COLUMBIA, S.C. (Saturday, October 8, 2016) - The S.C. Emergency Response Team strongly reminds all citizens coastal evacuation orders are still in effect. Hurricane Matthew began impacting the state this morning with hurricane and tropical storm-force winds, heavy rain and flooding along the coast and far inland, and forecasters say hazardous conditions will continue to affect evacuated areas for at least the next 12 hours.

From Hilton Head to North Myrtle Beach, citizens are asked to stay away from evacuated areas until conditions improve and the danger subsides.

The S.C. Emergency Management Division website, scemd.org, lists emergency shelter status statewide and is updated in real-time by the S.C. Department of Social Services. Coastal evacuees without internet access are urged to call the state Public Information Phone System at 1-866-246-0133. For more information visit scemd.org or follow @SCEMD on Twitter and Facebook.

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety includes the Highway Patrol, State Transport Police, Bureau of Protective Services, Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs, Immigration Enforcement Unit and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame. Our mission is to ensure public safety by protecting and serving the people of South Carolina and its visitors.