Military Members and Emergency Management Officials Unite to Enhance Preparedness

Columbia, S.C. – Military representatives from across South Carolina met with state and county emergency managers for a disaster preparedness seminar hosted by the South Carolina Emergency Management Division.

Participants discussed lessons learned and best practices from exercises and recent incidents, including the 2026 winter storms, Tropical Storm Imelda (2025), Tropical Storm Debby (2024) and Hurricane Helene (2024).

The seminar featured remarks from South Carolina Emergency Management Division Director Kim Stenson and Brig. Gen. Christopher Hyman, director of the Joint Staff for the South Carolina National Guard.

“Strong partnerships and clear communication are key to effective disaster response. Bringing military and emergency management partners together helps us ensure we are ready to act quickly and effectively,” Stenson said.

“The strength of partnership lies in knowing who to contact, who to call upon and what resources are available to support South Carolina in its time of need,” Hyman said.

Representatives from multiple military branches attended, including the S.C. National Guard, State Guard, U.S. Army, Army Reserve, U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force.