Major Flooding Expected: Hurricane Milton’s high northeast winds, storm surge, and projected 8.0-foot-high tide Thursday at 1:50 p.m. have the potential to cause major flooding, according to the National Weather Service office in Charleston. The Friday 2:08 a.m. and 2:57 p.m. high tides also could generate significant flooding.  While projected rain amounts are low, residents should monitor official forecasts in case changes in Milton’s track signal more adverse conditions.

Residents Urged to Stay Engaged and Prepared: Officials emphasize the importance of residents checking and clearing storm drains in front of their homes and businesses to prevent debris build up. This action is crucial in reducing flooding impacts on roadways.

Parking Garages Open: In light of the anticipated flooding, city parking garages will open beginning Thursday at 9:00 a.m. until Friday at 8:30 a.m. (subject to change). Residents are strongly urged to move their vehicles to these higher ground locations to avoid flood damage. The following garages will be opened for free:

•  Aquarium parking garage (24 Calhoun Street)
• Visitor Center parking garage (63 Mary Street)
• 99 WestEdge parking garage (99 West Edge Street directly beside the Charleston Police Department)
• Charleston Tech Center parking garage (997 Morrison Drive)
• East Bay/Prioleau parking garage (25 Prioleau Street)

To take advantage of free parking, residents must press the call button upon exiting and inform the operator they are using the free storm parking.

Sandbag Distribution: Sandbag distribution will begin tomorrow, October 9, from 7:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Residents should bring their own shovels, and a limit of 10 bags per residence will be enforced. Distribution sites include:

• 1580 Ashley Gardens Blvd – Bee’s Landing Recreation Center (West Ashley)
• Hampton Park, Mary Murray Dr. at Ashley Ave. – Parking Lot by Ball Fields (Peninsula)

Continued Preparations:

• Street sweeping will begin this afternoon to remove debris from streets and storm drains. Crews will continue their work through tomorrow, provided conditions remain manageable.
• The Charleston Police and Fire Departments will deploy all available staff starting Thursday to enhance response efforts.
• Barricades will be placed on streets in advance of high tides.
• High-water vehicles and crews with essential resources will be mobilized.
• Water levels at Colonial Lake and Lake Dotterer have been lowered.
• Storm drains on flood-prone streets will be cleared, with temporary pumps installed in vulnerable areas.

Stay Informed: Residents are urged to stay informed through the City of Charleston’s official social media channels for the latest updates on the storm and its impact.