Beaufort County has no hurricane shelters. Bluffton evacuates by SC 46 and US 321 toward North Augusta. County hurricane hotline: 1-833-254-6400.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Facts come from the Town of Bluffton’s Hurricane Season page and hurricane FAQs, and the South Carolina Emergency Management Division’s 2026 Hurricane Guide (PDF).

Hurricane season runs June 1 to Nov. 30. Bluffton sits in the Lowcountry, where the land is flat and laced with marsh and rivers, and the Town of Bluffton says there are no hurricane shelters in Beaufort County. If a hurricane threatens, the plan for most people is to leave.

Who to call

Who is in charge

In South Carolina, only the governor can order a mandatory evacuation, the town says. The Beaufort County Emergency Management Division, under the Beaufort County Sheriff, leads the response for the whole county from the county Emergency Operations Center. The Town of Bluffton follows the county’s directions and runs its own operations center inside the Bluffton Police Department.

Know your zone

Evacuation zones mark the areas most at risk from storm surge. Find yours on the state’s Know Your Zone maps at hurricane.sc before a storm, and listen for your zone in any evacuation order. The town warns that more than 75% of Beaufort County could flood in a Category 1 hurricane.

The evacuation route from Bluffton

From the 2026 South Carolina Hurricane Guide:

Bluffton (S.C. 46)

  1. Take S.C. 46 toward Hardeeville.
  2. Turn right onto Plantation Drive (S.C. 46), then right onto U.S. 321.
  3. Follow U.S. 321 to Estill and turn left onto S.C. 3.
  4. Take S.C. 3 to S.C. 125 and turn left.
  5. Continue on S.C. 125 toward North Augusta, merging with Hilton Head and Beaufort traffic at U.S. 278 in Beech Island, and follow S.C. 125 and U.S. 278 to North Augusta.

U.S. 278 from Hilton Head Island gets a third westbound lane by lane reversal. At S.C. 170, the right lane goes to S.C. 462 and I-95 north at Exit 28, the center lane goes to I-95 north at Exit 8, and the left lane continues on U.S. 278 to Hampton and North Augusta.

The town’s advice: leave before an evacuation order if you can. Before an order you can take any route; after one, the S.C. Highway Patrol and local officers will direct traffic onto set routes.

Shelters

The Red Cross has opened shelters in Jasper County during some storms, the town says. For a storm that is not a hurricane, the Red Cross may open a shelter in Beaufort County. Shelter lists are posted by the South Carolina Emergency Management Division and on the town’s social media. If you need a ride to a shelter, call Palmetto Breeze at 843-757-5782 early; its buses stop running once the storm or high winds arrive.

If you stay

People who ignore a mandatory evacuation should be ready to look after themselves during the storm and for at least the first 72 hours after, the town says. Emergency vehicles cannot travel in high winds, debris can block roads, and hospitals close during a mandatory evacuation.

Get ready now

From the town’s FAQs and hurricane safety checklist:

  • Water: one gallon per person per day, at least a three-day supply.
  • Food: at least three days of nonperishable food that needs no cooking.
  • The five P’s: people and pets, prescriptions (at least two weeks’ supply), papers, personal needs and priceless items.
  • Flood insurance: most homeowner policies do not cover flooding. See the National Flood Insurance Program.
  • Around the house: tie down outdoor furniture and plants, clear gutters and drains, and turn off irrigation.
  • Pets: find hotels that take pets along your evacuation route.
  • Paper backup: write down phone numbers in case cell service fails, and photograph your home before and after the storm for insurance.

The state’s guide does not list a hurricane sales-tax holiday. It notes that South Carolina allows catastrophe savings accounts, state income tax-free accounts for qualified expenses such as insurance deductibles.

Working in Georgia

During Hurricane Florence in 2018, Beaufort County was evacuated while the Savannah area was not, and the town says many residents who work in Georgia felt torn. It suggests talking to your employer about storm plans before the season starts.

What this means for you

  • There are no hurricane shelters in Beaufort County. Plan where you will go now.
  • Know your zone and your route: S.C. 46 and U.S. 321 from Bluffton.
  • Save 1-833-254-6400 in your phone.
  • The season ends Nov. 30.

Related: power outages in Bluffton, road construction and closures and who to call at Town Hall.

Frequently asked questions

Are there hurricane shelters in Beaufort County, SC?

No. The Town of Bluffton says there are no shelters in Beaufort County during a hurricane because the county is low-lying and flood-prone. The Red Cross has opened shelters in Jasper County during some storms.

What is the Bluffton hurricane evacuation route?

South Carolina’s hurricane guide sends Bluffton traffic on SC 46 toward Hardeeville, then US 321 to Estill, SC 3 and SC 125 to North Augusta. Hilton Head traffic uses US 278 to SC 170 and I-95.

Who orders a hurricane evacuation in South Carolina?

Only the governor can order a mandatory evacuation in South Carolina. Beaufort County Emergency Management, under the Beaufort County Sheriff, leads the response in the county.

When does hurricane season end?

Nov. 30. The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to Nov. 30.

How do I get hurricane updates for Bluffton?

Call the Beaufort County Hurricane Hotline, 1-833-254-6400, which has a Bluffton mailbox during a storm, and follow the town and Bluffton police on social media. Sign up for Nixle alerts from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.