storm but for the potentially lengthy and unpleasant aftermath. It is important to keep enough supplies in your home to meet the needs of your family for at least three days. Assemble a Family Emergency Kit with items you may need in an emergency or evacuation. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers such as suitcases, duffle bags or covered storage containers.
Community Updates From Sea Pines CSA
In the event of an approaching storm, you will automatically receive updates from Sea Pines CSA to the email address on file with us. To update your contact information click here.
If you are not receiving community email updates from Sea Pines CSA and would like to, please email info@csaseapines.com.
Weather updates
Local and State Information Resources
- Town of HHI Citizen Guide to Emergency Preparedness
- Hilton Head Island Hurricane Center
- Sign up for Emergency Alerts from the Town of Hilton Head
- Town of HHI Facebook Page
- Register for email and text alerts from the BCSO through Nixle here or text your ZIP CODE to 888777 for mobile alerts
- Everbridge NIXLE Mobile App
- Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Website
- Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Storm Center
- Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page
- 2024 South Carolina Hurricane Guide
- SCEMD Hurricane Resource Website
- Sign Up for CodeRED Emergency Alerts
- SCEMD Public Information Phone System (PIPS) 1-866-246-0133
Only activated as needed / Spanish interpreters available
In the event you lose power — please see the information below to report the outage, as well as stay “in the know” as to when it might be restored.
Palmetto Electric Cooperative Facebook Page
Power Outage: 1-866-445-5551
Outage Map: https://www.palmetto.coop/outagestorm-center/
Evacuation Information
The Governor of South Carolina is the only person with the authority to order an evacuation for the entire island of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The Governor makes this decision based on potential storm impacts to the state, using resources like the National Hurricane Center, the National Weather Service, and local governments.
KNOW YOUR ZONE
- Sea Pines / Hilton Head Island is in Zone A
EVACUATION ROUTES & LANE REVERSALS
Hilton Head Island
- Hilton Head Island evacuees will use both the William Hilton Parkway (US 278 Business) and the Cross Island Parkway (US 278).
- As these two roads merge, a third lane will be formed by reversing flow on the inside eastbound lane of US 278. This lane will carry traffic to the three-lane section beginning on the mainland.
- LANE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE AS FOLLOWS*:
1. The right lane on US 278 westbound will exit onto SC 170, proceed to SC 462, then be directed to I-95 northbound at I-95 exit 28.
2. The center lane on US 278 westbound will become the right lane at SC 170 which will be directed to I-95 northbound at exit 8.
3. The left lane on US 278 westbound at SC 170 will continue on US 278 to Hampton and eventually to North Augusta.
*A GPS may misdirect you to closed roads. Stay on official evacuation routes.