Voluntary evacuations advised for vulnerable areas of Charleston CountyLocal schools closed or dismissing early Friday By Bo Petersen (Contact)
with staff reports
Originally published 12:00 a.m., September 4, 2008
Updated 09:52 p.m., September 4, 2008 
Hanna weatherRain: 1-3 inches, heavier near the coast. Rain bands start to arrive Friday morning. Morning winds: 20-25 mph, 35 mph gusts. Afternoon winds: Sustained winds rising to 30-35 mph, 55 mph gusts. Night winds: 30-40 mph winds, 55 mph gusts, diminishing after midnight. Inland: Rain and wind will be less the father inland you are. Conditions in upper Dorchester and Berkeley counties will be breezy. Rain and wind totals could change if Tropical Storm Hanna veers from its expected track. Also: Charleston International Airport commercial flights stop at 5 p.m. Bridges could close. Sources: National Weather Service, AccuWeather.com. More hurricane infoTree damage prevention tips from the SC Forestry Commission Tips from SC Department of Insurance Airlines lenient on fare restrictions, rebookings because of Hanna Meandering Hanna ought to make one more turn Friday. Hope that it does. Meanwhile, Tuesday ought to be the deciding day for dangerous Hurricane Ike. Charleston County called for a voluntary evacuation tonight anticipating the tropical storm to pass within a 100 miles or closer of the Lowcountry today. The evacuation is for people east of U.S. Highway 17 who live in low-lying places, who feel their homes are vulnerable to storm winds or flooding, or who live in a mobile home. Four shelters were opened in North Charleston, including a shelter for people who have special medical needs and a pet shelter at the North Charleston Coliseum that requires only one person to stay with the pet. The National Hurricane Center and AccuWeather.com, a private forecasting company, today nudged the predicted landfall of Hanna back to the North Carolina-South Carolina line early Saturday. The hurricane center expected it to be a tropical storm with about 70 mph winds. A tropical storm warning was issued for the Charleston area late tonight as well as a hurricane watch. A meteorologist for AccuWeather.com, a private forecasting company, said he wouldn't rule out Hanna becoming a hurricane. The storm will be headed toward Charleston before that expected nudge to the north. Late tonight, landfall in the Lowcountry was still considered possible. But the expectation is that "Charleston won't see a lot of nasty stuff," said AccuWeather.com meteorologist Dan Kottlowski. The Post and Courier is an AccuWeather.com customer. Hurricane Ike, though, still a storm with 135 mph winds today, will be moving through the Bahamas by Tuesday, and is expected to turn toward Florida or move up the Southeast coast, Kottlowski said. "If it's going to take a stab at Charleston, it's going to have to start re-curving at that time." For Hanna, the weather will begin worsening by noon. The National Weather Service, Charleston, predicted the north end of Charleston County will feel the worst of the winds, with gusts near hurricane strength tonight. But winds of more than 40 mph will be felt all along the coast and into Dorchester and Berkeley counties by evening. Emergency managers urged residents to secure or bring inside items that could be blown by the winds. Also, anyone on the barrier islands should consider moving to higher ground if they have questions over safety. The farther inland, the easier the winds will blow. The north ends of Berkeley and Dorchester counties might be no more than breezy. But that depends on Hanna making a turn to the northeast as the winds start to hit. "Hopefully (the turn) is sooner rather than later," said meteorologist Jon Jelsema, with the weather service. By evening, area bridges could be closed. Charleston International Airport was expecting to stop commercial flights at 5 p.m. Customers were urged to contact airlines for information on flights during the day. The city of Charleston opened the parking garages at the South Carolina Aquarium and Gaillard Auditorium for free until Saturday. The city and North Charleston will continue to pick up garbage today as long as it is safe for crews to be out. Folly Beach Mayor Carl Beckmann Jr. cautioned residents that even a moderate storm surge kicked up by winds could wash over the Folly Road causeway, cutting off the island. "If you feel you need to leave, go ahead and leave now," he said today. "I'd rather you be safe than you be calling for somebody and nobody be able to get to you." Other local officials echoed his call. Berkeley County Supervisor Dan Davis said that, besides Daniel Island, the county didn't expect substantial winds, but "everyone needs to seek their own level of comfort" as far as seeking safe shelter. North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey said he didn't expect a situation where it would be totally unsafe for people to stay in their own homes. But he said people who feel vulnerable and people in manufactured housing would want to consider finding another place to stay. Conditions should improve rapidly after midnight Friday, Jelsema said. "Saturday could end up being a fairly nice day around here." The city of Charleston and other governments moved debris-cleaning equipment into position today to prepare for the storm. The Fire Department handed out 8,000 sandbags Wednesday