The City of Charleston has announced several measures to prepare for the possible effects of an approaching tropical system. Self-serve sandbag distribution will be available to residents on Sunday, September 28, and Monday, September 29, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The sandbags can be picked up at three locations: Hampton Park (Peninsula), Bayview Soccer Complex (James Island), and the Catholic Diocese Site (West Ashley). Residents are encouraged to bring their own shovels and be mindful of limited supplies.
Starting Monday at noon, free storm parking will be offered exclusively to City of Charleston residents at three municipal garages: Visitor’s Center Garage, 99 WestEdge Garage, and Charleston Tech Center Garage. Only cars are permitted; boats, trailers, and golf carts are not allowed. Residents should pull a ticket upon entry and follow posted instructions for exiting after the event.
City officials stated that crews are currently clearing storm drains and roadside ditches in areas known for flooding issues. Temporary pumps are being positioned in low-lying zones, barricades are staged for potential street closures, water levels at Colonial Lake and Lake Dotterer are being lowered, and staffing adjustments have been made across multiple departments including Public Service, Stormwater, Police, Fire, Recreation, and Communications. Coordination is ongoing with Charleston County and the National Weather Service.
Residents are reminded: “Turn around, don’t drown. Never drive through standing water.” Additional safety recommendations include securing outdoor items, clearing gutters or drains near properties, charging phones and backup batteries in advance of possible outages, having flashlights ready along with any needed medications on hand, staying alert to changing weather conditions and consulting official forecasts before traveling.
The city will continue providing updates throughout the weekend via email alerts, social media channels, and its website as more information about the storm’s path becomes available.
