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SC emergency response leaders will conduct an evacuation exercise today

South Carolina state troopers (right) lead the first wave of cars evacuating on the reversed lane of Interstate 26 on Wednesday, as the state prepares for Hurricane Matthew.
Mic Smith
/
AP
South Carolina state troopers (right) lead the first wave of cars evacuating on the reversed lane of Interstate 26 on Wednesday, as the state prepares for Hurricane Matthew.

No lanes will actually be reversed during the exercise

State emergency response teams will be on South Carolina highways today to test their plans for any coastal evacuations.

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety and the South Carolina Department of Transportation are leading the exercise alongside the State Emergency Management Division and military partners.

State officials stress that no traffic lanes will actually be reversed during this drill.

The drill evaluates emergency plans for five routes:

  • Interstate 26: From Nexton Parkway (Exit 197) in Charleston to I-77 in Columbia.
  • U.S. 278 and U.S. 21: Equipment deployed outside Hilton Head and Beaufort, extending to Hampton County.
  • U.S. 501 and S.C. 544: Personnel stationed from Myrtle Beach areas out to the Marion By-Pass and U.S. 378.

The exercise begins at 8 a.m. Wednesday and lasts until 3 p.m. Hurricane season began June 1 and ends November 30.