Sumterites heed warnings to prepare, even those who weren't here for Hugo

As Hurricane Florence prepared to hit the Carolinas, Sumterites were preparing for whatever the impact may have been.

People around downtown Sumter were getting ready on Thursday for the storm to arrive, which was at a Category 2 as it brought its first rain bands to the Carolinas coast and approached North Carolina.

"We're prepared," Brandon Humphries said about his family. "We have plenty of water, fuel, a generator, non-perishables and a grill."

It was important for people in the Sumter area to stock up on food and water while they could, just in case they were unable to once Florence hit, and people seemed to be heeding the warnings.

"We have a long-term food supply, so we're well-prepared," Humphries said.

Sumterites were monitoring the storm closely to brace for impact.

"We kept the TV on The Weather Channel all week," Erricka Jones said.

Jones wasted no time preparing for the storm.

"We started getting prepared Sunday," Jones said. "My husband and I have everything we think we'll need; we have everything ready and in place for the worst. We're prepared for rain and wind."

South Carolinians hoped Florence wasn't as catastrophic as Hurricane Hugo was back in 1989. And some were lucky enough to not have had to live through it.

"I wasn't alive for Hugo," Jones said, "I was born in 1994."