City of Charleston, SC
City of Charleston, SC
05/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/08/2024 22:53
MAYOR COGSWELL ISSUES CITY-WIDE CURFEW AT 11:00 PM MONDAY
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
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:
o St. Phillips Street Garage (34 St. Phillips Street) (235 spots left)
o Aquarium Parking Garage (24 Calhoun Street) (405 spots left)
o Visitor Center Parking Garage (63 Mary Street) (FULL)
o Charleston Tech Center Parking Garage (997 Morrison Drive) (475 spots left)
o Queen Street Garage (93 Queen Street) (140 spots left)
o 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:
o 1580 Ashley Gardens Blvd - Bee's Landing Recreation Center (West Ashley)
o Hampton Park, Mary Murray Dr. at Ashley Ave. - Parking Lot by Ball Fields (Peninsula)
o Sevens Farms Drive - Governor's Park Parking Lot near the Dog Park (Daniel Island)
o 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 [email protected]. 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:
City officials will continue to provide regular updates from the National Weather Service regarding the storm's progression and local impacts.
Media Contact:
Deja Knight McMillan
Director of Communications
843-735-4925