'Be prepared for the unexpected:' Horry Co. safety officials talk earthquake readiness

CONWAY, S.C. (WPDE) — Three earthquakes shook the Lowcountry on Monday.

The unexpected shakes prompted Horry County safety officials to remind residents in the Grand Strand to always be prepared for the unexpected.

Horry county safety officials said being prepared for natural disasters is a must when living in South Carolina, earthquakes included.

Thomas Bell, the public information officer for Horry County Emergency Management, said, "For a lot of folks who move into South Carolina, may not realize that we do have a relatively significant earthquake risk here in the state.”

Bell says having an emergency prep bag ready at all times is the most important things you can do.

“If you have an emergency kit at your house, stocked for a hurricane for a couple days, you can pretty much get through most other hazards as well," he said. "That would be the same case for an earthquake.”

Some things recommended to have in your emergency kits at home are nonperishable foods, extra clothes, water; and if you have pets have food and supplies for them as well.

Bell says earthquakes don’t need to happen in Horry County for people to experience the affects from them- because of fault lines.

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ABC 15's chief meteorologist,Ed Piotrowski, explains that fault lines are near our area too.

“Fault lines are simply areas where there are two pieces of the earth’s crust that are separated and at that point, you can actually have the land move and cause earthquakes," Piotrowski said. "We have many faults across South Carolina.”

And because we cannot predict when an earthquake will happen, knowing what to do when shaking starts is key.

Thomas Bell explained, “Drop, cover, hold on. You want to make sure you get under a sturdy surface, so if you have a table or a desk, if you’re at home sleeping at night try to get under the bed.”

If you have pets, try and place them under the covered sturdy surface with you; and if you’re outside, Bell says to stay away from buildings and refrain from hiding under bridges and overpasses.

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While you’re protecting yourself, Horry County starts protecting you too with its earthquake protocol plan.

Bell said when an earthquake hits the operations center would, "Be gathering that intelligence, figuring out ‘okay where do we need resources to go?’ and then we would coordinating with the state and federal authorities to say ‘hey this is what we’re dealing with’- they’d be sending in help and then at that point it’s just the recovery and rebuild process.”

Bell also reminds residents to lookout for aftershock.

He says it’s not uncommon to have another low scale quake follow after a larger one.

Thomas bell also reminds residents to lookout for aftershock. He says it’s not uncommon to have another low scale quake follow after a larger one.