Palmetto IST members join Honolulu’s Emergency Operations Center as the islands prepare for possible storm impacts.
South Carolina has deployed members of State Fire’s Palmetto Incident Support Team (IST) to Hawaii as officials there prepare for potential effects from Hurricane Lala. Governor Henry McMaster announced the deployment Thursday, confirming that the team will assist Honolulu emergency officials with preparedness and coordination efforts as the storm approaches.
The IST will work within the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management’s Emergency Operations Center, providing additional staffing, planning support, and operational coordination. The request for assistance came from the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency and was facilitated through the South Carolina Emergency Management Division.
Gov. McMaster emphasized South Carolina’s commitment to national mutual aid, noting that the deployment does not diminish the state’s ability to respond to any weather threats at home. “When our neighbors are facing the threat of a hurricane, South Carolina stands ready to help, just as others have done for us in times of disaster,” he said.
The mission is being carried out through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), a nationwide system that allows states to share personnel, equipment, and resources during emergencies. EMAC deployments enable rapid support for disaster response and recovery, ensuring states can reinforce one another when facing significant weather events.
South Carolina’s Palmetto IST has supported multiple national emergencies in recent years, including previous EMAC missions to Hawaii during flooding in 2018 and remote coordination during the 2023 wildfire response.
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