and were filling 4,000 more today under the Interstate 26 overpass on Heriot Street, said Acting Fire Chief Ronnie Classen. Behind the rush to get ready for Hanna today was an edgy concern for Hurricane Ike, which could threaten the Southeast coast next week. Gov. Mark Sanford called the Hanna preparations a possible dress rehearsal. "Ike may well be staring us in the face next week," said Charleston Mayor Joe Riley. In the Lowcountry, emergency managers that had planned to scale down operations after Hanna will continue to staff their operation centers and watch the next storm. Today, Summey reassured residents that managers throughout the Lowcountry are veterans of handling hurricane emergencies and will do what's necessary to assure people's safety. "We'll be fine," he said. "We just have to keep working together." School and college closing information continues to roll in Thursday. Charleston County schools and school offices will be closed Friday, and Thursday's after-school activities scheduled for after 6 p.m. are canceled. Berkeley County schools and offices will dismiss 90 minutes early Friday, and all after school activities are canceled, including after school day care. Dorchester 2 elementary schools will dismiss students Friday at 10:30 a.m., high schools will let out at 11:30 a.m. and middle schools will dismiss at 12:30 p.m. Rollings Middle School of the Arts will dismiss at 12:15 p.m. The staggered dismissal is necessary for bus service. Dorchester 4 will operate on half-day schedule on Friday, and lunch will be served. Williams Memorial, Harleyville-Ridgeville and Clay Hill Middle will dismiss students at 11:30 a.m., and Saint George Middle and Woodland High will dismiss at noon. Porter Gaud School will dismiss lower-school schools at 11:30 a.m. and middle- and upper-school students at noon Friday; Students or parents who have questions can call 556-3620. Ashley Hall will dismiss students early. A complete dismissal schedule is available on the school's Web site, or call 722-4088. At the college level, the College of Charleston has cancelled all Friday and Saturday classes, programs and activites.Charleston School of Law is closed Friday. Medical University of South Carolina classes are canceled Friday and clinics are closed. Trident Technical College's Main, Palmer and Berkeley campuses are closed Friday. Students can call 574-6262 ext. 9091 after 3 p.m. Friday to learn whether the school will hold classes on Saturday. Southeastern School of Neuromuscular Massage's Charleston campus classes and massage clinic are closed Friday and Saturday. Classes will resume Monday. Call the emergency hotline at 1-877-3KEISER (1-877-353-4737) or visit the school's Web sitefor further updates. All 16 Charleston County library locations and book drops will be closed Friday. Officials anticipate a regular schedule on Saturday, but patrons should check the library's Web site www.ccpl.org for more information. Government closures All Charleston County offices are closed Friday. Charleston city offices will be closed on Friday. The Charleston County Courthouse will be closed Friday. The courthouse will reopen Monday depending on events. North Charleston City Hall will be closed Friday except for essential personnel such as police, fire and those in the emergency operations center. There will be trash service Friday morning. The Port of Charleston said its employees will work vessels on a limited basis Friday morning as long as winds do not exceed 37 miles per hour when harbor pilots are boarding the ships. But vessel operations could change based on the weather, the SPA said. Previously, the maritime agency previously anticipated closing the port Friday. More storm-related information: Charleston city sanitation crews will collect trash Friday, weather permitting. Routes not completed Friday will be picked up Saturday. Free parking is available during the storm at the South Carolina Aquarium and Gaillard Auditorium parking garages; vehicles left after 5 p.m. Saturday will have to pay for parking. No parking on the first floor and no boats or trailers allowed. Free sandbags are available on Heriot Street, under the Interstate 26 overpass between King and Meeting streets. Mount Pleasant has a limited number of sandbags available at several locations including Royall and Ferry streets; Food Lion on Coleman Boulevard; Hughes Rental; Whole Foods on Houston Northcutt Boulevard; Snee Farm entrances on U.S. 17 and Whipple Road; Beaumont Apartments; and a lot across from the gate at Dunes West. The complete list is available on the town's Web site, www.townofmountpleasant.com. Residents should limit the number of bags they pick up because no additional bags beyond what’s there now will be available, officials said. Charleston has hurricane information available on its Web site. Reach Bo Petersen at bpetersen@postandcourier.com or 745-5852. |
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Comments
This article has 32 comment(s)
Posted by tiredofdumbthings on September 4, 2008 at 1:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
so, this story is what I waited 12 hours for an update on?
and, in the story is no link to a tracking map?
in fact, the tracking map image is stale itself?
who in their right mind RUNS the newsroom?
sad to say, it's only going downhill...
why do I read this awful website again?
