Tropical Storm Debby Update 5 – August 7, 2024
We hope everyone is safe, dry, and weathering the storm well.
For any issues or concerns regarding POA maintained property, for example, boat landings, pools, trails, parks (other than Governors, Freedom, Fallen Oak, or Etiwan), common areas, or ponds, please email info@dicommunity.org. Any information you can send, including address/location of the issue and a photo of the problem is appreciated. If email is not working, please call Chris Hamil, Operations Manager at (843) 696-4676.
Thank you to those who have sent in reports. We truly appreciate the eyes in the community.
Update From The City Of Charleston
**The following has been provided by the City of Charleston via their Newsletter.
As of 7:30 a.m. today, the city-wide curfew in Charleston has been lifted, and main thoroughfares leading onto the Peninsula have been reopened. After assessing overnight conditions, officials have determined that it is safe to return to normal activities. Charleston City operations will be returning to normal on Friday. Thanks to the curfew, Charleston Police and Fire Departments did not need to perform any rescues during the storm.
Impacts Still Expected
Despite the curfew being lifted, saturated soil combined with increasing winds may still lead to downed trees and power lines. Crews will be out assessing damage and cleaning up debris over the next few days.
Road Closures
According to the Charleston Police Department, several roads remain closed and are barricaded. Please avoid driving around barricades or entering flood waters. To check current road closures, use the following link. Temporary pumps will remain in place until Friday morning.
Reporting Property Damage
To report damage to your property, please use this link to access the Damage Self-Assessment Form. Review the form for details on damage qualifiers. Damage assessment teams will begin their work on Thursday or Friday.
Garbage and Trash Collection
Trash pickup will remain canceled for the week. Due to the County landfill being closed, garbage collection will not resume until Friday. Download the CHS TrashTracker app for real time updates.
Citizens Services Desk
The Citizens Services Desk will be available 24/7 starting today. Residents can reach out with non-emergency questions or requests at 843-724-7311 or via email at citizenservices@charleston-sc.gov. Spanish-speaking services are also available through Charleston County Government at 843-746-3909.
Parking Garages
City parking garages will be open for free until Friday at 8:00 a.m. To utilize free parking, residents should press the call button upon exiting and inform the operator that they are using the free storm parking.
Mayor’s Statement
“The incredible people of our city demonstrated a strong response to Tropical Storm Debby. City staff and the citizens of Charleston worked together to prioritize the safety of our residents and our emergency personnel. We will remain vigilant as Debby lingers nearby, but for now we are just grateful for everyone doing their part,” said Mayor Cogswell.
“City employees worked around the clock to clear drains and alleviate flooding, clear roads, and make sure our city was safe. If you see a member of our team, thank them. Our local businesses and hospitality industry also stepped up and helped support our team and abide by the curfew. Let’s thank them by supporting local businesses over the next few days.”
Stay Informed: Residents should stay informed through local media and follow the City of Charleston’s official channels for the latest updates:
August 6th, 2024 Update 4 at 12:20 PM
*The following information was provided by the City of Charleston via their Newsletter. You can register for their Newsletter HERE.
AUGUST 6, 2024 – CHARLESTON, S.C. – As a result of the latest forecast, Mayor Cogswell has extended the city-wide curfew until tomorrow morning. As of 7:00am, we have received eight inches of rain and are expecting an additional three to six inches over the next 12 to 14 hours. This substantial rainfall, combined with wind gusts reaching up to 40 mph, is creating hazardous conditions for both our first responders and residents.
“Our emergency crews and city staff are working around the clock to keep our residents safe. We owe it to them to stay off of the roads,” said Mayor William Cogswell. “Due to people doing their part and staying home, we had no rescues overnight and no injuries to our personnel. Safety of our residents and staff is our top priority.”
“The curfew is not just about unnecessary restrictions but about maintaining the safety of the city and our citizens,” said Police Chief Chito Walker. “By stepping up and ensuring guidance, we aim to keep everyone safe. We know it works because the vast majority of the public has adhered to the warnings, and we need all of you to continue to make it work and to keep our city safe.”
