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Idalia Update #3

Charleston County remains at OPCON 2 as Idalia approaches South Carolina. According to the National Weather Service, the main threats include tornadoes, heavy rain, flooding and gusty winds. Carta buses will continue to bring people to the shelter until it is no longer safe to operate.

“The worst of the storm is expected to move through the area this evening and into the night”, said Charleston County Emergency Management Director Joe Coates. “Please stay off the roads tonight as floodwaters are difficult to see in the dark. If you do receive a tornado warning from The National Weather Service, make sure you move into an interior room inside your home with no windows.”

Charleston County Government buildings and Charleston County Libraries and book drops will remain closed on Thursday, August 31.

High wind and bridge procedures

• Charleston County’s high wind and bridge procedures can be found online.

Citizens Information Line

• Open Wednesday, August 30, to 12 a.m.

• Open Thursday, August 31, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• English/Spanish: 843.746.3900.

Shelter Information

• Address: 3841 Leeds Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29405.

• The shelter will be open until 10 a.m. Thursday, August 31.

• Residents who need transportation to the shelter need to call the Citizens Information Line.

• Pets are allowed, but residents must stay with their animals and cannot drop them off.

• Residents need to bring comfort items to the shelter with them.

Curbside Recycling, the Bees Ferry Landfill and Convenience Centers

• The Bees Ferry Landfill and Charleston County Convenience Centers will be closed Thursday, August 31.

• There will be no curbside recycling on Thursday, August 31. If your recycling service day is Thursday, August 31, your service will resume on Thursday, September 14, your next scheduled service day. Any overflow material can be dropped off at one of Charleston County’s many recycling drop sites. For location information, visit recycle.charlestoncouty.org.

Downtown Parking Garages

• Charleston County’s Parking Garages located at Queen and King Streets and 90 Cumberland are free and open. Vehicles must be removed by 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 31.

Bond Court

• Thursday, August 31: bond hearings at 7:00 p.m. only.

Online Damage Reporting

• Charleston County Residents can report damage on Charleston County’s online damage page.

Residents are encouraged to follow Charleston County Government on social media, download our 2023 Hurricane Guide, and sign up for our Citizen’s Alert System.

CHARLESTON - Another tornado warning as been posted in portions of Charleston and Dorchester counties.

It remains in effect until 4:15 p.m.

A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Magnolia Gardens at 3:38 p.m. The storm was moving north at 35 mph. Radar images indicated rotation in the storm.

Impacted areas include North Charleston, Summerville, Ladson, and Magnolia Gardens. The warning also includes I-26 between mile markers 205 and 209.

The National Weather Service has reported a weak tornado touched down in Goose Creek Aug. 30, flipping a car but otherwise not causing damage.

The vehicle was flipped at the intersection of Camelot Drive and South Goose Greek Boulevard.

The tornado warning started just before noon Aug. 30 for areas include Johns Island, Hollywood, Ravenel, Meggett, Yonges Island and Wadmalaw Island.

A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Yonges Island, moving north at 25 mph.

The NWS warning noted that “flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely.”

BEAUFORT — Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida just before 8 a.m. on Aug. 30, and since then it’s been working its way across Georgia toward Beaufort County.

Rain, intense at times, has been falling in the county throughout the day, though winds at mid-afternoon were still mild.

While the storm’s exact path and projected impacts are constantly evolving, one thing is nearly certain. It’s going to get worse before it gets better.

The heaviest rains and strongest winds are still to come according to the current forecast.

Local institutions are making preparations for the storm’s arrival, and a number of closures and schedule modifications have been reported.

What to know - Schools

The Beaufort County School District announced eLearning and remote workdays for its students and staff on Aug. 30 and 31. All school district buildings will be closed those days. Extracurricular activities and afterschool programs scheduled for Aug. 30 and 31 have been canceled.

All classes at the Technical College of the Lowcountry are canceled and the campus is closed Aug. 30 and 31.

All online and in-person classes at the University of South Carolina Beaufort are canceled Aug. 30 and 31. Residence halls and ding halls will remain open but may have limited services. All other university offices will also be closed. Classes are expected to resume Sept. 1.

What to know - Government

Officials in Beaufort County declared a state of emergency that will remain in effect until Sept. 3.

