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Columbia hurricane guide

Columbia is the capital of South Carolina and lies mostly in Richland County, with part in Lexington County. The city says the October 2015 flood caused extensive damage and runs a flood recovery information site. The city and Richland County share a public safety alerts program. No city phone numbers could be confirmed, so see the Lexington County page for agencies.

Checked on October 10, 2026

Every phone number and web address on this page was checked against official sources on that date. Details can change, especially during a storm. Always follow instructions from the City of Columbia. In a life threatening emergency, call 911.

What to know in Columbia

  • The city publishes a list of flood prone streets and intersections to avoid and a flood recovery information site about the October 2015 flood.

Official alerts and information

  • Columbia and Richland County Citizen Alerts: Time-sensitive public safety alerts for city and Richland County residents. Register before a storm. Website.
  • Columbia Flood Recovery Information: Information about recovery from the October 2015 flood. Website.
  • City of Columbia website: The city's official site. Website.

Evacuation centers

Open only when announced

Evacuation centers open only when officials announce them, and not every center opens for every storm. Check the official list of open centers before you leave home. Bring your own bedding, food, water, and medicines.

The City of Columbia does not publish shelter locations on the pages checked. Shelters, if any, are announced for each emergency, so do not go to a site until it is announced. See the Lexington County page.

County services that cover Columbia

Lexington County manages evacuation zones, evacuation centers, and emergency alerts for everyone who lives in Columbia. The Lexington County guide has the full list of county numbers, radio stations, and recovery help.

  • Official list of open evacuation centers
  • Lexington County CodeRED: Free alerts by text, email, or phone. Sign up before a storm. Emergency calls come from 866-419-5000, weather warnings from 800-566-9780, and texts from short code 76993. Website.
  • Emergency Road Closure Map: Active road closures and hazardous areas during emergencies. Website.

Sources

Checked on October 10, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.