News Release #4, Tropical Storm Isaias

The Town of James Island continues to closely monitoring the forecast track of Tropical Storm Isaias. The Town received a weather briefing from the Charleston National Weather Service at Noon today and participated in an emergency management conference at 12:30 pm. Charleston County will not be activating its shelters, transportation plan nor its EOC for this storm. The Town continues to operate at OPCON level 2. Definitions of OPCON levels can be found at http://www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/emergency-management/OPCON.php(opens in a new tab). The Town will close for normal business at 2 pm today, and Charleston County will close at 1 pm for normal business. The Town is still issuing sandbags at Town Hall (1122 Dills Bluff Rd) on a self-service basis until 4 pm or while supplies last.

Tropical Storm Isaias is expected intensify slightly to become a hurricane and is forecast track north then north-northeast well off from the southeast Georgia coast this afternoon and just offshore of the southeast South Carolina coast this evening. Isaias should pass closest to the Charleston County coast before advancing north of the region overnight. Most impacts will occur along/east of I- 95 in southeast SC, with greatest impacts near the coast, particularly across the Charleston Tri-County region and across adjacent Atlantic coastal waters. Confidence is high regarding most hazards. The highest impacts (Tropical Storm Force Winds, Heavy Rainfall and Coastal Flooding) is expected to be mainly coastal areas from Beaufort County, northward to Charleston County. Coastal Flooding/Storm Surge Inundation expected to be lower given the timing of the latest track forecast.

Below are the majority of impacts we can expect to see:

Flooding Rainfall: Excessive rainfall, 3 to 6 inches with possibly greater localized amounts from Beaufort County into the Charleston Tri-County area. and flash flooding is possible. Heavy rain and storm surge inundation could flood numerous roads and some structures in Downtown Charleston Monday evening.
Coastal Flooding: Dangerous storm surge inundation of up to 2 to 3 feet above ground level is possible, especially around the Monday evening high tide at 9 pm, along/near Edisto Beach to Charleston Harbor. Storm Surge inundation is expected in northeastern Charleston County around the time of high tide this evening, which is approximately 9 pm.
Winds: Tropical storm force winds/gust are expected Monday into the night, especially near the coast. Strongest wind gusts may reach 60 to 70 mph near the coast across central and northeastern Charleston County with the arrival of heavy rain bands this afternoon into this evening. Some wind gusts to hurricane force are possible in far northeastern Charleston County. These winds could produce minor structural damage, knock down trees and produce some power outages. Lower maximum winds/gusts are expected south/west of this area.
Rip Currents: High risk along the coast though Monday night.
High Surf & Beach erosion: Moderate to major beach erosion possible along the entire coast Monday night.
Tornados: Isolated tornados possible Monday night, mainly across the Charleston Tri-County area.

Tropical Storm Wind Probabilities:

Charleston County-42%
Beaufort County 13%
Georgetown County 61%
Myrtle Beach 91%

Solid Waste Services:

Charleston County recycling will be pushed back one day, and the James Island Public Service District and City of Charleston will be operating on a holiday schedule, picking up Monday's route on Tuesday. One of the most important things to remember during and after a storm is the need to separate yard debris. It's critically important to separate yard debris from household debris and will make the clean-up of our island go much more smoothly. Remember – this is NOT the time to clean out your garage!

Additional Considerations:

Citizens should avoid unnecessary travel due to possible localized flooding caused by potential heavy rainfall, particularly in downtown Charleston.
Please remove any items around your home that could cause damage due to the potential for strong wind gusts.
Please follow directions on traffic and message boards for road closure information and remind the public, "Turn around, Don't drown."
In the event of possible flooding, citizens are asked not to drive around barricades or drive through standing water.
Emergency calls to 911 should be reserved to save a life, report a crime or report a fire.
- DO NOT call 9-1-1 if you have water in your home unless your life is in danger.
- DO NOT call 9-1-1 to report that your power is out, report the outage to your utility provider.

Always have these important phone numbers and links available throughout the storm season:

Bridge Procedures

Bridges located within Charleston County DO NOT close to vehicle traffic when wind speeds increase.
Charleston County's High Wind Bridge Procedures are located at: https://www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/emergency-management/files/BridgeProceduresHighWinds.pdf

Damage Reports:
Damage caused by Isaias can be reported by visiting: https://www.crisistrack.com/public/charlestonSC/citizenRequest.html

Dominion Energy Customer Service: 1-800-251-7234

Down/Sparking Lines: 1-888-333-4465

Gas Leaks: 1-800-815-0083

Power Outage: 1-888-333-4465

Non-emergency Public Safety concerns (Downed Trees) Consolidated Dispatch – (843) 743-7200

Outage Map: https://www.sceg.com/outages-emergencies/power-outages/outage-map(opens in a new tab)

Social media – twitter - @domenergysc

Here are other important links with helpful information before, during and after an event:

South Carolina Emergency Management Division: http://www.scemd.org(opens in a new tab)/

FEMA: https://www.fema.gov/(opens in a new tab)

National Weather Service Charleston Office: http://www.weather.gov/chs/(opens in a new tab)

Pet Friendly Hotels: http://www.pet-friendly-hotels.net/(opens in a new tab)

Current Charleston County Hurricane Information: https://www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/emergency-management/index.php(opens in a new tab)

Definition of OPCON levels: http://www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/emergency-management/opcon.php(opens in a new tab)

Download the Charleston County EMD App for the latest updates by searching CC EMD in your carrier's app store.

For updates, visit the Charleston County website or follow us on our social media platforms:

Visit website: www.charlestoncounty.org(opens in a new tab)

• Emergency Management Department: https://www.facebook.com/EMDChasCo/(opens in a new tab)

The Town will continue to publish news releases and share relevant information from other agencies, so please make sure your contact information is up-to-date to receive our news releases through email, and always make sure to monitor the Town's social media sites. If you don't receive Town News releases by email, sign up by sending an email to info@jamesislandsc.us

Every resident should sign-up for the Charleston County Citizen Alert Notification System powered by EVERBRIDGE. This system allows you to be alerted any of the following ways: home phone, mobile phone, text message, email or by fax. Mass notification keeps everyone informed before, during and after any emergency event. https://member.everbridge.net/453003085611698/login(opens in a new tab)