Leaders throughout South Carolina's state agencies and offices met in West Columbia Friday for the 2026 Hurricane Tabletop Exercise in which hurricane emergency operation plans were tested and practiced. The meeting came five days into the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.
The South Carolina Emergency Management Division, county emergency managers and leadership from state agencies like the Department of Public Health joined Gov. Henry McMaster in a two-hour session.
Officials met as some South Carolinians still recover from the impacts of Hurricane Helene in 2024.
In May, The South Carolina Department of Agriculture opened applications for a $38 million disaster relief block grant for producers and forest landowners affected by the hurricane. The $38 million in federal aid is for production losses not covered by other USDA programs or crop insurance, and only losses in counties that received a Presidential Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Helene are eligible. The application will stay open until July 11.
The Central Carolina Community Foundation once again opened its One SC Fund: Hurricane Helene for donations to aid with long-term recovery. Donations will be accepted through June and support nonprofits that participate in house repairs, rebuilding assistance and other long-term recovery efforts.
McMaster said the state needed to be consistent in its messaging to prepare residents, especially new transplants, for a potential storm.
"We have to have a consistent message that goes to all of the people," he said. "We're fairly well-educated and knowledgeable about what's going to happen and what we can do. A lot of times people are busy, there's a lot of newcomers, a lot of visitors, and they just don't know. Until you've been in the clutches of a hurricane or a tornado, it's hard to believe the power," he said.
He said the state's response to a potential hurricane would depend on the storm's path. South Carolina Emergency Management Division Director Kim Stenson said he recommends residents have a plan.
"Preparedness is very critical. We're prepared at the state level to respond, but we're asking every individual and business to be ready as well — to have a plan, to know your threats and to know what to do," he said.
South Carolina was, too, impacted by Hurricane Debby in 2024 and Tropical Storm Chantal in 2025, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its 2026 North Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook in May. The outlook called for a 55% chance for a below-normal season, a 35% chance for a near-normal season, and a 10% chance for an above-normal season. And with 70% probability, NOAA predicted 8-14 named storms, 3-6 hurricanes and 1-3 major hurricanes. The expected development of El Niño would help disrupt tropical cyclone development.
