From Beaufort County Government:

Beaufort County Emergency Services urges all residents to make sure they have contingency plans in place for temporary housing as the County prepares for forecasted severe weather this evening.

Based on the most recent forecasts, the storm approaching our region could generate hazards such as damaging winds and isolated tornadoes between 4 and 9 p.m. Tuesday.

“Now is the time to prepare for this storm,” Beaufort County Emergency Management Coordinator DC Linton said. “While we always hope for minimal effects from a storm like this, we know that severe weather events –– particularly high winds and tornadoes –– present significant hazards to everyone in our communities, regardless of where you live or the effects you’ve seen in the past. That’s why everyone needs to be prepared.”

Linton said all Beaufort County residents should have housing contingency plans in place for any severe weather event. Have arrangements in place for temporary housing in place in case you need to leave your residence before or during the storm. This could include a family member, friend or neighbor’s house. If possible, have separate contacts both inside and outside of Beaufort County who can assist you if needed.

“You do not need to wait until the storm arrives to put those plans in motion,” Linton said. “If you feel that your home would not be a safe place to be during a storm, or you’d just like to stay with someone else until the weather passes, make those phone calls and do any necessary traveling as soon as possible.”

We strongly advise all residents to have multiple ways of receiving updates about the forecasted severe weather. These can include a cell phone, radio and TV. Make sure your devices are fully charged and you have any backup batteries and power banks ready to go. If you typically set your phone to “Do Not Disturb” before bed, we ask that you skip doing that tonight in case any important alerts are sent out overnight.