>> OKAY, FIRST OF ALL, GOOD
MORNING.
THIS IS THE MORNING AFTER THE STORM, AND SO WHAT WE
WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE YOU WHAT WE KNOW
WHILE WE KNOW IT.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY STILL A LOT THAT
WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THE STORM IS CONTINUING ON, BUT
WE ARE GOING TO START OFF WITH "ROCK STAR JOHN" TO
GIVE US THE LATEST REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, GOVERNOR.
WE JUST GOT THE LATEST INFORMATION FROM THE
NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER.
THEY BROUGHT THE MAXIMUM WINDS DOWN TO 75 MILES PER
HOUR.
STILL A HURRICANE CAT 1.
THE CENTER OF THE EYE IS EAST, SOUTHEAST OVER
CHARLESTON AND MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 12 MILES PER
HOUR.
MATTHEW HAS BROUGHT SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS TO
COASTAL AREAS AND EVEN FARTHER INLAND OVERNIGHT.
I HAVE A SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE REPORTS THAT WE HAVE
RECEIVED.
IN TERMS OF RAINFALL, THE LOWCOUNTRY HAS ALREADY HAD
10-14 INCHES, 5-11 INCHES HAS FALLEN ACROSS THE GRAND
STRAND, PEE DEE AND EASTERN MIDLANDS, AND EVEN UPSTATE
HAS RECEIVED 2-4 INCHES OF RAINFALL.
WE ARE SEEING EXTENSIVE FLASH FLOODING ONGOING
ACROSS THE ENTIRE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE.
WINDS HAVE BEEN THE HIGHEST.
THE PEAK GUSTS WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR IS 88 MILES PER HOUR
IN HILTON HEAD, 82 MILES PER HOUR IN BEAUFORT, 75 MILES
PER HOUR IN FOLLY BEACH, 71 MILES PER HOUR IN
GEORGETOWN.
EVEN INLAND WE ARE SEEING TROPICAL STORM WIND GUSTS.
55 MILES PER HOUR AT MCINTYRE AND ALL THE WAY IN
GREENWOOD THEY HAD 39 MILE PER HOUR WIND GUSTS, WHICH
IS TROPICAL STORM GUSTS.
IN TERMS OF THE STORM SURGE, DOWN TO FORT PULASKI ACROSS
THE STATE LINE IN GEORGIA, THEY SET A NEW RECORD OF
12.52 FEET.
THAT'S AN ALL-TIME HIGH TIDE, HIGHER THAN HURRICANE
DAVID IN 1979.
CHARLESTON HARBOR, THEY HAD 9 FEET, THE THIRD HIGHEST ON
RECORD AND SINCE HURRICANE HUGO.
MATTHEW WILL CONTINUE LIFTING OFF TO THE
NORTHEAST.
WE STILL WILL SEE SIGNIFICANT STORM SURGE.
WITH THE FOCUS SHIFTING NORTH OF THE CHARLESTON AREA
WHERE THEY COULD SEE A 5-7 FOOT INUNDATION.
HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CONTINUE TO FALL.
WE ARE EXPECTING ANOTHER 5-7 INCHES ACROSS THE NORTHEAST
PART OF THE STATE.
SO WHILE SOME AREAS HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED IMPACTS, WE
ARE EXPECTING WORSE TO COME TO THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE
STATE AND UP IN THE MYRTLE BEACH AREA.
THANK YOU >>Governor: THANK YOU,
JOHN.
AS YOU CAN TELL, A LOT IS STILL GOING ON, WHETHER IT
IS WINDS OR RAIN.
WE ARE HAVING FLOODING EVENTS VERY SIMILAR TO LIKE
WHAT WE HAD LAST YEAR.
SO IT IS VERY -- IT IS STILL A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION,
AND WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS.
I KNOW THE STORM IS TODAY STARTING TO PASS CERTAIN
AREAS, BUT ALL AREAS STILL REMAIN DANGEROUS THAT WE
HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS WITH.
WE WILL BE WAITING ON THE COUNTIES TO ASSESS THE
DAMAGE.
DOT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND UTILITIES WILL WORK TOGETHER
TO GET IN AS SOON AS THEY CAN.
IT IS STILL NOT SAFE FOR SOME OF THEM TO GET IN.