Posted by Oz on September 4, 2008 at 3:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes in this case a VERY POOR job keeping the people updated or informed seems that is not their job. So they throw something out with no follow up must be time to look else where.
Posted by Cid95 on September 4, 2008 at 3:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's 2008, you shouldn't be relying on the web verstion of a NEWSPAPER for storm updates. They update once a day, maybe 2-3 at most.
Google for "Hurricane Tracking" to get up to the minute info.
Having said that, the plan I like is "prepare and stay put". You need to have a sturdy house, one that isn't surrounded by pine trees (which snap like toothpicks and fall on roofs). You need to have storm windows and hurricane shutters, or at least pre-fitted plywood that you just screw on. And of course food and clean water, a propane grill, and a battery powered radio. A gas chainsaw will speed cleanup up immensely. Some plastic sheeting in case of roof damage is smart too. A trusty 12 gauge in case of looters too.
That way, you don't have to torture yourself with the "should I stay or should I go" debate, trying to predict what nature will do.
Posted by DanniD on September 4, 2008 at 6:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
www.noaa.org is the best.
Posted by STREETLAW on September 4, 2008 at 7:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Complacent? Well an accurate forecast might help. Truth is the darn things cannot be accurately forecasted, just generalized. They might as well put out the same forecast for them all. It would go like this "ALL INTEREST ON THE EAST COAST FROM THE FLORIDA KEYS TO KITTERY MAINE SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THIS STORM........AND, OH YES, THE NEXT ONE TOO. ACTUALLY, WHY NOT JUST SPEND YOUR WHOLE LIFE PREPARING FOR ONE DISASTER OR ANOTHER..."
Trouble with forecasters is this is not an interruption to their lives, it IS their lives. The rest of us would rather not give up our summers for something that MIGHT happen.
Posted by ChasCarolinaGirl on September 4, 2008 at 7:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Forget Hanna, how about Ike? Im sick to my stomach about this storm and Ive never felt this way since Hugo!!! :(
Posted by counterpoint on September 4, 2008 at 7:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Considering that forecast packages on hurricanes are only FULLY updated by NOAA every 12 hours, not sure what tiredof is complaining about.
That said, of course, check out http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ . Everyone else gets their information here.
Posted by Tammie on September 4, 2008 at 7:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Also try www.wunderground.com if you wanna look at the latest updates with the storms.
Posted by MauryFinkel on September 4, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A Citadel cadet will not lie, cheat, or steal blah blah blah, unless the situation benefits them, then its okay to rape, pillage, and plunder.
buncha lowlifes
Posted by RTC on September 4, 2008 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hanna doesn't concern me even if it were to make landfall here. Ike is the storm to keep your eyes on. It is a killer, and should not be taken lightly.
www.intellicast.com is also a good source.
Posted by DoniaDutchess on September 4, 2008 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by ChasCarolinaGirl on September 4, 2008 at 7:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Forget Hanna, how about Ike? Im sick to my stomach about this storm and Ive never felt this way since Hugo!!! :(
--Me too, ChasCarolinaGirl. Let's hope Ike stays far far away.
Speaking of Hugo, and this is very off topic, does anyone remember those terrible "I survived Hurricane Hugo" t-shirts with the pink hurricane on them?
Posted by Satanssybil2007 on September 4, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
DanniD it's www.noaa.gov!!!!!
Posted by tiredofdumbthings on September 4, 2008 at 10:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ah, finally the Post and Courier has seen fit to add a LINK to the tracking map...
Of course, the map they SHOW in the story is old -- and not the latest (it's actually from 5 a.m...)
Gee.. if they can't get this right, is it any wonder that when the weather gets bad no one goes to their site, but to a TV site or all the sites you guys mentioned above?
How sad...
Posted by yougogirl78 on September 4, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes Donia!!!
Posted by Cid95 on September 4, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Bert's Bar shirts with the Ben Sawyer Bridge upended and the "You can't get here from there" line were cool.
And I went to the Citadel, when are they going to let me into all this conspiracy theory stuff? Did I miss the sign up sheet or what?
Posted by flinsc on September 4, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
People are going crazy here at work. All the transplants that have never experienced any storms are out of control. It is hilarious here. One guy has no clue what to do, and is all worried that he might get stuck for a Cat 1 that is not even going to be a direct hit.
