The city of Charleston released the following statement regarding Hurricane Ian:
“City of Charleston officials continue to monitor Hurricane Ian and have begun initial preparations for any potential impacts the storm may have here in the Lowcountry. City Emergency Management is working closely with state and regional officials to monitor the storm's track and coordinate preparation efforts.
At this time, the primary threat to the Charleston area from Hurricane Ian is expected to be heavy rainfall Thursday night into Friday that could lead to flooding, according to National Weather Service Charleston. Between Wednesday and Sunday, six to eight inches of rainfall is projected. Locally higher amounts and substantial rainfall rates may occur.
Coastal flooding may occur as early as Wednesday and may be exacerbated by rainfall Thursday and Friday. Wednesday night through Friday, there will be gusty winds, possibly to tropical storm force (39+ mph), according to NWS Charleston.
Due to the potential for flooding, the city's Stormwater Department is working to reserve temporary pumps to position in low lying areas. Stormwater and Public Service Department crews are cleaning ditches and drains in flood prone areas. Citizens can visit the city's Adopt-a-drain webpage for information on ways they can help.
The Parks Department is working to lower water levels in Lake Dotterer and Colonial Lake.
Citizens are encouraged to begin making preparations now. The city's Hurricane Information webpage can be accessed at https://www.charleston-sc.gov/Hurricane-Information. Updates on Hurricane Ian will be released and posted to the webpage as new information becomes available.
“Although it is too early to know what the impacts of Hurricane Ian will be on the city, citizens should begin to prepare now,” said City of Charleston Emergency Management director Ben Almquist. “Make sure your family has a plan and emergency supplies in place, and continue to monitor the path of the storm.”
For the most accurate and up-to-date weather forecasts, residents should stay tuned to the National Hurricane Center and National Weather Service Charleston websites, as well as local media and the FEMA app. Additional hurricane preparedness information can be found at www.scemd.org.”
