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Hurricane Florence Alert

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Travel Advisory as of September 22:

Due to flooding and road closures surrounding the Myrtle Beach area, driving into the area will be very difficult for the next week or two. Fly, don’t drive. If you must drive into the area, expect heavy congestion, delays and changing detours. Check www.SCDOT.org, 511sc.org or call 511 for latest road conditions.

Your Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce/CVB wants to remind our investors and community that our goal is to help restore services and programs to the Grand Strand business community as soon as possible. Our disaster recovery plan is ready to go. We encourage everyone to put safety first. And when the time is right, we'll join you in announcing the Coast is Clear With Roads Leading to Myrtle Beach and We're Open for Business. 

Business Survey - Our Emergency Business Survey will allow the chamber to know the status of your business so that we can pass the information along to those who inquire.

Sept. 20, 2018 - The EOC remains at OPCON 1. Shelters are open to serve people who have been evacuated from either flooded areas or from areas that may begin to flood soon.  

The evacuation orders have been lifted and residents and visitors are returning to the area following Hurricane Florence. However, there is a lot of flooding on roads leading into and out of the area making driving hazardous. Travelers on the roads are encouraged to exercise extreme caution and check the SCDOT's site for the latest information or call 511 for traffic information. Be patient and expect lengthy travel times, blocked roadways or detours.

Travelers via the airport should check with their airlines and arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before their flights.

For those with travel plans to the Myrtle Beach area this week, we advise that they contact their airlines and accommodations directly for the latest information on their status and policies. 

Travel Advisories & Tips for the Trip

If you plan to drive to the Myrtle Beach area in the next few days, please know you will face road closures and major traffic delays. For the latest info on roads, please check SCDOT's storm resources page. You can also try calling 511  or visit 511sc.org for traffic information or download the SCDOT 511 Traffic App for iPhone or Android  & Google devices. 

  • Top off your gas tank, keep extra groceries on hand, and pack your patience for the trip. These items will be needed along the way, as well as once you get to your destination.

  • In the coming days, we are expecting flooding area-wide. Even if your area isn't flooded currently, we ask that you prepare for the days ahead. If your home is in a low-lying area and near major rivers known to flood, prepare to evacuate.

  • At this time projections indicate areas that flooded during Hurricane Matthew may flood again and perhaps at higher levels. Adjacent areas that did not flood in Matthew may flood this time around. If this occurs, major Highway 9, Highway 501, Highway 378 and other routes in and out of Horry County may flood, effectively blocking traffic into and out of Horry County.

  • Should you encounter a water-covered road during your travels, remember this --TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN!

Road Closures

TRAVEL ALERT: SECTIONS OF US 501 AND SC 22 CLOSED; I-95 IN SC OPENED

I-95

I-95 OPEN in NC and SC. NCDOT reopened I-95 in both directions in NC. I-95 in SC was reopened to traffic in both directions on Sep. 21.

Continue to monitor SCDOT and NCDOT websites as conditions along I-95 are subject to change.

US 501 in Conway

SCDOT advises the public that an emergency flood situation exists on roads In the Conway area of Horry County. SCDOT reports US 501 in Conway was re-opened to two-way traffic early Saturday morning. Currently, one lane is open in each direction from US 378 to Academy Street. As water levels continue to rise, this route will serve as the primary access between Conway and Myrtle Beach. Motorists should anticipate congestion and slower speeds in this area. SCDOT urges motorists to use extreme caution, obey the directional signs and watch for updates on changing conditions.

SC 22 Opened

SCDOT will reopen SC 22 in Horry County at 2 p.m. today, Sept. 27.  SC 22 westbound will be temporarily reduced to one lane in an area between SC 905 and SC 90 due to one area of high water. All other portions of SC 22 will be open completely in both directions at 2 p.m.