“The curfew is crucial to keep people off the street to ensure their safety and the safety of our first responders,” said Fire Chief Dan Curia. “We know the curfew worked because our call volume dramatically decreased overnight. We are so thankful for the residents and the staff of the city for adhering to the guidance.”
Key Updates
Severe Flooding Expected through Thursday: According to the National Weather Association, rainfall will continue and potentially worsen through Thursday. This system has produced tornadoes in our city, and we remain under a tornado watch until 5:00pm today. Tropical storm force winds are expected to strengthen heading into Thursday.
Access to the Peninsula Remains Closed: Main thoroughfares leading into the peninsula remain closed until the curfew is lifted. The following thoroughfares are closed:
From Mount Pleasant:
- 17 and E Bay St
- 17 and Meeting St
- 17 and Crosstown
From 26:
- 26 and Mount Pleasant St.
- 26 and Rutledge Ave 26 and Crosstown
From West Ashley:
- Savannah Hwy and Lockwood
- Savannah Hwy and Crosstown
From James Island:
- SC-30 and Calhoun St
From North Charleston:
- Meeting Street Extension
- King Street Extension
Residents Urged to Stay Home: Officials strongly advise residents to stay home tonight and throughout tomorrow. Avoid traveling during heavy rainfall and do not drive around barricades or on flooded streets. Use this link for road closures, damage reports, garage locations, and more. Be aware that wet ground and soil conditions could cause trees to fall. Act promptly, as evacuating a flooded property once roads become impassable is not advisable.
Citizens Services Desk: The Citizens Services Desk will operate 24 hours a day starting today. Residents can call or email with non-emergency questions or requests at 843-724-7311 or citizenservices@charleston-sc.gov. Spanish-speaking services are available through Charleston County Government at 843-746-3909.
Stay Informed: Residents should stay informed through local media and follow the City of Charleston’s official channels for the latest updates on the storm and its impact:
August 5th, 2024 Update 3 at 7:30 PM
The following information has been provided by the City of Charleston.
AUGUST 5, 2024 – CHARLESTON, S.C. – Mayor Cogswell has issued a city-wide curfew for 11:00 PM tonight. Thoroughfares leading onto the peninsula will be closed from 11:00 PM and then officials will reassess at 10:00 AM Tuesday. The National Weather Service is predicting 10-12 inches of rainfall beginning at midnight. The Charleston Police Department will begin preemptively closing vulnerable roads at 8:00 PM tonight.
Key Updates
Severe Flooding Expected: Tropical Storm Debby is expected to bring 10-12 inches of rain to the city starting at midnight. The National Weather Service warns of potentially catastrophic effects from this level of rainfall. Severe flooding is anticipated across the city, including in areas that do not typically experience flooding.
Access to the Peninsula to Close: Main thoroughfares leading into the peninsula will be closed by emergency responders starting at 11:00 PM. The Charleston Police Department will begin erecting barricades on vulnerable streets at 8:00 PM. A total of 170 barricades are already staged throughout the city. Officials will assess conditions in the morning before reopening roadways. The following thoroughfares will be closed:
From Mount Pleasant:
- 17 and E Bay St.
- 17 and Meeting St.
- 17 and Crosstown
From 26:
- 26 and Mount Pleasant St.
- 26 and Rutledge Ave 26 and Crosstown
From West Ashley:
- Savannah Hwy and Lockwood
- Savannah Hwy and Crosstown
From James Island:
- SC-30 and Calhoun St.
From North Charleston:
- Meeting Street Extension
- King Street Extension
Trash and Yard Debris Collection: Due to Tropical Storm Debby trash and yard debris collection has been cancelled for Tuesday. Please remove your garbage cans and yard debris from the street and secure them. Please follow the City of Charleston’s new outlets for the latest updates.
