Disaster Plus has over three decades of experience with Hurricanes. From Hugo to Charley, Gaston through Hanna, the 24/7 team at Disaster Plus is always on-call to assist the Lowcountry with the disaster recovery process from hurricanes, tropical storms, and other natural disasters. While we are ready to help you in the aftermath of a disaster which causes damage to your home or business, our first priority is ensuring the safety of residents of the Lowcountry (Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Daniel Island, West Ashley, Hanahan, North Charleston, Edisto Beach, Folly Beach, Awendaw, and beyond) during times of crisis. One of the first steps essential to adequately preparing for a natural disaster is knowing the SC coast’s hurricane evacuation routes.
The information provided on this page is from Charleston County’s 2016 Hurricane Preparedness Guide. You should familiarize yourself with these hurricane evacuation routes as well as take a look at the maps provided by the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT). These maps are linked at the bottom of this page.
Identify Your Evacuation Zone
- ZONE A
West of the Ashley River — Unincorporated areas of Charleston County from the Ashley River to the Colleton County line; Atlantic Ocean to the Dorchester County Line. This includes the Town of Hollywood, Town of Meggett, Town of Ravenel, City of Folly Beach, Town of Rockville, Town of Kiawah Island, the Town of Seabrook Island, James Island, Johns Island, Wadmalaw, and unincorporated Charleston County. - ZONE B
Central Charleston — From the tip of the Peninsula to Ladson Road; from the Ashley River to the Wando River. This includes City of Charleston, City of North Charleston, the Town of Lincolnville, Daniel Island, Thomas Island, and unincorporated Charleston County. - ZONE C
East of the Wando River — Unincorporated areas of Charleston County from the Atlantic Ocean to the Berkeley County line; Wando River to the Georgetown County line. This includes the Town of Mount Pleasant, Town of Isle of Palms, Town of Sullivan’s Island, Town of Awendaw, the Town of McClellanville, Dewees Island, Capers Island, and Goat Island. - ZONE D
Sand Hills Area — West of Dorchester Road and the Ashley River, 17A to the Colleton County line and all areas bordering Charleston County. (Zone D may be triggered by Charleston County’s decision to evacuate Zone A.) - ZONE E
Miles Jamison/Oakbrook Area — Miles Jamison Road, between Ladson Road, to Bacons Bridge Road: including the Lakes of Summerville, Newington Plantation, Crestwood Subdivision south to Orangeburg Road, and South Main Mobile Home Park. - ZONE F
The Swamp — Any other low-lying areas including the Cypress Swamp area, the Edisto River area and the Twin Lakes Subdivision. (This zone will be triggered depending on storm category and landfall location.) - ZONE G
Hanahan Goose Creek/Ladson/Summerville Whitesville/Pimlico/Cordesville Huger/Cainhoy/Wando - ZONE H
Huger, Cordesville, Pimlico Whitesville, Summerville Summerville, Lebanon, Pringletown Pringletown, Sandridge, Cross, Eadytown Pineville, Russellville, St Stephen, Alvin, Jamestown, Shulerville - ZONE I
Shulerville, Honey Hill, Jamestown, Alvin, St Stephen
Choose the Evacuation Route for Your Zone
Edisto Island and Adams Run
- Take SC 174 to US 17.
- Take US 17 south to SC 64. This will take you to Walterboro, and then to North Augusta.
Yonges Island, Meggett, Hollywood, and Ravenel
- Take SC 165 to US 17, then US 17 south to SC 64.
Johns Island, Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island
- Johns Island takes SC 700 (Maybank Highway) to Road S-20 (Bohicket/Main Road) to US 17.
- Kiawah/Seabrook Islands will take Road S-20 (Bohicket/Main Rd.) to US 17.
- Take US 17 south to SC 64 where you will go to Walterboro, then to North Augusta.
James Island and Folly Beach
- Take SC 171 (Folly Road) to US 17.
- Take US 17 south to I-526 east to the reversed lanes of I-26.
City of Charleston
- The west side of the city (West Ashley) will use SC 61 to US 78, then to Aiken and North Augusta.
- Downtown will use the normal west-bound lanes of I-26.
North Charleston
- Take US 52 (Rivers Avenue) to US 78 to US 178 to Orangeburg, or continue on US 52 to US 176, or continue north on US 52.
- The right lane of US 52 at Goose Creek will continue on to Moncks Corner. In Moncks Corner, it will be directed onto SC 6, where SC 6 will take you toward Columbia.
- The left lane of US 52 at Goose Creek will go on to US 176 to Columbia.
- Evacuees using SC 642 will travel west toward Summerville, and then take Road S-22 (Old Orangeburg Road) to US 78 west.
East Cooper
- Mount Pleasant: Take I-526 west or US 17 south to I-26 west.
- Sullivan’s Island: Take SC 703 to I-526 Business to access I-526 west, and then take I-26 west.
- Isle of Palms: Take the Isle of Palms connector (SC 517) to go to US 17 where the right lane will turn north onto US 17. Next, proceed to take SC 41 to SC 402; then to US 52 to SC 375; then to US 521 to SC 261; and then US 378 to Columbia.
- Note:
- Evacuees using the left lanes of the Isle of Palms connector will turn left to go to I-526 west and then on to I-26 west.
- Evacuees on I-526 west approaching I-26 from East Cooper will be directed to the normal lanes of I-26 westbound if in the right lane of I-526.
- Those in the left lane of I-526 will be directed into the reversed lanes of I-26.
Awendaw and McClellanville
- Take SC 45 to US 52, where you will be directed to the right onto US 52 to SC 375; then to US 521 to SC 261; and then to US 378 to Columbia
SCDOT Hurricane Evacuation Routes Mapped
After deciding which hurricane evacuation routes to take, review Disaster Plus’ Hurricane Tips and check out our blog for the latest information about the storm and tips on how to best prepare for water, mold, and other damages that often occur in tandem with hurricanes.