The declaration allows government officials to take any action necessary to mitigate emergencies caused by Hurricane Idalia. These actions may include imposing curfews, reentry procedures and any other short term emergency matters.

No curfews or limitations on travel have been enacted in the county at this time.

Hilton Head Island Mayor Alan Perry has likewise declared a local state of emergency for Hilton Head Island beginning Aug. 30 and continuing through Sept. 3.

“Emergency measures are necessary to cope with the existing and anticipated dangers presented by Hurricane Idalia,” Perry said in a press release.

The following local governments will be closed Aug. 30 and 31:

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management Center was activated at 2 p.m. It will remain operations through the duration of the storm to address any storm-related emergencies.

The Town of Yemassee will be closed Aug. 30. Offices are tentatively scheduled to reopen Aug. 31, though a final decision based on current conditions will be made in the afternoon of Aug. 30.

Beaufort County Convenience Centers will be closed Aug. 30 and 31, and all county Parks and Recreation programs are canceled.

Jasper County is opening an emergency shelter at Ridgeland School located at 250 Jaguar Trail in Ridgeland. The shelter will open at 10 a.m. Aug. 30. The shelter can accommodate pets.

Officials recommend that people utilizing the facility bring:

Residents with pets must bring: a crate; pet food; vaccination records; rabies certificate; most recent heartworm test; most recent FeLV/FIV test result (for cats); at least a seven-day supply of their medications; litter and litter box (for cats); cleaning supplies; and food and water bowls. Pets who are not service animals will not be permitted in the main shelter area due to safety considerations.

What to know - Travel

Hilton Head Island Airport and Beaufort Executive Airport remain open, but all commercial flights in and out of Hilton Head Island Airport have been canceled for Aug. 30. Travelers are advised to check with their carriers for any possible flight delays and cancellations.

According to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, there are no plans to restrict driving within the county. However, residents and visitors are encouraged to limit unnecessary travel during peak storm hours. Standing water may be possible on roadways due to rain accumulation. Use extra caution when driving.

The Daufuskie Island Ferry service will be suspended beginning Aug. 30 following the 11:30 a.m. departure. The 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. ferries departing Buckingham and 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. ferries departing Melrose Landing are canceled.

Ferry service may resume Aug. 31 based on conditions and an assessment of the docks and boats. Be aware that the captain can suspend operations anytime it is unsafe to travel. Unscheduled delays and cancellations may occur without notice.

The parking lots at both Melrose Landing on Daufuskie and Buckingham Landing in Bluffton are in very low-lying areas and are prone to flooding. Parking in those locations is not recommended until the storm passes. Drivers are advised to move vehicles to the Daufuskie Island Visitors Center parking lot, located at Tanger 2 Hilton Head Outlets on Fording Island Road.

What to know - Utilities

Power outages can be reported to Dominion Energy at 888-333-4465, while suspected gas leaks should be reported at 800-815-0083.

Customers of Palmetto Electric Cooperative Inc., can report outages at 866-445-5551.

The Beaufort Jasper Water and Sewer Authority offices are closed Aug. 30 and 31. Maintenance crews will respond as conditions allow.

What to know - Military

No evacuation order has been given as of this time for the Marine Corps Air Station - Beaufort. Efforts to prepare Marine Corps Recruit Depot - Parris Island for the storm are reported to be underway.

Updated 8:20 p.m., Aug. 30, 2023 | A weaker but still potent Tropical Storm Idalia crossed into South Carolina Wednesday evening as residents watched the nightly television news. With maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, the storm was 60 miles west of Charleston at 8 p.m., moving in a northeasterly direction at 21 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

But with a Blue supermoon pulling tides higher than normal, storm surge and flooding remained a concern Wednesday night in the Charleston area. A storm surge warning and tropical storm warning remained in effect for the Lowcountry coast.

“The center of Idalia will move near or along the coast of South Carolina through tonight, and then just offshore of the coast of North Carolina on Thursday,” the NHC forecast said. “Idalia will then move eastward over the western Atlantic into the weekend.

“Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 65 mph with higher gusts. Some additional weakening is forecast through tonight, but Idalia is expected to remain a tropical storm while it moves near the coasts of South Carolina and North Carolina.”