Residents Urged to Stay Home: Officials strongly advise residents to stay home tonight and throughout tomorrow. Avoid traveling during heavy rainfall and do not drive around barricades or on flooded streets. Use this link for road closures, damage reports, garage locations, and more. Move valuables, medicine, and important documents to higher ground or a waterproof container. Residents in low-lying, flood-prone areas should consider relocating to higher ground, especially those in single-story homes on slabs. Be aware that wet ground and soil conditions could cause trees to fall. Act promptly, as evacuating a flooded property once roads become impassable is not advisable.
Emergency Shelter and Transportation: A general population and pet shelter is open at the Charleston County Sheriff’s Administration Building (3841 Leeds Ave). Individuals can access the shelter via normal CARTA routes.
Parking Garages Filling Up Quickly: Now is the time to move your vehicles to high ground. Below is a list of garages that still have available parking. The following city garages are open for free:
- St. Phillips Street Garage (34 St. Phillips Street) (235 spots left)
- Aquarium Parking Garage (24 Calhoun Street) (405 spots left)
- Visitor Center Parking Garage (63 Mary Street) (FULL)
- Charleston Tech Center Parking Garage (997 Morrison Drive) (475 spots left)
- Queen Street Garage (93 Queen Street) (140 spots left)
- West Edge Garage (99 West Edge Street) (FULL)
To take advantage of free parking, residents must press the call button upon exiting and inform the operator they are using the free storm parking.
Sandbag Distribution: As of 6:00pm, over 49,000 sandbags have been distributed throughout the city. Sandbags are no longer available at all four locations; however, sand is still available. Residents should bring their own shovels and bags, with a limit of 10 bags per residence. Distribution sites include:
- 1580 Ashley Gardens Blvd – Bee’s Landing Recreation Center (West Ashley)
- Hampton Park, Mary Murray Dr. at Ashley Ave. – Parking Lot by Ball Fields (Peninsula)
- Sevens Farms Drive – Governor’s Park Parking Lot near the Dog Park (Daniel Island)
- 1051 Fort Johnson Rd, Bayview Soccer Complex – Circular Drive Adjacent to Bathrooms and Concession Stand (James Island)
Citizens Services Desk: The Citizens Services Desk will operate 24 hours a day starting today. Residents can call or email with non-emergency questions or requests at 843-724-7311 or citizenservices@charleston-sc.gov. Spanish-speaking services are available through Charleston County Government at 843-746-3909.
Continued Preparations:
- The Charleston Police Department has begun staging barricades at vulnerable intersections and roads throughout the city.
- High-water vehicles and crews with essential resources will be deployed.
- We have lowered water levels at Colonial Lake and Lake Dotterer.
- We will clear storm drains on flood-prone streets and install temporary pumps in vulnerable areas.
Stay Informed: Residents should stay informed through local media and follow the City of Charleston’s official channels for the latest updates on the storm and its impact:
August 5th, 2024 Update 2 at 10:00 AM
Tropical Storm Debby is predicted to impact our area this morning. As of yesterday, August 4th, Mayor Cogswell has issued a state of emergency for the City of Charleston. Please read the latest updates from the Property Owners’ Association and City of Charleston below.
The Latest Updates from the POA:
- Due to the incoming storm, all three of the Daniel Island Community Pools (Scott Park, Pierce Park and Edgefield Park) will closed at 12 PM today Monday, August 5th.
- The pools will remain closed until further notice. Once the storm passes, our POA Field Ops team and the pool contractors will need to inspect the pools and pool areas for safety before they can be reopened. Please refrain from entering the pool areas at any time.
- We do not foresee any closures of the Ralston Creek or Beresford Creek Boat Landings at this time.
- Please check around the entire perimeter of your home, unit or business and secure or bring inside or secure any exterior items such as flag poles, sandwich board signs (in the commercial area), trash cans, yard debris or other items placed at the curb, planters (both hanging and potted), yard art, furniture, grills, bird feeders, basketball hoops, sports goals & other play/recreational equipment and any other loose household items that could damage your property or neighboring properties.
- POA Office and Staff:
- The POA Office will be closing at 12 PM today, Monday, August 5th and will remain closed until Monday, August 12th. All staff will be working remotely. They will be accessible via email.
- The Field Operations team has been working diligently to prep the island for impact. They will return to the island when it is safe to do so.
