South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott warned against people in his state becoming complacent over the slow approach of Hurricane Dorian, saying that people who live in a mandatory evacuation area should leave before the storm reaches the state's coast.
"Complacency leads to catastrophes not only for you, but for the emergency responders that will be charged with the responsibility of coming to get you if you are in a mandatory evacuation area," the Republican lawmaker told Fox News' "Fox and Friends."
He noted that he's a life-long resident of the states' Low Country, and for the first time, he has seen a billboard in the Charleston area, the "number-one tourist destination in the nation" and it "simply said 'get out.'"
"We don't tell people to leave," said Scott. "If we're telling you to leave, it's a problem."
Scott said he spoke with the White House earlier on Wednesday, and from President Donald Trump and local officials, he's learning that the main threat is the "trifecta" of high tide, storm surge, and heavy rain.
"When we think if the categories' strength, that wind has to do with property damage," said Scott. "What causes the loss of life, it's the water. When the water rises seven feet in (Charleston), that's basically at sea level. "That means that all of us can be in danger."
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has ordered the interstate directions to be reversed heading west, but that will end at noon on Wednesday, warned Scott.
"We've had three days to get out," said Scott. "The governor's warnings are clear, they are crisp, and they should be adhered to."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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