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Emergency officials were hoping for the best and preparing for the worst on Tuesday as Tropical Storm Hanna churned her way toward the South Carolina coast. Officials said the local impact could be felt by Friday afternoon.

“It won’t be a Hugo, but it could be bad enough for people to get hurt. We are watching it,” Orangeburg County Emergency Services Director John Smith said.

“It has us on a short timeline where we are mobilizing everything in anticipation of the worst,” Smith said. “We don’t want to be caught short.”

Forecasters were predicting Hanna could make landfall as a hurricane between Friday and Saturday somewhere between Florida and North Carolina.

Smith said the worst part of the storm is the northeast quadrant. Under Tuesday afternoon’s predictions, The T&D Region would for the most part be spared the worst weather.

Smith said the area can expect strong tropical force winds upward of 60 mph. As with any land falling tropical system, the potential for flooding and tornadoes is also a possibility.

“It depends on the size of it,” Smith said. “We are treating it like a hurricane tracking through the county.”

Preparing for the storm Make sure you have: * A first aid kit and essential medications * Canned food * Three gallons of water per person * A battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries * Special items for infants, the elderly and disabled family members  Also, prepare to bring inside any lawn furniture, outdoor decorations or ornaments, trash cans, hanging plants and anything else that can be picked up by the wind. Recheck manufactured home tie-downs. During the storm, stay indoors and away from windows. Be alert for tornadoes. Remain indoors, in the center of your home, in a closet or bathroom without windows. Stay away from flood waters. If you come upon a flooded road, turn around and go another way. If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car and climb to higher ground.  Source: The American Red Cross

Smith said he was encouraged by the latest Hanna predictions, which have shifted the storm from coming directly into Orangeburg to more of an eastward track. The track has shifted east with each new update.

Smith said the county is awaiting information from state emergency officials on whether or not to open any shelters for people evacuating from the coast and locals in “high-risk” housing, such as mobile homes.

The decision on whether to evacuate the coast is expected to be made Wednesday afternoon.

Smith said two shelters could be opened initially on Thursday afternoon: Lake Marion High School and Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School.

Early forecasts for Orangeburg had rain chances Thursday night at 40 percent and increasing to 60 percent into Friday. Rain chances for Friday night were 70 percent.

The Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities on Tuesday was in a storm Condition 1, the lowest of four stages of alertness, meaning the utility continues to monitor the storm hourly. The utility is checking all inventory levels, filling all generators and vehicles and notifying key personnel about staffing needs.

DPU spokesman Randy Etters said, “We will take a wait-and-see approach.”

“If the National Weather Service will give us a 72-hour projection on it making landfall, we will kick into high gear,” Etters said. “We hope we will not have to go into that mode.”

City of Orangeburg officials spent Tuesday taking an inventory of their supplies and manpower capabilities as well as having meetings with various department heads on how to respond if needed. The city has also begun to ensure all storm drainage systems are fully operational.

Cindy Smith, executive director of the Edisto Chapter of the American Red Cross, spent Tuesday coordinating the opening of shelters in the event they are needed.

“It is kind of hectic. We are preparing for a hurricane,” she said. “If Hanna comes through Beaufort or Savannah, the entire Orangeburg County area will be affected.”

Early Tuesday afternoon, the storm had a 50 percent chance of making landfall in Savannah and a 40 percent chance of making landfall in Charleston.

Calling all volunteers The Greater Edisto Chapter of the American Red Cross is seeking volunteers in Orangeburg County to help with Hanna and its aftermath. The agency also needs donations to help with the response. To help, call the Red Cross at 803-534-5735 before 5 p.m. today. Or write, The Greater Edisto Chapter of the American Red Cross, 1255 Boulevard St., Orangeburg S.C. 29115.

If this is the track, Smith said the Red Cross will look to open all of its 18 Orangeburg County shelters as well as shelters in Allendale and Barnwell counties.

“We need volunteers to help in the shelter, to help us feed and for disaster assessment,” she said.

Smith encouraged everyone to keep an eye on weather reports and ensure there is water available.

In Calhoun County, Emergency Services officials were also in prepare mode.

Calhoun County Emergency Services Director Bill Minikiewicz said generators have been checked, radio systems have been checked, and fuel and battery supplies are in good order.

“I don’t think this is a Hugo, but we will be prepared for rain and spin-off tornadoes,” he said. “We will know better tonight and tomorrow.”

In Bamberg County, Emergency Services Director Sharon Hammond said the county is on top of the storm’s movements.

“We will do a briefing to prepare and stage things out,” Hammond said. “If it comes through, we can hit the ground, move things out of the way and run.”

Hammond said, “I don’t think Bamberg will get a direct hit but we have to be prepared for all that occurs.”

T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551.