Although the Atlantic hurricane season doesn't officially kick off until June 1, the National Hurricane Center named its first tropical system of the year earlier this week -- Subtropical Storm Alberto. Bringing rain and severe weather to much of the Southeast, Alberto is a good reminder for Team South Carolina that we all need to stand ready, so we can properly prepare and respond to emergencies when they occur.
In that vein, this week, the S.C. Emergency Management Division unveiled its brand new website -- www.scemd.org. Including information on closings and delays, shelters, evacuation zones, emergency plans and more, the site is a great resource for businesses and residents alike, allowing all of us to be prepared before, during and after a major weather event.
Following such an event, it's up to all of us to come together and do our part to assist those impacted. Our team here at S.C. Commerce certainly stands ready to help businesses get back on their feet after a storm. Additionally, the agency's Disaster Recovery Office works to help the citizens of the state rebuild and recover in the wake of a disaster. Following the historic flooding of 2015 and Hurricane Matthew in 2016, that office was tasked with distributing federal grant funding to address the long-term housing and disaster case management needs of communities across the state. To date, as a result of these efforts, approximately 1,150 homes have either been repaired or replaced. And, the goal is to fix more than 3,500 homes by the first quarter of 2020.
As we turn the calendar page to June and enter into another hurricane season, I encourage each of you to visit the all new www.scemd.org and make sure you and your company are prepared. After all, by doing the planning and preparation beforehand, we can ensure that our state and its business community are well-equipped to handle any emergency.