Voluntary evacuation called for

Hanna expected to go ashore near S.C.-N.C. border early Saturday; Ike remains a Category 4 monster

Meandering Hanna ought to make one more turn today. Hope that it does. Meanwhile, Tuesday ought to be the deciding day for dangerous Hurricane Ike.

Charleston County called for a voluntary evacuation Thursday night 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, on Thursday nudged the predicted landfall slightly north of the South Carolina-North Carolina state 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 Thursday 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 Thursday, 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 deadly Category 4 storm with 135 mph winds late Thursday, will be moving through the Bahamas by Monday, and is expected to land in South Florida by 8 p.m. Tuesday. "If it's going to take a stab at Charleston, it's going to have to start re-curving at that time," Kottlowski said

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 Thursday. "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 Thursday to prepare for the storm. The Fire Department handed out 8,000 sandbags Wednesday and were filling 4,000 more Thursday under the Interstate 26 overpass on Heriot Street, said Acting Fire Chief Ronnie Classen.

Behind the rush to get ready for Hanna Thursday 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. On Thursday, 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."

The Post and Courier staff contributed to this report.