MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and state emergency officials talked about Hurricane Idalia at a news conference Wednesday afternoon as the state prepares for impacts from the storm.

McMaster issued a statewide emergency declaration on Tuesday ahead of the storm. He said state leaders have been in touch with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and that “they are here.”

McMaster also said he called President Joe Biden shortly before the news conference.

He also encouraged people to not be on the roads if at all possible.

“Don’t go driving around because nothing good can come from that,” he said.

Officials are expecting about 200,000 power outages but said utility crews will not be able to begin working until the winds die down. They also are not able to work at night.

Officials also urged people not to go out into the floodwaters, especially in the Lowcountry where alligators could be in the water.

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Dennis Bright is a digital producer at News13. Dennis is a West Virginia native and graduate of Marshall University. He has won copyediting and journalism awards in West Virginia and Ohio. Follow Dennis on Twitter and read more of his work here.