Rain from Tropical Storm Andrea will begin in the Charleston region this afternoon. The bulk of the storm will occur during the overnight hours. Trailing bands of rain will remain in the area through Friday morning. The Charleston area can expect 3-5 inches of rain between now and tomorrow afternoon.
Significant flooding is expected in some areas because the ground is already saturated, especially at high tide, which will occur at 7:28 pm tonight and at 7:48 am tomorrow. Winds of 20-30 miles per hour with gusts up to 45 miles per hour can be expected.
Officials are asking everyone to be safe and use caution during the storm. The morning commute may be dangerous due to flooding. There is a likelihood of uprooted trees and fallen branches, which can cause downed power lines. Have flashlights and batteries available in case power is lost.
Our city departments will be monitoring the storm from our PSOC beginning early evening and through the night under the leadership of Chief Mullen.
The City will provide updated information to our residents throughout the storm via the City website, Facebook, Twitter and releases sent to the media. To report a non-emergency call (843) 577-7434.
The Parks and Fire Departments will have crews ready to assist with tree removal if necessary. Public Service will continue to monitor storm drains and clear them of debris, as they have done for the past few days and especially during the break in the rain today. Traffic and Transportation will monitor traffic signals and signs and perform repairs when possible.
The city will provide garage parking for downtown residents who live in low-lying areas in the Aquarium garage at the foot of Calhoun Street. They can park for no charge after 5:00 tonight as long as they remove their car by noon on Friday. If the Aquarium Garage is full, residents may park at the VRTC Garage between King and Meeting.