AS SOON AS THEY CAN GET IN, THEY WILL GO IN AND TRY TO
CLEAR THINGS UP SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
IN THE NEXT TWO DAYS, YOU WILL SEE THEM WORKING IN
THOSE AREAS. 2700 DOT MAINTENANCE CREW
MEMBERS ARE READY TO GO AND READY TO GET TO WORK.
THE SOUTHERN PART OF I-95 IS CLOSED, AND WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND.
WE HAVE LOTS OF TREES DOWN THERE.
BUT WE HAVE LOTS OF TREES DOWN ON A LOT OF PRIMARY AND
SECONDARY ROADS.
SO UNTIL WE CAN REALLY GET AN ANALYSIS OF THAT, THE
DRIVING CONDITIONS ARE STILL NOT SAFE.
THE DAM ACTIVITY, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW
ABOUT DAMS.
YOUR BEST BET IS GO TO THE WWW.SCEMD.ORG WEBSITE.
THAT WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE UPDATES ON WHAT THE DAMS ARE
DOING, WHICH ONES WE ARE WATCHING, AND WHAT YOU CAN
EXPECT FROM THERE.
WE HAD SOMETHING INTERESTING HAPPEN OVERNIGHT THAT WE
WANT TO TELL ALL RESIDENTS.
WE HAVE A CYBER SITUATION THAT IS GOING ON IN THAT
PEOPLE WILL START RECEIVING E-MAILS, AND THEY WILL TELL
YOU THAT THEY HAVE UPDATES ON OUTAGES.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE UPDATES ON OUTAGES CLICK
HERE.
ONCE YOU CLICK THERE, THEY GET INTO YOUR COMPUTER.
SO IF YOU DO NOT KNOW THE E-MAIL PERSON -- IF YOU DO
NOT KNOW THE PERSON SENDING YOU THE E-MAIL, DELETE IT,
DON'T CLICK BECAUSE THAT'S STARTED TO BECOME A BIT OF A
CONCERN.
WE WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT'S NOT JUST STATE
EMAILS.
THAT'S ACROSS THE BOARD PEOPLE ARE SEEING THOSE
E-MAILS.
BE CAUTIOUS AS YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
COUNTIES STILL HAVE CURFEWS.
SO WE WOULD ASK YOU TO PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR LOCAL
AUTHORITIES AND LOCAL EMD STATIONS IN TERMS OF WHAT
THOSE CURFEWS ARE AND PLEASE ABIDE BY THOSE.
THEY ARE DOING THAT FOR A REASON.
THAT MAY MEAN THAT THEY ABSOLUTELY HAVE MORE
INFORMATION THAT YOU WOULDN'T THINK THEY HAVE AND
IT IS STILL NOT SAFE TO GET OUT.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE 78 SHELTERS WITH 6,651
RESIDENTS.
THAT'S UP FROM 4250 LAST NIGHT.
WE HAVE 725 STAFFERS WITH DSS AND OTHER AGENCIES THAT
ARE STAFFING AND KEEPING EVERYBODY COMFORTABLE AND
KEEPING THEM SAFE.
THE THREE SHELTERS THAT ARE THE FULLEST RIGHT NOW ARE
JASPER, RICHLAND AND NORTH CHARLESTON AS WE GO FORWARD.
WE HAVE NINE OPEN SPECIAL NEEDS FACILITIES RIGHT NOW,
AND WE HAVE 52 RESIDENTS IN THOSE.
WE STILL HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM AND CAPACITY IN ALL OF OUR
SHELTERS.
SO THAT IS NOT AN ISSUE IN TERMS OF WHAT ANYONE SHOULD
BE WORRIED ABOUT.
POWER OUTAGES, THIS IS PRETTY AMAZING.
WE HAVE 437,303 POWER OUTAGES.
DURING THE LAST STORM, WE HAD 350,000.
SO WE HAVE FAR SURPASSED THOSE AND THE OUTAGES WE ARE
SEEING MOST IN BEAUFORT, CHARLESTON, AND RICHLAND.
THEY ARE TRYING TO GET INTO RICHLAND NOW AND GET THOSE
BACK UP AND GOING.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT.
THEY WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE AS FAST AS THEY CAN WHERE IT
IS SAFE TO GO.
THERE IS NO ACCESSIBILTY INTO KIAWAH AND SEABROOK AT
ALL DUE TO TREES OR POWER LINES THAT ARE DOWN, SO
THAT'S NOT ACCESSIBLE.