- All builders have been asked to prepare each of their sites for this storm. Each builder will remove or secure the dumpsters with a cover, remove or secure the port-o-lets, and remove or secure all construction materials on their job sites. If you are having personal renovations or remodeling completed at your home, please remind your contractor/builder to have these items addressed.
- In the event you lose electricity, notify Dominion Energy of power outages HERE.
- For downed power lines, tree limbs, trees or other large debris that you may encounter in the streets or roads, please call 911 to report them. Downed or damaged City street trees, which are located between the curb and sidewalk that are non-emergent, should be reported to the City of Charleston Citizens Services Desk at (843) 724-7311 or online HERE.
- Any tree on someone’s personal property or in the right of way in front of their property is their responsibility to remove if fallen. If a tree must be removed, please send a picture to info@dicommunity.org along with the species of tree if known. This information is helpful should the tree need to be replaced.
- For all other issues regarding POA maintained property, for example, boat landings, pools, trails, parks (other than Governors, Freedom, Fallen Oak, or Etiwan), common areas, or ponds, please email info@dicommunity.org. Any information you can send, including address/location of the issue and a photo of the problem is appreciated. If email is not working, please call Chris Hamil, Operations Manager at (843) 696-4676.
The Latest Updates from the City of Charleston:
- In response to the escalating threat from Tropical Storm Debby, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has declared an Official State of Emergency for South Carolina. The City of Charleston continues to implement urgent measures as the storm approaches, with forecasts indicating the potential for catastrophic urban flooding.
- Due to Tropical Storm Debby Trash service (yard waste) has been suspended for the week. Please remove any yard waste from the street if you have already placed it out. Garbage will run a normal schedule on Monday, August 5th. They will decide today if collection will occur on Tuesday, August 6th.
- Residents are urged to follow local media & follow the City of Charleston’s official channels for the latest updates.
- Continued Preparations:
- Street sweeping will begin to remove debris from streets and storm drains. Crews will continue their work provided conditions remain manageable. There is no set schedule on when this will occur on Daniel Island so residents are asked to please park cars in their driveways.
- The Charleston Police and Fire Departments will deploy all available staff starting Monday to enhance response efforts.
- Barricades will be placed on streets in advance of heavy rain and high tides.
- High-water vehicles and crews with essential resources will be mobilized.
- Water levels at Colonial Lake and Lake Dotterer have been lowered.
- Storm drains on flood-prone streets will be cleared, with temporary pumps installed in vulnerable areas.
Residents are urged to stay informed through local media for forecast updates. City officials will maintain close communication with Charleston County and other local agencies throughout the weekend and will continue to provide regular updates from the National Weather Service regarding the storm’s progression and local impacts.
August 4th, 2024 Update 1 at 11:30 AM
The City of Charleston Prepares for Severe Weather Due to Tropical Storm Debby
As you may be aware, South Carolina is under Tropical Storm Watch and Storm Surge Watch for Tropical Storm Debby. Our area is projected to be impacted as early as today, Sunday, August 4th and lasting potentially through Friday, August 9th. Wind gusts up to 55mph are possible beginning Monday, August 5th through Thursday, August 8th.
The City of Charleston has sent out a Weather Alert urging residents to prepare for severe weather conditions. Please read the information below to prepare your family and home for the incoming weather.
- Be sure to check around the entire perimeter of your residence and secure or bring inside any exterior items such as trash cans, recycling bins, planters (both hanging and potted), yard art, furniture, grills, bird feeders, basketball hoops, sports goals & other play/recreational equipment and any other loose items that could damage your property or neighboring properties or become life-threatening projectiles
- Make sure you have an adequate supply of canned goods, bottled water, radio, cell phone, portable charger and batteries. If you do not have bottled water on hand, fill a bathtub or sink with fresh water.
- Make necessary accommodations for pets.
- Monitor the weather conditions closely and be prepared to follow recommendations of state and local authorities.
- Residents should review personal safety and severe weather preparedness plans.