Isolated tornadoes, such as a weak one that apparently flipped a car on U.S. Highway 52 in Goose Creek, also remain a threat in the Palmetto State until the storm moves into North Carolina in the early hours of Thursday. – Andy Brack

Updated 3 p.m., Aug. 30, 2023 | S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster on Wednesday said state and county leaders are ready for Hurricane Idalia’s arrival as it moves north from Georgia. There will be no evacuation orders and no state agencies are planning to close as a result of the storm, he said, adding people should stay home and stay informed in the hours ahead.

“We don’t think it’s going to be as destructive [as] some, but there will be a lot of water, especially in the Lowcountry,” McMaster said. “Estimates are from Georgetown to Myrtle Beach (for) one to two feet of water, but down in Beaufort it will be higher than that.

“We’re hoping that the storm will weaken as it goes across ground, which is what they usually do,” he added. “But we’re asking everyone to realize that these storms are dangerous. There will be water on the roads that does not appear to be deep, but … if you can’t see the road, don’t drive on it.”

According to the city of Charleston, “the primary threat to the Charleston area remains heavy rainfall and major coastal flooding associated with King tides. Charleston is currently forecast to receive 2 to 4 inches of rain tonight into tomorrow morning. The King tide prediction has increased to 8’5” and is expected to peak at 8:24 p.m. tonight.

Sustained wind speeds could reach 60 mph, with gusts up to 80 mph. Tropical storm-force winds and heavy rainbands are expected to arrive as early as this afternoon.

McMaster urged residents to stay inside as much as possible. And to get all information from official sources.

“There’s always a lot of chatter on social media,” he said. “A lot of it is right, but most of it is wrong. If you get your information from official sources, you will be much better informed.”

In Charleston, police are mobilizing under a specific hurricane plan, according to Sergeant Anthony Gibson.

“You will definitely see more officers out and about today and through tomorrow in preparation for the storm,” he said. “The Municipal Emergency Operation Center is open, and we have extended to 12-hours shifts, and increased staffing across the city so we can respond to anything that comes our way. We also have officers dedicated to road closures and setting barricades out for flooding roadways.”

Updated 11:30 a.m., Aug. 30, 2023 | Hurricane Idalia, now a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 90 mph, is along the southern border of Georgia heading toward the South Carolina coast later today.

“Although Idalia will weaken further while the center is inland, it is still expected to be a hurricane through this afternoon or evening while moving across southeastern Georgia and southern South Carolina,” according to the latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center (NHC). “Idalia is forecast to be a tropical storm while moving near the coasts of northeastern South Carolina and North Carolina tonight and on Thursday.”

There are several warnings and watches relevant to South Carolinians, according to the NHC. Warnings mean associated conditions are likely in an area, while watches indicate the possibility of those conditions:

Updated 8:34 a.m., Aug. 30, 2023 | Hurricane Idalia, which struck Florida’s Gulf Coast this morning as a Category 3 storm with 120 mph winds, will spin its heavy rain, storm surge and bluster into South Carolina late this evening.

As of 8 a.m. today, a hurricane warning was in effect for the coasts of Georgia and southern part of South Carolina. The rest of the state’s coast was under a tropical storm warning.

Tropical storm force winds (39 mph to 73 mph) should arrive in the Palmetto State in midafternoon. By the time the center of Idalia gets to South Carolina late Wednesday or early Thursday, forecasters say it will again be a tropical storm, but its impact could be significant due to the confluence of heavy rains, wind and a supermoon that will exacerbate flooding and storm surge.

Local schools generally have a half-day today and will be closed Thursday for an e-learning day. People in businesses and homes have been preparing by securing property, stockpiling goods and bringing in things in yards that could soar.

This morning in Florida, the National Hurricane Center said the eye of Idalia was moving inland at 18 mph in a north-northeasterly direction along the Big Bend Coast with catastrophic storm surge and damaging hurricane-force winds.

On Monday, S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency ahead of Idalia’s arrival. He encouraged residents to make preparations and keep tuned into the latest developments.

“Although South Carolina may avoid the worst of Hurricane Idalia’s impacts, this state of emergency is issued out of an abundance of caution to ensure that we have the necessary resources in place to respond to flooding events and are able to respond quickly if the forecast worsens,” McMaster said in a statement.