WE ARE CLOSELY WATCHING THE BLACK, WACCAMAW, AND EDISTO
RIVERS.
WE EXPECT THE EDISTO RIVER TO CREST PROBABLY AROUND
MONDAY OR TUESDAY.
THOSE ARE ALL RIVERS THAT WE NEED TO WATCH.
IF YOU REMEMBER THE FLOOD FROM LAST YEAR, THAT CAUSED
A LOT OF ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS TO GO ALONG WITH THAT.
WE WILL BE WATCHING THOSE CLOSELY AS WELL.
CELL SERVICE IS DOWN IN PAWLEYS ISLAND.
WE KNOW THAT AS OF NOW.
BASICALLY WE WILL CONTINUE TO GET A LOT MORE
INFORMATION ON THE DIFFERENT AREAS AND WHAT'S GOING ON.
I WILL DO ANOTHER AFTERNOON PRESS CONFERENCE TO BRING
YOU UP TO DATE WITH WHAT WE KNOW ON THOSE ISSUES.
THE ONE THING I DO WANT TO SAY IS NOW IS WHEN THE
FRUSTRATION SETS IN BECAUSE THE ANXIOUSNESS IS WHEN THE
STORM IS COMING, WHEN THE STORM HITS YOU ARE PRAYING,
AND NOW THE FRUSTRATION SETS IN.
WHAT I WILL ASK FROM YOU IS PATIENCE.
MOST INJURIES, MOST FATALITIES OCCUR AFTER THE
STORM BECAUSE PEOPLE ATTEMPT TO MOVE IN TOO SOON.
DO NOT PLAN ON GOING BACK HOME TODAY OR TOMORROW.
IT IS NOT GOING TO BE SAFE FOR YOU TO GO IN.
BETWEEN DOWNED POWER LINES AND TREES AND THEN JUST
UNSAFE STRUCTURES, BRIDGES, ALL OF THOSE THINGS -- I
KNOW YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR HOME.
I KNOW YOU WANT TO GET BACK.
IN SOME CASES, LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT GOING TO
LET YOU GET BACK IN BECAUSE THE ROADS ARE CLOSED AND
THEY CAN'T GET THROUGH THERE.
SO YOU KNOW, WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU STAY SAFE, AND BY
DOING THAT, ONE OTHER THING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US
IS, WE VERY QUICKLY HAVE TO GET LAW ENFORCEMENT, UTILITY
CREWS, DOT CREWS IN THERE, EVERYBODY TO GET IN THERE SO
THAT THEY CAN START CLEANING UP AS FAST AS THEY CAN AND
SURVEYING THE DAMAGE.
SO THAT SURVEYING OF THE DAMAGE CAN'T HAPPEN IF YOU
ARE IN THERE.
EVEN IF YOU GOT IN THERE, YOU WOULD BE IN THE WAY OF
EVERYONE.
SO WHILE I KNOW THIS IS HARD AND MANY OF YOU ARE
WONDERING THE STATUS OF YOUR HOMES, JUST KNOW THAT WE
WANT TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR YOU TO FIND OUT THAT STATUS.
WE ARE GOING TO DO IT AS FAST AS WE CAN AND AS SMOOTH
AS WE CAN.
BUT AT THIS POINT I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLAN ON
CONTINUING TO HUNKER DOWN TODAY AND TOMORROW.
WE WILL GIVE YOU REAL-TIME INFORMATION AS WE HAVE IT AT
THESE PRESS CONFERENCES SO THAT YOU CAN KNOW THAT WHEN
YOU DO GO, YOU WON'T BE SENT BACK, YOU WILL ACTUALLY BE
ABLE TO GO BACK IN AND IT WILL BE SAFE FOR YOU TO GO
IN.
WITH THAT, I WILL GO AHEAD AND OPEN IT UP TO YOU FOR
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>>Reporter: GOVERNOR, YOU SAID THERE ARE 400,000
OUTAGES.
DOES THAT MEAN 10% OF THE STATE'S POPULATION IS
WITHOUT POWER?
>>Governor: THAT MEANS 437,000 PEOPLE ARE WITHOUT
POWER.
>>Reporter: GOVERNOR, IF NOT TODAY OR TOMORROW, WHEN
DO YOU THINK PEOPLE MIGHT BE ABLE TO RETURN HOME AT THIS
POINT?
>>Governor: I THINK A LOT WILL HAPPEN TODAY AND
TOMORROW.
