Hurricane Information

Mandatory Evacuation Procedures

If a hurricane threatens our area and, if the Governor issues an evacuation order, evacuation routes will be managed as follows:

• Once the Governor issues a mandatory evacuation, lane reversals automatically occur for two sections of Highway 501:
  • U.S. Highway 501, from SC Highway 544 to SC Highway 378
  • U.S. Highway 501, from SC Highway 22 to the U.S. Highway 501/SC Highway 576 split in Marion.
• Once you enter a lane reversal pattern, you will not be able to get back out. Never enter a lane reversal pattern unless directed to do so by law enforcement.
• The Horry County evacuation plan to which all in North Myrtle Beach are subject requires all people located north of Briarcliffe Acres to evacuate via SC Highway 9 North to Interstate 95 (I-95) and beyond.
• These requirements stem from the South Carolina Hurricane Evacuation Study for the Northern Conglomerate released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2012.

Reentry Procedures

When reentering the city of North Myrtle Beach after a hurricane evacuation, property owners, renters and business owners should be prepared to show either their driver’s license, a copy of a recent water bill or property tax bill, a rental agreement, or other form of identity that proves residency or property ownership within the city.

The City of North Myrtle Beach does not require filing residency or business information prior to a storm.

City’s Goal

The City’s goal is for the return of property owners and others to North Myrtle Beach as soon as possible following a hurricane evacuation so that all can help in the recovery process. However, some areas of the city may not be safe or essential utilities damaged, resulting in delayed reentry to the affected locations.

Non-Resident Employees

Owners of businesses with employees who do not reside within the City limits but who are essential to business recovery should provide those employees with a letter written on company letterhead identifying them as being essential to the recovery of the business. When identifying an employee, please use their name as shown on their driver’s license so that authorities can match the two for verification.

Other Jurisdictions

Be aware that other jurisdictions that you may travel through on your return to North Myrtle Beach from a hurricane evacuation (state, county, or other municipality) may have different identification requirements or different reentry priorities depending on damage that may have occurred in their jurisdictions.

Do You Know Your Zone?

You may remember that different areas of Horry County, including North Myrtle Beach, have been assigned different "zones" with respect to the potential impact of hurricane storm surge on a given land area.

If a hurricane is to strike our area with force, and if the Governor calls for a mandatory evacuation, he might do so by identifying the zones that must evacuate. The zone locations in Horry County are as follows:

Zone A

• Areas east of House Creek from the SC/NC state line to the center of Cherry Grove Beach, with minor fluctuations inland.
• Areas east of Hillside Dr. and Ocean Blvd and east of Hwy 17 Business in Briarcliffe Acres.
• Areas east of Kings Rd. and down Ocean Blvd. to Springmaid Beach.
• Areas east of U.S. Business 17 (S Kings Hwy) from Myrtle Beach State Park to the Georgetown County line, with coastal fluctuations in Surfside Beach and Garden City.

Zone B

• Areas east of Hwy 17 from Little River to Atlantic Beach.
• Areas east of U.S. Business 17 (Kings Hwy) from the U.S. Hwy 22 interchange to Springmaid Beach.
• Areas east of U.S. Business 17 from 16th Ave N to Vista Dr. in Surfside Beach.
• Areas between the Georgetown County line, TPC Blvd., Hwy 707 and Hwy 17.

Zone C

• Areas between Hwy 701 and Hwy 544, with some fluctuations to Myrtle Beach International Airport and Waccamaw Blvd.

Interactive Zone Map

The Horry County Emergency Management Department provides an Interactive Zone Map. Access County information on the Horry County website.

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale