Shelter opens for evacuees as storm approaches

During a recent government meeting, Chief Wells provided an update on the opening of a new general population shelter, which became operational at 4 PM. The shelter is pet-friendly, allowing individuals to bring their pets, provided they have vaccination records, food, water, and a crate. However, pets will be housed in a separate multipurpose area to ensure the safety and comfort of all occupants.

Wells noted that the Department of Health Services is preparing a support package for individuals with medical needs who may require shelter. The facility is equipped with backup power generation to accommodate essential medical equipment, such as nebulizers and oxygen concentrators, in the event of power outages.

In addition to shelter updates, Wells addressed the availability of sandbags for residents. Although there was a minor delay in the order through the state emergency management division, personnel are currently en route to collect sandbags from Midlands County. Residents can access sand at designated locations, including behind city hall in Hartyville and the Jasper Ridgeland Youth Baseball Field, where they can fill their own bags. An additional request for 10,000 sandbags has been made, but delivery timelines remain uncertain.

As of the meeting, no individuals had yet sought refuge at the shelter, which is located at Richland High School on Jaguar Trail. However, Wells anticipates that the shelter will see an influx of residents in the coming days as conditions potentially worsen.