Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Conway (SC) -September 11, 2018- Governor Henry McMaster delivered his executive order for Horry County’s evacuation Monday afternoon; thus mobilizing Coast RTA’s transportation in the Zone A, B and C evacuations. Coast RTA has 20-plus hurricane evacuation bus stops along the Grand Strand throughout Zones A, B and C and will serve all three zones during this evacuation period.
“Now that the executive order has been announced, Coast RTA has suspended its fixed route and paratransit services therefore initiating its evacuation efforts in Horry County. Timing is critical in using transportation to the local shelters. We encourage anyone needing transportation to use Coast RTA’s services within the next 12-24 hours while the weather and road conditions are still safe,” said Coast RTA General Manager Brian Piascik.
Coast RTA’s 20 designated hurricane evacuation stops/pick up locations are as follows:
1.) Food Lion Little River – 3379 East Highway 9 (Beyond Zones A, B & C)
2.) North Myrtle Beach High School – 3760 Sea Mountain Hwy (Beyond Zones A, B & C)
3.) Roses North Myrtle Beach – 3500 South Highway 17, North Myrtle Beach (Zone B)
4.) Myrtle Beach Mall (formerly Colonial Mall) – 10177 N Kings Highway (Zone B)
5.) Food Lion Myrtle Beach – 7631 N Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach (Zone B)
6.) Socastee High School – 4900 Socastee Blvd, Myrtle Beach (Zone C)
7.) Walmart Surfside Beach – 2751 Beaver Run Blvd, Surfside Beach (Zone C)
8.) Inlet Square Mall – 12125 Hwy 17 Bypass, Murrells Inlet (Bus shelter at old K-Mart) (Zone B)
9.) Coastal Grand Mall – 2000 Coastal Grand Circle, Myrtle Beach (parking lot between Sticky Fingers and Dillards) (Zone B)
10.) Myrtle Beach Helping Hand – 1411 Mr. Joe White Avenue, Myrtle Beach (Zone B)
11.) Myrtle Beach Street Reach – 1005 Osceola Street, Myrtle Beach (Zone B)
12.) Myrtle Beach Transfer Center – 10th Avenue North & N Oak Street (Zone B)
13.) Gator Hole Plaza – 550 N Highway 17, North Myrtle Beach (Zone A)
14.) Walmart Garden City – 545 Garden City Connector (Zone B)
15.) Forestbrook Middle School – 4430 Gator Lane (Zone C)
16.) James Frazier Community Center – 1370 Bucksport Rd (Zone C)
17.) Bucksport Library – 7657 S Highway 701 (Zone C)
18.) St. James High School – 10800 Highway 707 (Zone C)
19.) Burgess Community Center – 10299 Highway 707 (Zone C)
20.) Waccamaw Pottery – George Bishop Parkway & Fantasy Harbour Blvd Intersection (Zone B)
In addition, Coast RTA has added evacuation pick up locations along the southbound side of Kings Highway. There will be NO pick up evacuation stops along the beach side of Kings Highway. ALL evacuation stops are on southbound side.
1.) Corner of 70th Avenue North and Kings Highway across from the Exxon gas station.
2.) Neighborhood Walmart Kings Highway and 40th Avenue North, near gas station.
3.) Corner of Kings Highway and Poinsett Road
4.) The former Rite Aid Pharmacy Kings Highway and 29th Avenue North.
5.) Corner of Kings Highway and 13th Avenue North.
6.) Corner of Kings Highway and 6th Ave North at Mt Atlanticus mini golf course.
7.) Kings Highway across from Family Kingdom at George’s Seafood, just past 3rd Avenue South.
8.) Food Lion Kings Highway at 14th Avenue South.
9.) Express Exxon gas station at 26th Ave South and Kings Highway.
During evacuation, all Coast RTA rides end at officially designated emergency shelters. Once cleared for re-entry, return trips will only stop at the hurricane shelter evacuation designated pickup points. When using Coast RTA for transportation to the local shelters, look for the temporary blue and white hurricane evacuation bus stop signs to designate the pick-up location. This is a FREE service provided by Coast RTA as the transportation partner during emergency preparedness efforts.
Should residents or visitors need to stay at the local shelters during Hurricane Florence, here are a few tips:
1.) Shelters may be crowded.
2.) Shelters do not accept pets.
3.) Shelters are not designed for comfort.
4.) Residents will need to take their own supplies such as batteries, bedding, identification, toiletries, clothing, etc.
5.) Shelters do not accept guns, alcohol or animals.
6.) Residents needing shelters to accommodate special medical needs should call 843.915.8804 to pre-register. Local shelters are not medically equipped to handle special medical needs or accommodations.
Coast RTA asks passengers using its evacuation services to limit belongings/bedding/luggage to one bag per person. For a complete listing evacuation/shelter tips and Coast RTA evacuation bus stops, visit RideCoastRTA.com.
Residents with special transportation needs may call Coast RTA’s Customer Service to discuss options. For those needing shelters to accommodate special medical needs, please call SCDHEC at 843.915.8804.
Announcements will be made through local media outlets and social media channels for post-hurricane re-instatement of fixed route and paratransit service. For the latest updates on Coast RTA’s bus service during Hurricane Florence, call Coast RTA’s customer service at 843.488.0865.
For more information including additional route, schedule and fares information, call 843-488-0865 or visit the website www.RideCoastRTA.com.