Also Monday, Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg said the city was taking aggressive steps to prepare because the storm is anticipated to hit Charleston Wednesday night when the area is likely to experience a higher-than-normal king tide of nearly 8 feet.

Getting ready. Follow these links to read the City Paper’s emergency kit checklist and safety tips for hurricane preparedness and Charleston County’s 2023 Hurricane Guide. – Andy Brack

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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Municipalities across the Lowcountry are offering sandbags to residents and businesses to help them prepare for any potential impacts from Hurricane Idalia.

The storm, which is expected to be a major hurricane when it strikes Florida’s west coast, is forecast to weaken before it reaches South Carolina on Wednesday.

Much of the area will see heavy rain, flooding, gusty winds, and a chance for isolated tornadoes.

Residents can find sandbag supplies where they live to help prevent damage associated with flooding and rising water during the storm.

City of Charleston

The city will make sandbags available in three different locations beginning Tuesday for residents who need them. Locations include:

Sandbag operations will take place between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. There will be a limited supply of free sand and bags Residents should bring their own shovels to assemble the sandbags. Staff will be on-site for assistance.

City of North Charleston

North Charleston will begin sandbag operations on Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. and on Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.

Sandbag operations will be self-serve only.

Mount Pleasant

The Town of Mount Pleasant will offer sandbags starting Tuesday at noon. People should bring their own shovels.

Isle of Palms

Sand and sandbags will be available for Isle of Palms residents at no charge beginning Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. Residents are responsible for filling their own sandbags.

Sandbags are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is a limit of 10 per person.

Berkeley County

Sandbags are available on a first-come, first-served basis at several sites in Berkeley County.

Additional locations may be announced as needed.

Dorchester County

The county will provide sand and bags at five locations; however, people should bring their own shovels. There is a limit of 10 sandbags per resident or business owner.

City of Georgetown

The City of Georgetown will begin sandbag distribution on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. There is a 10-bag limit per person.

Williamsburg County

Williamsburg County Public Works Department will be issuing six sandbags on a first come first serve basis. They will begin giving them out at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, until supplies last.

HOW TO PROPERLY FILL/PLACE SANDBAGS

Count on 2 for updates as additional sandbag locations are announced.

The North Charleston Fire Department says Ashley Phosphate Road is partially open as crews remain on scene of a fire involving multiple mobile homes.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The North Charleston Fire Department provided updated information Wednesday on a fire that damaged several mobile homes and required the temporary closure of a major roadway late Tuesday afternoon.

A total of nine adults and three children have been displaced by the fire, which damaged five homes on Beret Street, Assistant Fire Chief Chris Rainey said. EMS took one North Charleston firefighter to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The fire department responded to a 911 call at 4:48 p.m. The first crews to arrive at the scene reported heavy smoke and flames coming from a single-family home.

“Crews made entry to extinguish the fire,” Rainey said. “Firefighters encountered heavy fire and heat inside the home. All residents had evacuated the home.”

They spotted fire extending to a second home and Rainey said high-wind conditions hampered efforts to put out the fires and caused flames to spread to three additional homes.

“This fire has been a wind-driven fire,” North Charleston Fire Safety Coordinator Laura Kondor said at the scene Tuesday night.

Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to a sixth home, Rainey said.

Kondor said the homes affected by the fire were either a complete loss or partially damaged.

John Marlowe lives across the street from where the fire broke out. He said he was doing yard work when he looked up and saw his neighbor’s home engulfed in flames.

“I was just weed-eating the yard and I looked across the street and saw a bunch of flames coming out of a house,” Marlowe said.

He said he ran over and grabbed a water hose, trying to put out the fire, but there wasn’t enough pressure in the hose to help.

“A bunch of houses went on fire; six houses went down and all of them my friends. All of them are without a home now,” Marlowe said.

Officials with the North Charleston Fire Department said there was not enough water supply in the area to support the amount of fire trucks on scene.

Officials said several power lines were also affected.

The fire forced officials to shut down a portion of Ashley Phosphate Road near the Cathedral of Praise to extend fire hoses for several hours, Rainey said.

Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fire.

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