I THINK WE WILL BE ABLE TO KNOW EXACTLY -- AT LEAST --
THE BEST PART OF IT IS, WE WILL HAVE INFORMATION FOR
RESIDENTS TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS BECAUSE WE WILL
KNOW WHAT ROADS ARE CLOSED.
WE WILL KNOW WHAT AREAS HAVE DOWNED POWER LINES.
WE WILL KNOW WHAT BRIDGES ARE INSECURE.
WE WILL KNOW A LOT MORE INFORMATION.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE ASKING FOR PATIENCE TODAY AND TOMORROW,
IS BECAUSE WE WILL BE DOING A LOT OF SURVEILLANCE.
IN A LOT OF CASES, LAW ENFORCEMENT STILL CAN'T GET
OUT THERE TO EVEN SEE WHAT THE SITUATION IS.
YOU KNOW, OVERNIGHT IT WAS DARK, WE COULDN'T DO THAT.
TODAY WILL BE A FULL DAY OF GETTING REPORTS FROM
COUNTIES AND SEEING HOW THEY ARE DOING.
I WILL SAY SAFELY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY I WOULD NOT
EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK HOME.
IF WE CAN GET IN FRONT OF THAT, WE CERTAINLY WILL TELL
YOU.
BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, TALKING TO ALL THE PEOPLE ON THE
GROUND, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SAFE.
>>Reporter: DO YOU EXPECT TO HAVE TO EXTEND THE
SCHOOLS BEING OUT IN RICHLAND AND LEXINGTON AND
THE MIDLANDS TO ALLOW THOSE FOLKS TO COME HOME, FREEING
THE ROADS?
>>Governor: I THINK WE WILL KNOW MORE TOMORROW.
THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS, WORKING
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO SEE WHAT
SECONDARY ROADS ARE NEEDED TO GET TO SCHOOL, AS WELL AS
THE PRIMARY ROADS.
WE ARE ACTUALLY WORKING ON THAT NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT
THOSE ARE CLEARED SO THAT KIDS CAN RETURN BACK TO
SCHOOL.
I THINK WE WILL HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THAT
TOMORROW.
>>Reporter: YES.
>>Reporter: GOVERNOR, YOU GUYS WORRIED ABOUT THE WATER
FLOWING DOWN FROM THE UPSTATE.
IS THAT ONE OF THE CONCERNS?
>>Governor: WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RIVERS, THAT'S WHAT
WE ARE SEEING.
WE ARE SEEING DEFINITELY THE WACCAMAW, BUT THE OTHER TWO
WE JUST HAVE TO SEE.
THIS IS A RAINFALL EVENT TOO.
IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS OF INCHES IN RAIN THAT WE
WERE GETTING, THEY'RE PRETTY HIGH NUMBERS.
SO THAT ALWAYS AFFECTS THOSE THREE RIVERS IN PARTICULAR,
AS WELL AS SOME OTHERS.
TODAY WE WILL BE DOING A LOT OF RIVER ANALYSIS, BRIDGE
ANALYSIS, AND FLOODING ANALYSIS TO SEE HOW MUCH AND
HOW BAD THIS IS GOING TO BE AND HOW THAT WILL AFFECT
FURTHER DOWNSTREAM AREAS.
>>Reporter: DID WE EVER GET A TOTAL EVACUEES NUMBER?
>>Governor: I THINK WHAT WE GAVE YOU WAS LAST NIGHT'S
NUMBER, YES.
>>Reporter: ANY REPORTS OF DEATHS AT ALL SO FAR IN
SOUTH CAROLINA?
>>Governor: NO.
AND I SAY THAT CAUTIOUSLY.
WE DID HAVE ONE FATALITY IN A RICHLAND CORRECTIONAL
FACILITY, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE RELATED TO THE
STORM AT ALL.
THEY JUST CAN'T GET IN.
THEY CAN'T -- SO THIS IS NOW REALLY SEARCH AND RESCUE.
MAYBE THIS AFTERNOON, BUT I'M PRAYING FOR NONE.
>>Reporter: THERE WAS AN UNCONFIRMED REPORT ABOUT A
TORNADO IN NORTH MYRTLE BEACH.
WAS THERE A TORNADO IN NORTH MYRTLE BEACH?
>>Governor: I THINK WE HAD CONFIRMATION, IS THAT
RIGHT?
