NEWS RELEASE #6 Hurricane Warning for James Island

News Release #6—Hurricane Warning for James Island

The Town of James Island remains at OPCON 1 today, Thursday, October 6th. There is a Hurricane Warning for James Island.

Mayor Woolsey declared a state of emergency at 4:00 PM yesterday, Wednesday October 5th.

Mayor Woolsey stated, "Please follow Governor Haley's order to evacuate James Island. The weather will begin to turn on Friday, October 7th so the time to leave is today."

The Town of James Island Municipal Operations Center (MEOC) evacuated to Greenwood, South Carolina yesterday, Wednesday, October 5th. Town Hall is closed.

The bridges to James Island remain open. Law enforcement will close them when high winds make them too dangerous probably late Friday or early Saturday. At this time, there is no specific timeline to prevent access to James Island. Access from James Island to Folly Beach is currently limited to residents and business owners.

The evacuation route from James Island

Take SC 171 (Folly Road) to US 17.

Take US 17 South to I-526 east to the reversed lanes of I-26

Emergency Transportation to Shelters

The Emergency Transportation Plan has been activated. Buses will go to the Emergency Pickup Points from 8 am to 8 pm and take those who need transportation and shelter to Emergency Shelters here in the Lowcountry

Emergency Transportation Pickup Points on James Island

Fast Point Food Store - 1029 Harbor View Road (Harbor View Road at Quail Drive)

Wal-Mart—1231 Folly Road and Griffith Road

Folly Beach Shopping Center - 907 Folly Road (Camp Road and Folly Road)

Harris Teeter - 1739 Maybank Highway and Folly Road

Hot Wheels - 1523 Folly Road

Camp Center - 1238 Camp Road

Harris Teeter - 1985 Folly Road and Sol Legare Road

Harris Teeter - 675 Folly Road

Murray Elementary School - 691 Riverland Drive

James Island High School - 1000 Ft. Johnson Road

Hideaway Pizza Kitchen - 608AHarborview & Clearview, near Ft. Johnson

Those residents with special medical needs please call 843-953-0070 to contact a DHEC representative.

Shelters

The following shelters have opened:

North Charleston High School, 1087 E Montague Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405

Stall High School, 3625 Ashley Phosphate Rd, North Charleston, SC 29418

A.C. Corcoran Elementary, 8585 Vistavia Rd, North Charleston, SC 29406

Midland Park Primary, 2415 Midland Park Road, North Charleston, SC 29406

Ladson Elementary, 3321 Ladson Rd, Ladson, SC 29456

Edmund A. Burns Elementary, 3750 Dorchester Road, North Charleston, SC 29405 (Pet / Pet Owner Shelter)

Sandbags

The Town of James Island and the City of Charleston's cooperative effort to provide sand and bags on James Island has ended. There are no more available. Please do not dig holes in the Town Parks.

Forecast

Hurricane Matthew poses a significant threat to the region. There is also moderate confidence that Matthew will be a Category 2 or 3 hurricane as it passes the GA and SC coasts. Specific impacts remain uncertain as minor deviations in the track of Hurricane Matthew will alter these impacts. The storm is expected to make a sharp right turn as it nears the Myrtle Beach area.

FRIDAY TIDES:

High – 12:26am 5.1'

Low – 6:23am 1.2'

High – 1:04pm 5.6'

Low – 7:18pm 1.4'

CURRENT WATCHES, WARNINGS AND/OR ADVISORIES (updated) South Carolina: Hurricane Watch for ALL coastal counties and Hurricane Watch ALL Marine areas including Charleston Harbor

EXPECTED IMPACTS (INCLUDES TIMING AND LOCATION)

STORM SURGE: Reasonable worst case values of 4-8' inundation are possible and the southeast South Carolina coast should be prepared for this potential should the hurricane remain closer to the coast.

WINDS: Gusts at/above hurricane force possible mainly close to the coast. Tropical storm force winds/gusts will possibly extend much further inland and could persist for 18-24 hours at any given location late Friday and into Saturday with the worst effects Saturday.

Extensive tree damage and significant power outages will be possible within any areas that receive hurricane force wind gusts (74 mph+).

HEAVY RAIN: Rainfall totals 8 to 14" with potentially higher amounts locally.

MARINE: Probability for hurricane conditions increasing, with seas possibly building to 15-20 feet near shore, and 20- 30 feet beyond 20 nm offshore. Dangerous conditions for all vessels, even larger ships.

TORNADOES: No significant threat anticipated if the center of the system remains offshore as expected.

POTENTIAL TIMING OF TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS POTENTIAL

ONSET TIME: Friday evening.

POTENTIAL ENDING TIME: Saturday evening with improvement Sunday.

Other important information: 2016 Charleston County Hurricane Guide:http://bit.ly/Hurricaneguide2016 Charleston

County Citizen Alert System: Charleston County residents should register for theCharleston County Citizen Alert System, a free program that allows the public to receive voicemail, text message, and email notifications about emergency situations. Register online at https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085611698#login

High Wind and Bridge Policy:

www.charlestoncounty.org/deparments/emergencymanagement/files/bridgepro…

Definition of OPCON levels:

www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/emergencymanagement.opcon.php

The Charleston County Emergency Management Department developed and maintains an Emergency Operations Plan and Re-Entry Plan for the entire County. Please visit their website at

www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/emergency-management for more information and links to those documents.

Here are some important numbers or websites you need to know.

Downed Trees: Call 911

Downed Power lines: SCE&G- 1-888-333-4465 Gas Leaks: SCE&G -1-899-815-0083

Non-emergency Public Safety concerns: Consolidated Dispatch – (843) 743-7200.

Here are other important links with helpful information :

South Carolina Emergency Management Division: http://www.scemd.org/

FEMA website for Citizen Preparedness: http://www.ready.gov/ FEMA:https://www.fema.gov/

National Weather Service Charleston Office: http://www.weather.gov/chs/

Pet Friendly Hotels: http://www.pet-friendly-hotels.net/