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County to participate in full-scale disaster preparedness exercise March 3-12 
Feb. 27, 2015

Georgetown County will be the site of and perform a key role in a major multi-state, multi-agency disaster preparedness exercise March 3 -12. During this time, the public should expect to see unusual activity, including military aircraft flying overhead, as well as a large military presence on land and water throughout the county.

The bulk of the activity for the exercise will take place March 6-9. Public viewing areas will be set up to allow area residents to observe some of the exercise activities during this period. Additionally, the county will need to temporarily close some of its parks and recreational facilities during this time to accommodate exercise activities. A full list of observation opportunities and closings is included below.

Known as Operation Vigilant Guard, this national exercise is sponsored by U.S. Northern Command in conjunction with the National Guard Bureau, and takes place in communities throughout the country. Part of its purpose is to test and enhance relationships between civilian, local, federal and military partners as participants react to simulated emergencies. Local emergency responders and emergency management staff, along with other county and municipal personnel will have a chance to train alongside military personnel and get a feel for how those agencies will interact and be able to help each other in a real emergency.

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Midway presents Medal of Valor, annual awards
Jan. 29, 2015

Shane Kingsford, a firefighter with Midway Fire Rescue, was presented with a Medal of Valor this month and recognized by Georgetown County Council for his accomplishment on Jan. 27.

Kingsford was first notified of the award during Midway’s annual awards banquet at Pawleys Plantation. The Medal of Valor is not an award given every year, but only when someone “goes above and beyond, and places their life in extreme danger to make a rescue,” Chief Doug Eggiman told County Council members...

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Midway Fire Rescue improves ISO rating to Class 2
Jan. 13, 2015

Midway Fire Rescue has a reason to celebrate this month as department was recently notified that its fire protection rating from the Insurance Services Office will improve to a Class 2 effective April 1. This change not only means the department’s level of fire protection service has increased, according the ISO analysis, but it could also earn lower property insurance rates for home and business owners in the department’s coverage area. With the update, the department’s rating drops from a Class 4.

ISO ratings play an important role in the underwriting process at insurance companies. In fact, most U.S. insurers — including the largest ones — use these ratings as part of their decision-making when deciding what business to write, coverages to offer or prices to charge for personal or commercial property insurance...

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Capital Project Sales Tax to go into effect in 2015
Nov. 5, 2014

In the November 2014 general election, Georgetown County residents voted to implement a 1 percent Capital Project Sales Tax to help fund vital capital projects, including dredging at the Port of Georgetown.

The sales tax will begin being applied to taxable purchases in Georgetown County on May 1, 2015, and will remain in place for exactly four years, disappearing on April 30, 2019.

It is anticipated the tax will generate about $7 million per year, for a total of $28 million during the life of the tax. These funds will be used to pay for projects in three key areas: Dredging, countywide road improvements and enhancements to fire and rescue service.

For more information about the tax and the projects to be funded, see the links below or call (843) 545-3164.

Roads list

Projects Flyer

Frequently Asked Questions

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