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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
127 PM EDT THU MAY 23 2013

NEWS RELEASE: SOUTH CAROLINA HURRICANE AWARENESS WEEK
      MAY 26 TO JUNE 1, 2013

CONTACT:      STEVE NAGLIC, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA
              803-765-5501
      TONY STUREY, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREER
      864-879-1085
      RON MORALES, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON
       843-554-4851
      STEVE PFAFF, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON
              910-763-8331
              JOE FARMER, SC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIVISION,
      DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC INFORMATION 803-737-8500


SOUTH CAROLINA WILL CONDUCT ITS ANNUAL HURRICANE AWARENESS WEEK FROM
MAY 26 TO JUNE 1. THIS YEAR HURRICANE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IS
SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIVISION. THIS ANNUAL EVENT GIVES SOUTH
CAROLINIANS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES OR REVIEW THEIR
KNOWLEDGE OF WEATHER HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANES AND SAFETY
RULES.

HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS ON JUNE 1ST AND CONTINUES THROUGH NOVEMBER
30TH. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL RESIDENTS BECOME FAMILIAR WITH
HURRICANE SAFETY PROCEDURES BECAUSE HURRICANES POSE A SERIOUS THREAT
TO INLAND AND COASTAL AREAS ALIKE.  HIGH WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOOD
PRODUCING RAINS CAN OCCUR FROM THE IMMEDIATE COAST TO HUNDREDS OF
MILES INLAND AS THEY DID DURING HURRICANES HUGO IN 1989 AND FRANCES
IN 2004.

IT IS BEST TO FORMULATE A HURRICANE SAFETY PLAN LONG BEFORE A
HURRICANE ACTUALLY THREATENS YOUR COMMUNITY. WE WILL BEGIN
DISCUSSING THOSE SAFETY PLANS, HURRICANE FEATURES, AND ASSOCIATED
WEATHER HAZARDS BEGINNING THE MONDAY OF OUR HURRICANE AWARENESS WEEK.