US 17 in Georgetown

SCDOT, Georgetown County Emergency Operations, and the South Carolina National Guard have developed a plan to keep open US 17 for a period of time as the flood waters rise at US 17 crossing over the Waccamaw River in Georgetown. The plan is designed to delay the closing of the bridge for as long as possible. It is expected that the flood water will overtop the roadway barriers at a point in time and require the closure of the bridge to traffic. Based on current forecasts, we anticipate flood waters to impact the bridge mid-week next week. In order to implement this plan, US 17 in this area will be reduced to one lane of travel in each direction beginning on Sunday, September 23. Heavy congestion and long delays are expected in this area and caution is urged for motorists traveling through the work zone.

Motorists are asked to use caution as flooding could change road conditions.

Please do not go around barricades. Remember, "Turn around, don't drown."

SCDOT appreciates the patience of the public as SCDOT works to keep our highways safe.

Please check SC Road Closures for the latest in South Carolina. Please check NC Road Closures for the latest in North Carolina.

Flights to Resume at MYR

Air carriers serving the Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) have tentatively scheduled their flight operations to resume on Sunday, September 16, 2018.

The majority of airlines operating at MYR are planning to recommence commercial flight operations, mid-morning on Sunday. Passengers should verify that their airline has their current cell phone number and/or e-mail address, air carriers will notify their passengers directly about flight status changes. Prior coming to the Airport, passengers should verify the status of their flight on their airlines website.

It is recommended that departing passengers arrive at the Airport earlier than normal to account for extra time that may be required at airline check-in and TSA checkpoint screening.

If passengers have questions about airline re-booking and/or cancellation policies, they should visit:

Disaster Assistance

•  DisasterAssistance.gov - If you do not have flood insurance and are seeking federal assistance, your first step is to contact FEMA, as their assistance comes in the form of grants, which do not need to be paid back. Register online at DisasterAssistance.gov , call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or visit a Disaster Assistance Center in your area. SBA disaster loans are an important part of the recovery process because they provide eligible homeowners, renters and businesses with access to the funds they need to rebuild, particularly when damages are not covered by insurance or other forms of assistance.Homeowners and renters should apply as soon as possible after the disaster, even if you're not sure you'll need or want a loan. If SBA cannot approve your application, in most cases we will immediately refer you back to FEMA to be considered for additional assistance. Individuals seeking assistance can apply online at sba.gov, in person, once SBA Disaster Recovery Centers open, and by mail. Call 1-800-659-2955 or email at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Additional information is available at sba.gov/disaster. 
 
• S.C. Emergency Management Division - Website provides a list of various federal agencies with programs to help you recover from disasters. 
 
• U.S. Small Business Administration - SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to businesses of all sizes to repair or replace damaged or destroyed business assets (property, equipment, inventory, etc.) 

• U.S. Economic Development Administration - EDA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have funds to be used for establishing local, post-disaster revolving loan programs. A list of federal agencies and their economic development-related programs provides more information. 
 
• IRS - Offers tax relief to businesses affected by federally declared disasters. 

• Help the Grand Strand - Your generous donation offers assistance to local citizens in the Myrtle Beach area impacted by disasters. 

• Impact Ministries along with the Waccamaw VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster) have partnered to assist homeowners in Horry County that experience damage due to Hurricane Florence. After the storm is over and homeowners have a chance to safely assess their properties, they can visit https://www.disasterhelp.me  to request assistance, volunteer or donate. Upon submitting the application, homeowners will receive a response and assessors will be sent out as soon as it is safe to do so. It is important to fill out the application as soon as possible, after the storm, to receive assistance. For more information, contact VOAD in the Horry County Emergency Operations Center at 843-915-5908.
 
• 2-1-1 One-stop resource for finding assistance. This resource run by United Way is available 24/7 by calling 211, 1-866-892-9211 or by visiting them online at sc211.org. 
 
• United Way - United Ways across the region are helping those facing the devastating effects of hurricanes 
 
• American Red Cross - A financial donation makes the most immediate impact Salvation Army - Your support helps the Salvation Army stay on the front lines of hurricane relief efforts 
 
• Catholic Charities - Your generosity will allow Catholic Charities to provide much needed aid and assistance

Important Telephone Numbers

  • Horry County Emergency Management 843-915-5150

  • Current Road Conditions 1-888-877-9151

  • Click here for other emergency numbers

Additional Resources