It’s official: Things are not good in Charleston.
More than 60 streets remain closed. Saturday’s high tide exceeded 8.2 feet as rain continued to pound the city. Routes to the city have reopened, but police recommend motorists stay on the main arteries in the city of Charleston and avoid side streets.
Emergency officials will be monitoring conditions downtown as tides change, but Charleston County Councilman Elliot Summey says the forecast remains grim.
“We’ve got a lot more rain between now and later on tomorrow,” said Summey. “The important thing is we need to use common sense and be safe.”
Summey recommended residents remain indoors and watch football or Netflix.
President Barack Obama has officially declared a state of emergency for South Carolina. Federal aid will be provided to supplement state and local response efforts in areas affected by severe storms and flooding. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is now authorized to provide equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impact of the emergency, according to the White House.
Charleston County Emergency Operations Center has moved to OPCON 1, the highest state of emergency operations. This change in status means that a disaster or emergency situation is in effect and a full-fledged emergency response is ongoing.
“It’s really going to be kind of play-it-by-ear, if you will,” said Cathy Haynes, chief of operations at the Charleston County Emergency Management Department. “Depending on how the situation is, we will probably have a presence, a very skeletal presence, in the operations center through the night. Then once we get in tomorrow morning, it will be evaluated to see how we are going to operate from that point forward.”
The following shelters are open for all those in need:
The North Charleston United Methodist Church, located at 1225 East Montague Ave. in North Charleston (American Red Cross shelter). If you have questions about this shelter, you may call 843-764-2323 ext. 365.
Grace on the Ashley Baptist Church, located at 2014 Bees Ferry Road in Charleston (American Red Cross shelter).
Charleston County Sheriff’s Office Al Cannon Detention Center Work Camp building is open as a shelter operated by the Sheriff’s Office. The work camp is located at the corner of Bridge View Drive and Leeds Avenue in North Charleston.
County officials ask the public to remain off the roads, if possible. Citizens with questions can call the Citizen Emergency Information Line at 843-746-3900.
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