City of Charleston prepares for Tropical Storm Hermine

The City of Charleston has been making preparations over the last couple of days for the potential impact of severe weather caused by Tropical Storm Hermine.

The city’s Emergency Management Department is in close communication with Charleston County and other local agencies about the potential for severe weather and receives frequent updates from the National Weather Service.

Public Service Department employees have been cleaning streets and clearing drains, ditches and basins in anticipation of the heavy rains and high tides.

Charleston Police Department is pre-positioning barricades at intersections and will have extra officers working during the storm to monitor road conditions and close roads when necessary.

Charleston Fire Department, in addition to normal staffing, will have two additional quick response units positioned downtown and in West Ashley.

As of now, the city of Charleston will open its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Friday morning to manage the city response to the storm. Representatives from throughout the city including Police, Fire, Public Service and Parks will staff the EOC to ensure a quick an efficient response to any issues caused by the storm.

City of Charleston Emergency Management Director, Mark Wilbert, said, “With the storm’s track still changing by the hour, we’re currently requesting that residents make appropriate preparations for the possibility of severe weather beginning as early as Thursday night, and carefully monitor local media outlets for further information and instructions as they become available.”

The City of Charleston road closure map will be updated throughout the storm.