It has been one month into the hurricane season and there has not been any major activity along the coast, but the local chapter of the American Red Cross is ready.

Aiken County Chapter Executive Director Suzanne Jackson said staff and volunteers alike will jump into action when Gov. Mark Sanford calls for either a voluntary or mandatory evacuation of coastal communities when disastrous weather threatens.

"We go right to work on opening our shelters," she said. "We have one in Bamberg and there is South Aiken High School and North Augusta High School. We get our trained, certified shelter workers. We make sure all facilities are adequate and coordinate food service."

This year, there are 247 evacuation shelters across the state, which is nine more than a year ago. The shelters could house 156,000 people if all were used.

Sanford made several stops along the coast in early June, urging residents to put plans in place for the hurricane season, which started June 1 and will run through Nov. 30.

Sanford said this year is predicted to be an average season with 12 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes. He encouraged residents to have a plan and have available hurricane kits with water, medicines and other supplies.

Specifically, this area has the ability to house as many as 10,000 people at schools and churches as evacuees from the Georgia border to Charleston are generally directed to Aiken County.

But, when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, evacuees from Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi came to Aiken County.

At the time, the state was told to prepare for as many as 18,000 people, including at least 2,000 medical evacuees.

In September 2008, shelters were readied when Hurricane Hanna headed toward the Southern coast.

"It ended up becoming a tropical storm and the governor called for a voluntary evacuation," Jackson said. "We were ready, but never had to use the shelters. Each time it's a wonderful opportunity to evaluate where we are."

In the case of a weather emergency, alerts will be broadcast over key participating radio stations such as WBBQ 104.3 FM and WEKL 105.7 FM. Residents who have National Weather Service radios can tune them to 162.450, 162.550 or 162.500.

Copies of the 2009 South Carolina Hurricane Guide are available for download at www.aikencounty.net.

Breakout

People interested in becoming certified emergency shelter workers with the American Red Cross are invited to attend a training workshop July 18 at First Presbyterian Church, 224 Barnwell Ave. N.W. For more information, call 641-4152.