Stories from the Field Hurricane Matthew in South Carolina

During Hurricane Matthew, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) used the emPOWER Emergency Response Outreach Individual Dataset to identify areas with high concentrations of at-risk individuals. Through a partnership with first-responders and FEMA Urban Search and Rescue (USAR), DHEC identified evacuation staging areas that could support a surge in at-risk individuals requiring shelter. DHEC later conducted recovery outreach to 268 at-risk individuals to assess ongoing recovery needs and level of preparedness, and provide informational resources.