Staff reports  |  Lowcountry residents are being asked by state and local officials to prepare for a major hurricane, including the possibility of evacuation, as the Carolina coast braces for landfall later this week.

“Prepare for the worst, but hope for the best,” Gov. Henry McMaster said throughout the weekend.

Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg on Sunday said the city was getting ready.

“This is shaping up to be a major hurricane,” Tecklenburg said.  “City government continues to get ready for whatever impacts the storm may bring. We ask that citizens do the same by reviewing your family’s plan and paying attention to any announcements from the Governor or other state emergency officials.”