- Charleston County rarely closes bridges during such weather events because when the bridges become unsafe for motorists, they are also unsafe for the emergency vehicles that would have to mobilize to do so.
Reporting Issues/Outages
- In the event you lose electricity, notify Dominion Energy of power outages HERE.
- For downed power lines, tree limbs, trees or other large debris that you may encounter in the streets or roads, please call 911 to report them. Downed or damaged City street trees, which are located between the curb and sidewalk that are non-emergent, should be reported to the City of Charleston Citizens Services Desk at (843) 724-7311 or online HERE.
- Any tree on someone’s personal property or in the right of way in front of their property is their responsibility to remove if fallen. If a tree must be removed, please send a picture to info@dicommunity.org along with the species of tree if known. This information is helpful should the tree need to be replaced.
- For all other issues regarding POA maintained property, for example, boat landings, pools, trails, parks (other than Governors, Freedom, Fallen Oak, or Etiwan), common areas, or ponds, please email info@dicommunity.org. Any information you can send, including address/location of the issue and a photo of the problem is appreciated. If email is not working, please call Chris Hamil, Operations Manager at (843) 696-4676.
City of Charleston Press Release:
The City of Charleston is urgently preparing for severe weather conditions as a powerful tropical storm approaches the region. Officials are warning residents of imminent, life-threatening floodwaters and unpredictable flash flooding, with forecasts predicting up to 18 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service. Rainfall is expected to begin Sunday and last potentially through Friday. This storm is expected to produce very significant and rare flooding impacts across the city. Additionally, the storm is forecasted to produce tropical storm force winds.
Key Points
- Potential for Life-Threatening Flooding: The anticipated rainfall is expected to inundate roads across the city, damage vehicles, and enter some structures. Motorists who drive into floodwaters may lose their vehicles. Residents are urgently advised to move their vehicles to higher ground before Monday.
- Critical Period of Concern: The National Weather Service (NWS) Charleston forecasts that rainfall and gusty winds will begin as early as Sunday and may continue through late week. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are days of particular concern. Rain will persist through Friday.
- Anticipate Road Closures: Officials warn that extreme flooding is expected to cause widespread road closures throughout the city. Roads that are not typically affected by flooding are likely to experience significant disruptions.
Sandbag Distribution
Sandbag distribution will commence at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 4, and will continue until 6:00 p.m. or until supplies run out. Residents should bring their own shovels, and a limit of 10 bags per residence will be enforced. Distribution locations are as follows:
- 1580 Ashley Gardens Blvd – Bee’s Landing Recreation Center (West Ashley)
- Hampton Park, Mary Murray Dr. at Ashley Ave. – Parking Lot by Ball Fields (Peninsula)
- Sevens Farms Drive – Governor’s Park Parking Lot near the Dog Park (Daniel Island)
- 1051 Fort Johnson Rd, Bayview Soccer Complex – Circular Drive Adjacent to Bathrooms and Concession Stand (James Island)
Preventative Measures and Preparedness
In light of these forecasts, the City of Charleston has implemented a series of urgent preventative measures and preparedness protocols under Mayor Cogswell’s Active Flood Mitigation Plan. Additional measures will be announced following further assessment:
- The Charleston Police and Fire Departments will deploy all available staff starting Monday to enhance response efforts.
- Barricades will be placed on streets several hours before heavy rain and high tide begin on Monday.
- High-water vehicles and crews equipped with essential resources will be mobilized.
- Water levels at Colonial Lake and Lake Dotterer have been lowered.
- Storm drains on flood-prone streets will be cleared starting today.
- Temporary pumps will be installed in vulnerable areas in advance of the rain.
- Parking Garages will be opened for free to residents to move vehicles to higher ground. Announcement on timing is forthcoming.
Residents are urged to stay informed through local media for forecast updates. City officials will maintain close communication with Charleston County and other local agencies throughout the weekend and will continue to provide regular updates from the National Weather Service regarding the storm’s progression and local impacts.
Follow the City of Charleston on social media and sign-up for its official newsletter for the most up to date information:
**The above information was provided by the City of Charleston via their Newsletters and press release.
