Dear Campus Community,
As Hurricane Helene heads for a landfall in Florida this evening, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Tornado Watch for the Charleston region until 9 p.m. Thursday. The latest forecasts show the peak for this threat is Thursday afternoon into early evening and possibly into the early hours of Friday.
The College is closely monitoring the storm’s track and will continue to update the campus. At this time, there are no changes to class schedules, work schedules and business operations.
In preparation for this storm, please make sure your mobile phones are charged, turned on, and set to a level that you can hear any alerts, even if you are sleeping. The College will issue Cougar Alerts, if possible. The emergency notifications issued by NWS and supported through mobile carriers are the best means of prompt notifications for Tornado Warnings.
What is the difference between a Tornado Watch and Tornado Warning?
- A Tornado Watch is issued when the risk of hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location or timing is still uncertain.
- A Tornado Warning is issued when a hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, imminent or likely. A warning means weather conditions pose a threat to life or property. People in the path of the storm need to take protective action.
What to do if a Tornado Warning is issued:
- Get indoors to a pre-designated shelter area such as a basement, storm cellar or the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors and outside walls.
- Shutter windows and outside doors.
- If in a vehicle, trailer or mobile home, get out immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or storm shelter.
- If unable to get indoors, lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. Be aware of potential flooding and flying debris.
- Never try to outrun a tornado in your vehicle. Instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safe shelter.
What to expect from the storm in South Carolina:
According to meteorologists, most computer weather models show Hurricane Helene moving through Florida and Georgia, although some models project it moving through western or central South Carolina. Either way, it will likely affect the Lowcountry with rain and winds and an increased chance of coastal flooding. Depending on the intensity and the path, it could produce some severe weather up to a potential tornado threat by Friday.
Please stay tuned to local news and monitor the latest updates from the National Weather Service. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division maintains valuable hurricane information and resources on its website at hurricane.sc.
Another helpful resource is the city of Charleston’s TideEye app, which provides information on road closures and tide levels. Please contact the College’s Department of Public Safety if you have any questions or concerns at 843.953.5609.
Sincerely,
CofC Emergency Management Team