WHEREAS, on January 23, 2003 the National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning for the State with the potential to receive up to seven inches of snow in some areas with decreasing temperatures throughout the day creating extremely hazardous conditions;

WHEREAS, temperatures were forecasted to remain below freezing and drop significantly during the night making road conditions even more hazardous; and

WHEREAS, these conditions posed a threat to the safety of the state's citizens, therefore, on January 23, 2003, State offices in the counties of Greenville, York, Lancaster, Pickens, Laurens, Cherokee, Oconee, Spartanburg, Union, Richland, Lee, Chesterfield, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Edgefield, McCormick, Newberry, Dillon, Marlboro, Darlington, Clarendon, Florence, Marion, Bamberg, Orangeburg, Calhoun, Aiken, Barnwell, Chester, Williamsburg, Sumter, Saluda, Dorchester, Colleton, Anderson, Horry, Georgetown, and Berkeley were closed, either in whole or in part as directed. Due to the continuing threat posed by hazardous roadways on January 24, 2003, opening of State offices in the following counties was delayed as follows: until 10:00 a.m. Pickens, Anderson, Abbeville, Greenwood, Newberry, Saluda, Lexington, Richland, Calhoun, Sumter, Lee, Marlboro, Marion, Florence, Dillon, and Darlington; until noon Greenville, Spartanburg, Laurens, Cherokee, Union, York, Chester, Fairfield, Lancaster, Kershaw, and Chesterfield.

NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me as Governor, pursuant to the Constitution and Statutes of the State of South Carolina, I hereby direct the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan be placed in effect to support the responsibilities and tasks as warranted by these conditions. I further authorize that emergency expenditures required to ensure the safety of the citizens of South Carolina as authorized by the Director, Emergency Management Division, shall be covered under the State Contingency Fund.

Furthermore, pursuant to S.C. Code 8-11-57, as amended by Act 356 of 2002, Part IX, Section D, all State employees absent from work, in whole or in part as directed, on January 23, 2003, and January 24, 2003, due to this hazardous weather emergency are hereby granted leave with pay.

The provisions of this Executive Order shall remain in full force and effect until further order of this office.

GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THIS 24th DAY OF JANUARY 2003.

MARK Sanford
Governor

Last Updated: Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 11:13 A.M.