Horry County, SC

As of 12 p.m. on August 27, 2024, Horry County has returned to OPCON 3 (Operating Condition Level 3), normal daily operations.

Riverine and waterway flooding caused by Tropical Storm Debby continues to slowly diminish. Access control points are being removed as the water levels go down.

The emergency no wake order continues on the Intracoastal Waterway from Fantasy Harbour Bridge to Bucksport Marina until August 30, 2024 or otherwise announced.

Several county boat landings remain closed. View their conditions here.

Horry County Emergency Management encourages residents to remain prepared through the rest of hurricane season.

Additional information can be found on Horry County’s website at www.horrycountysc.gov

Horry County Emergency Management Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/horrycountyemergencymanagementdepartment

Horry County Emergency Management Twitter: https://twitter.com/HorryEMD

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The Horry County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will close at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, and the County will move to OPCON 2 (Level 2 Operation Condition) as team members continue to monitor water levels along area rivers. 

Horry County Government offices and facilities will resume normal operations on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024.

Community members with interests along area waterways are encouraged to continue tracking water levels over the coming days.  

Additional information regarding emergency operations and communications can be found on the Horry County Emergency Management Department webpage: https://www.horrycountysc.gov/departments/emergency-management/ 

As hurricane season continues, residents and visitors are encouraged to register to receive emergency alerts through Code Red. 

Horry County Government's offices and facilities will be closed, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, due to Tropical Storm Debby.

Horry County Solid Waste Authority facilities--including the landfill and all recycling convenience centers--will be closed, and Parks & Recreation and Library programs canceled.

Public safety departments will continue to provide critical services.

Myrtle Beach International Airport remains open but passengers should check the status of their flights with their airlines.

Normal County operations are anticipated to resume on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024.

Residents may continue to do business with Horry County departments at any time on the County's website at: www.horrycountysc.gov.

Community members are encouraged to stay weather aware.

For periodic storm updates, visit our website or follow Horry County Emergency Management: https://www.facebook.com/horrycountyemergencymanagementdepartment/ 

CONWAY, S.C. - Horry County Council has declared a localized state of emergency to adopt emergency ordinances to meet public emergencies affecting life, health, safety or the property of the people in our area. The declaration will remain in effect for sixty (60) days unless sooner terminated by resolution by County Council. 

Click here to review the ordinance.

The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will activate Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, at 7 a.m.

Please note, County day-to-day operations remain unchanged, with the exception of some courts. Community members who wish to do business with the County are encouraged to call ahead or consult the County website before driving in the rain.

Weather conditions and County operations will be evaluated again on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024.

Additional information can be found on Horry County’s website at www.horrycountysc.gov

Horry County Emergency Management Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/horrycountyemergencymanagementdepartment

Horry County Emergency Management on X: https://twitter.com/HorryEMD

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CONWAY, S.C. - Horry County Emergency Management Department moves to OPCON 2 (Level 2 Operation Condition) on Monday, August 5, 2024 as of noon, meaning the county is operating in a heightened state of awareness with emergency plans beginning to be implemented. County officials have begun discussions with the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, coastal communities including local municipalities, and will continue to monitor the situation closely. 

The Horry County Emergency Operations Center is not currently activated, however, Horry County Emergency Management will continue to keep the public aware of changes in the forecast and appropriate action will be taken as necessary.

In anticipation of possible effects on Horry County from the tropical system, Horry Emergency Management wants to remind all citizens to prepare by:

·    Surveying your property to mitigate potential flooding, such as making sure storm drains and gutters are clear of debris. 

·    Bringing in or securing yard items and decorations.

·    Avoiding flooded roadways.

·    Continually monitoring reputable weather information sources such as local media or the National Hurricane Center for the most up to date hurricane information.

Additional information can be found on Horry County’s website at www.horrycountysc.gov

Horry County Emergency Management Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/horrycountyemergencymanagementdepartment

Horry County Emergency Management X: https://twitter.com/HorryEMD

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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)  announced this week that federal Economic injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are available in South Carolina for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private nonprofit organizations with economic losses due to the drought conditions that began July 9, 2024.

The declaration includes the primary South Carolina counties of Clarendon, Darlington, Florence, Horry, Lee, Marion, Sumter and Williamsburg; and the contiguous counties of Berkeley, Calhoun, Chesterfield, Dillon, Georgetown, Kershaw, Marlboro, Orangeburg and Richland in South Carolina; and Brunswick, Columbus and Robeson in North Carolina.

Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster.  Apart from aquaculture enterprises, SBA cannot provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, and ranchers. Nurseries are eligible to apply for economic injury disaster loans for losses caused by drought conditions. 

The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 4% for small businesses and  3.25% for private nonprofit organizations, with terms up to 30 years. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until twelve months from the date of the first loan disbursement. Eligibility is based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources.  These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.  The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.

To apply online and find additional disaster assistance information visit SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.  

Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than March 17, 2025. 

HORRY COUNTY, SC (July 2, 2024) – Barry Spivey, a long-term Horry County Government leader, has been selected as the next County Administrator for Horry County. Spivey will formally adopt the role on January 1, 2025.

In his first moments after selection, Spivey focused on gratitude and appreciation.

“Thank you for your confidence in our team and this opportunity,” Spivey said. “I am first and foremost a servant, and I am both humbled and grateful for the opportunity to serve this Council, my team, every employee of our County, and this Community.”

Asked about what comes next, Spivey highlighted the teamwork and shared mission that continue to push Horry County toward new horizons:

“We are truly blessed as an organization and as a community. We, as a team, look forward to continuing our commitment to excellence in the services we provide this community as responsible stewards of our taxpayer’s money. Our employees are our team’s greatest resource and essential to the services we provide our citizens. We will work together as a team to accomplish the critical needs for infrastructure, public safety, and constituent services for our community.”

 Spivey will replace outgoing County Administrator Steve Gosnell. Gosnell’s contract ends in December 2024.

“He is a tremendous asset to the County,” Spivey said. “I don’t know of any individual who, over their career, has had such influence and impact in Horry County as Steve Gosnell. He is a great mentor—we can learn from him and try to carry that forward. We still have a lot to accomplish between now and the time that Steve does plan to retire, so we will be working together in that regard.”

During a special-called meeting Tuesday, Horry County Council was unanimous in their selection of Spivey for the role.

“I want to thank my wife, children, and family for their support and encouragement, without which I could not serve,” Spivey said.

Spivey has served as the Assistant County Administrator for Administration since Summer 2019. From 2011 to 2019, he was the Horry County Finance Director, a role in which he oversaw high level budget development and cross-departmental capital projects implementation. Prior to joining the County, Spivey worked as the Chief Financial Officer for the Burroughs & Chapin Company for 22 years. Spivey received his MBA from Coastal Carolina University.

The future Assistant Administrator for Administration, whom will fill Spivey’s previous role upon his adoption of the County Administrator role, will be determined through a collaborative effort at a later date.  

(Pictured above: County Attorney David Jordan, Director of Public Information Mikayla Moskov (left),  Assistant Administrator for Public Safety Randy Webster, and Assistant Administrator for Infrastructure & Regulation David Gilreath (right) pose with Barry Spivey (center) after Spivey's selection as the next County Administrator for Horry County.)