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.