Too much watching of all these weather channels. If you are not in a flood zone, have enough food and water, and a gas grill, stay. No need to go.
Posted by iceman1978 on September 4, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm more worried about Ike than I am Hanna. Hanna is going to hit NC as a Cat 1 and maybe a 2. We'll get about 60 mph winds from it but not enough to cause real damage. Even if Ike follows the same path but maintains its strength it will be much worse having it brush by as a 4 rather than a 2.
Posted by ChasCarolinaGirl on September 4, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, forget about Hanna. We may not experience much from her, but storms have turned last minute. Ike is the one we really need to watch.
If Ike is a CAT 4 way out there .. that is scary enough for me. "Out there" is where they usually get stronger. :-( Lets hope he turns more north and doesnt hit anyone.
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on September 4, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
DoniaDutchess It's so funny you bring up the shirts.My child has my old one and wears it as a night shirt.It says I survived Hugo and had a hurricane symbol on it.Does anyone remember the dirty ones that said something like Hugo $5 million dollar blow job?
Posted by DoniaDutchess on September 4, 2008 at noon (Suggest removal)
Lol! No, I don't remember those, coolfreaknbeans. I just remember that tacky pink hurricane symbol. =)
Posted by Saint_In_Pace on September 4, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Check this out:
http://media.myfoxtampabay.com/myfoxhurr...
Lived on James Island for over 20 years and currently live near Pensacola, FL. Have experienced Hugo, Ivan, Dennis, Katrina, Fay, and Gustav and lots more in between. Pay attention and prepare as recommended. Take care Charleston!
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on September 4, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah and people actually wore them out in public!
Posted by DoniaDutchess on September 4, 2008 at 1:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on September 4, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah and people actually wore them out in public!
--And proudly, too!
Posted by scbombsquad on September 4, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Check out www.stormpulse.com
One of the best sites I've been able to find
Posted by pmac2382 on September 4, 2008 at 2:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We are supposed to be arriving in the Folly Beach area for the weekend. Locals have told us this storm shouldn't impact those plans, but we're hesitant. Are there any things we need to consider that would be an issue? We've heard we may not even be able to get onto the island because without being a resident, or potentially bridges being closed onto the island. Are any of these things correct? Knowing it won't be a pretty weekend, how safe do you think we are?
Posted by ChasCarolinaGirl on September 4, 2008 at 2:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
PMAC ~ You should pay attention to the weather channels (www.weather.com, www.noaa.gov, www.accuweather.com, www.intellicast.com) there are many good ones. Ive lived in Charleston all of my life (33 years) and all I can say is that nothing is definite. Ive seen storms take sudden turns to the left before.
If I were you, I would postpone the vacation unless you are into taking risks? Erosion will suck and Folly has horrible rip currents.
Dont pay attention to IceMan, he is planning on surfing in this crazy weather. ;-)
Posted by hotchick on September 4, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
pmac2382 - I think you are "Safe", Hannah's going to have tropical storm winds but will be zooming through. If your beach house is safe enough to handle a hard thunderstorm, then there shouldn't be any problem as long as it isn't built in a ditch or something. Although some islands required residents only during Hugo, this ain't nothing like that. You won't need to be a resident to get in.
I'm just not so sure that it will be much of a fun weekend on Friday night and Saturday morning. Then again, I don't know whether your big plans were to be outside or inside all weekend....You MIGHT have more fun staying inside....But that's your business....
Posted by alliecat0817 on September 4, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
PMAC, no matter what you decide, do NOT go swimming on Folly (or any local beach). Rip currents are (and will be) horrendous.
Posted by lrobert on September 4, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Way is the paper making it works work a full day citys and school are not you must not care about your employes needs
Posted by iceman1978 on September 4, 2008 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by ChasCarolinaGirl on September 4, 2008 at 2:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dont pay attention to IceMan, he is planning on surfing in this crazy weather. ;-)
---
I've been surfing everyday after work lately. I may go out again today if the waves are good. The rip currents are bad on some sections of the beach, but on others it just pulls to one side.
Posted by ChasCarolinaGirl on September 4, 2008 at 4:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Iceman ~ Just be careful out there!
Posted by Oceanlover on September 4, 2008 at 10:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Heck I'm going surfing too. Friday could be EPIC. And if the storm stays offshore on Saturday, waves will be giant with hard offshore winds. Then we will already have Ike's powerful swell showing up on Sunday in Hanna's wake. Just hoping he opts not to follow the path of his cousin Hugo.