COLUMBIA, S.C. — Governor Henry McMaster says now is the time for South Carolinians to make storm preparations , warning that even without a direct landfall, the state could face heavy rain, flooding, and damaging winds in the days ahead.

“I pray and hope for the best and prepare for the worst, and the time to prepare is now and not when the wind’s blowing and the rain is falling down,” McMaster said during a Saturday afternoon briefing at the South Carolina Emergency Management Division headquarters.

The governor recalled last year’s Hurricane Helene and the unexpected damage it caused in parts of the Upstate and western North Carolina. He said the same kind of uncertainty exists now, which is why residents across the state should take the storm seriously.

McMaster said the state ha

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