Tonight, after consulting with city emergency managers and first responders, Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg issued the following statement:
“This was a tough and frustrating day for our citizens, as historic high tides came up and over the land in the city, flooding cars, homes, businesses and streets. Thankfully, no major injuries have been reported at this time, and recovery efforts are already underway.
“As I said recently, I've never been more optimistic about the future of our city. But that optimism depends on our ability to adapt to sea level rise and climate change, which forecasters tell us will bring punishing tides like the ones we saw today on a monthly or even weekly basis in the decades to come. That's why the city is working with the Army Corps of Engineers on a plan to protect our citizens from this kind of tidal flooding. And it's why we must continue to move forward until Charleston has the perimeter protection and other infrastructure it needs to survive and thrive in the years ahead.”