>> I KNOW WE HAD DAMAGE IN NORTH MYRTLE BEACH.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE NATIONAL WEATHER OFFICE HAS GONE OUT
THERE YET.
>>Governor: BUT THEY DID SAY THERE IS DAMAGE IN NORTH
MYRTLE BEACH.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>>Reporter: WHEN YOU ANNOUNCE FOLKS CAN GO BACK,
WILL YOU DO LANE REVERSALS?
HOW WILL THAT WORK?
>>Governor: WE DON'T THINK WE WILL HAVE TO DO
LANE REVERSALS.
EVERY PLACE WILL NOT BE OKAY AT ONCE.
WE DID LANE REVERSALS BECAUSE WE HAD TO GET
EVERYBODY OUT ALL AT ONCE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT FOR THEM GOING BACK HOME.
AS THEY ARE SAFE, WE WILL SAY GO BACK HOME.
WE DON'T SEE A NEED TO DO ANOTHER LANE REVERSAL.
>>Reporter: DO YOU SEE THAT BEING BROKEN DOWN BY
NEIGHBORHOOD BY NEIGHBORHOOD OR ALL OF CHARLESTON GO
HOME?
>>Governor: THE TRI-COUNTRY AREA WORKS WELL
TOGETHER.
I EXPECT THEY WILL LOOK AT THE DAMAGE AND SEE.
OUR GOAL IS TO LET YOU GET BACK AND TELL YOU WHAT'S
DANGEROUS, SO WHAT ROADS ARE NOT PASSIBLE, WHAT BRIDGES
ARE DOWN AND WHAT AREAS -- SO WE CAN GIVE YOU A BETTER
WAY TO GET BACK TO YOUR HOME.
AS SOON AS THEY -- THE MAIN THING IS POWER LINES.
YOU KNOW, FLOODED ROADS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AND YOU COULD DRIVE UP ON THAT AND
NOT KNOW, AND THAT'S WHEN FATALITIES OCCUR.
AS SOON AS THOSE AREAS OPEN UP, WE ARE GOING TO GIVE OUT
AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE CAN SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS.
WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTIES ON THAT.
THE COUNTIES WILL BE ASSESSING IT WITH OUR TEAMS
AS WELL SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS.
>>Reporter: WE HAVE BEEN HEARING A LOT OF COMPARISONS
WITH HUGO ON TELEVISION AND SO FORTH.
HOW WOULD THAT COMPARE WITH HUGO?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE THE ANSWERS YET UNTIL THE
STORM PULLS OUT SO WE CAN COLLECT ALL THE DAMAGE.
IT IS THE WORST SINCE HUGO CERTAINLY WITH THE TIDE
WATERS.
I DON'T KNOW AS FAR AS THE STORM SURGE.
IT IS RIGHT UP THERE WITH HUGO, CERTAINLY, OR AT LEAST
IN THE PAST 25 YEARS, THE WORST WE HAVE SEEN.
>>Reporter: BASED ON WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN OVERNIGHT ON
THE STORM, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT LIVES COULD HAVE BEEN
SAVED BECAUSE OF THOSE EVACUATIONS WE HAD?
>>Governor: YOU KNOW, YOU ARE ALWAYS IN THIS
SITUATION.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF ANXIETY TRYING TO GET EVERYBODY TO
GET OUT.
AND THEN ONCE YOU GET -- AT THE END OF A STORM, YOU JUST
WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU LOST.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT, AND
THAT'S WHY WE ARE ALWAYS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT GETTING
PEOPLE OUT BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW BAD IT IS GOING TO BE.
WE KNOW WHAT'S GETTING READY TO HAPPEN.
FOR PEOPLE WHO DECIDED TO STAY HOME, YOU KNOW, THAT
SITS WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU CAN ONLY SAY SO MUCH.
SO AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, I JUST PRAY THAT EVERYBODY
WAS ON HIGH LEVEL LAND, AND THAT IF THEY WERE IN THE
SHELTERS, THEY WERE COMFORTABLE AND TAKEN CARE
OF IN THE SHELTERS, BUT THOSE WHO DECIDED TO STAY
HOME, REALLY YOU WILL SEE DNR AND ALL OF THEIR
COLLEAGUES AND ASSISTANTS WILL BE ALL SEARCH AND
RESCUE AT THIS POINT.
NOW IT IS ABOUT TRYING TO SAVE LIVES.
OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE WILL DO ANOTHER PRESS CONFERENCE THIS AFTERNOON.