Gov. Nikki Haley: Now Is The Time For The State To Pray

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UPDATE at 8:30pm: As mentioned in Governor Haley’s update, the SCDOT has now confirmed that they will be lifting the I-26 lane reversals beginning Friday morning.

Officials say that the process of removing the reversal could take up to three hours or more. Westbound lanes will remain open during the process, except for intermittent closures.

The process will begin by law enforcement stopping traffic from entering the reversed lanes at I-526 in Charleston, removing traffic control points on I-26 eastbound, and performing a final sweep of the lanes, according to SCDOT officials.

UPDATE at 6pm: Governor Nikki Haley held another news conference Thursday evening updating on the progress of Hurricane Matthew and says the outlooks are getting worse as the storm approaches.

Throughout the conference Haley kept urging residents who have not already evacuated to do so. Officials say the outlooks being given are growing worse and the concerns now are storm surges along the coast that could rival the damages done during Hurricane Hugo.

Haley stressed that this is a scary storm and should be taken seriously.

Officials also laid out time tables on the I-26 lane reversals and gave updates on evacuation notices and procedures.

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COLUMBIA, SC — Governor Nikki Haley provided an update Thursday morning on Hurricane Matthew and said she does not believe enough people have evacuated damage prone areas.

During the news conference the Governor expressed concern for residents who have not evacuated saying stores and gas stations will close, people need to evacuate. Haley says the lane reversals on I-26 have worked beautifully bringing evacuees inland and out of harms way.

According to officials, prisons have been locked down, over 2000 guardsmen are already on the ground, hotels are filling up, and residents are taking advantage of shelters.

The state and its officials continue to monitor Matthew’s progress and are making the necessary preparations to protect its residents.