News
Dorchester County Begins Sandbag Distribution
The following is a press release from Dorchester County Government
Dorchester County continues to closely monitor Tropical Storm Idalia which is expected to impact South Carolina later this week.
Residents are reminded to have a family plan in place, build or restock emergency preparedness kits, and to bring pets indoors. Residents and business owners are also asked to secure furniture or other lightweight objects that could become projectiles during the storm. Please click for more hurricane preparedness tips.
Sandbag Distribution
In preparation for impacts from the incoming storm, sandbag locations will open Tuesday, August 29, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. There is a limit of ten sandbags per resident or business owner.
Please bring a shovel as sites are a Fill It Yourself model with the county providing sand and bags.
- Ridgeville Town Hall, 105 School St., Ridgeville, SC 29472
- Harleyville Town Hall, 122 W Main St., Harleyville, SC 29448
- Dorchester County Court House in St. George, 5200 E. Jim Bilton Blvd. St., George, SC 29477
- Gahagan Park, 184 W. Boundary St., Summerville, SC 29485
- Old Bi-lo Parking Lot, (By Summerville High School) 1452 Boone Hill Rd., Summerville, SC 29483
Tips on how to properly fill and stack your sandbags:
- Fill bags one-half of the way full.
- Over-filled bags will result in a leaky sandbag wall.
- Stack sandbags so that the seams between the bags are staggered.
- Tuck the top of each bag under to ensure that each bag is sealed by its own weight
Dorchester County Call Center
As part of our ongoing commitment to your safety and well-being, we are opening the Dorchester County Call Center on Tuesday, August 29 from 9am – 5pm. This call center has been established to provide you with accurate and up-to-date information regarding the current situation related to Tropical Storm Idalia. Please continue to call 9-1-1 for any emergency.
Call Center Details:
Date: Tuesday, August 29
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, August 30
Time: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Contact Number: (843) 832-0393
Our trained operators are available to answer your inquiries, provide storm updates, share safety guidelines, and address any concerns you might have.
Stay Informed
Information changes so it is important to stay updated so you know what to expect and when to expect it. Make sure to have several ways to receive information.
- Download the FEMA app and receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service.
- Visit the National Hurricane Center website.
- Follow Dorchester County on Facebook and Twitter for updates.
- Get the latest from Dorchester County Emergency Management.
Visit DorchesterCountySC.gov for more general government storm-related information.