Ocean Lakes

Gov. Henry McMaster said Thursday that he likely will issue an evacuation order for coastal South Carolina including the Myrtle Beach area starting Saturday morning as the powerful Hurricane Irma continues heading toward the state. During a news conference Thursday afternoon, McMaster and other state officials urged residents and vacationers to make plans and be prepared for Hurricane Irma, which is expected to bring rain, wind and potential storm surge to coastal South Carolina on Monday and Tuesday. The intensity of the storm’s effects here still is uncertain because it depends on the path the storm ends up taking. McMaster said he is 99 percent sure that he will issue the evacuation order to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and has another news conference planned for Friday, when he will give the latest on the evacuation plan. “As soon as he does [issue the evacuation order], we will get the word out to everybody,” said Lance Thompson, General Manager and Vice President o...

South Carolina and local officials started making early preparations for potential effects from Hurricane Irma Wednesday as the storm’s path in the Carolinas still was uncertain. The powerful Category 5 storm has local and state officials on alert and urging residents to prepare as a precaution to be ready for whatever Irma might bring. Officials expect to have a better idea of what the storm will do in South Carolina in the next 24 to 48 hours. What this area could experience depends on what turns Irma makes. Lance Thompson, General Manager and Vice President of Ocean Lakes Family Campground, urged guests who have reservations at the campground in the next week to continue to watch the storm’s projected path and stay in touch with us. Follow the Ocean Lakes Facebook page for the latest. “Don’t panic but be prepared,” Thompson said. “At this point, it is just too early to make plans when we don’t have all the information. By Friday, we will know a lot more.” The s...