Unless otherwise directed by the Governor, South Carolina state government offices follow the same weather-related closure and delay decisions as the county they are located in. If a county delays opening or closes early due to inclement weather, state offices in that county will do the same. A full-day county closure will also result in a full-day closure for state offices within that county.
There are four primary ways to find out about county and state government office closures and delayed openings:
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South Carolina Educational Television and Radio (SCETV): SCETV will broadcast closure information via a screen crawl and radio announcements statewide.
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South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) Website: The SCEMD website will post closure and delay information as soon as it becomes available.
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South Carolina Emergency Manager Mobile App: This app provides a comprehensive list of all state and county government closures directly to your mobile device.
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Local News Media: Local news outlets will typically broadcast, post on their websites, and share through social media any changes to normal operating hours for county offices, which also apply to state agencies in those counties.
It’s important to avoid contacting county emergency management offices directly for closure information. During severe weather, these offices are busy responding to emergencies and should not be interrupted with non-emergency inquiries. Instead, employees with questions should contact their immediate supervisors.
State regulations allow the Governor to authorize paid leave for missed workdays under specific circumstances related to declared states of emergency or weather-related closures. These regulations govern hazardous weather and emergency leave for state employees and can provide up to five days of paid leave. More details can be found in S.C. Code Ann. 8-11-57 and S.C. HR Regulation 19-712.01 (K).
