Because many of Tidelines readers are non-property owners, visitors, and renters, we are forwarding this announcement from the Town. We apologize if you are receiving the same information several times.
September 11, 2018 2:00 pm
As of 11:00 am on Tuesday, 11 September, the National Hurricane Center reported that Hurricane Florence remains a category 4 storm (sustained winds of 130 – 156 mph). While the Governor has announced changes to the evacuation order, the evacuation order remains in effect for all of Charleston County. To facilitate the evacuation, all eastbound lanes on I-26 between Columbia and Charleston have been reversed as of 12:00 pm Tuesday. Charleston County Emergency Management Department increased its emergency readiness status to OPCON 1 on Tuesday, 11 September.
In accordance with Town policy to follow the lead of Charleston County, on Tuesday, 11 September the Town increased its emergency response readiness status to OP CON 1—reflecting the existence of an evacuation order applicable to the Town. Effective Tuesday, 11 September, the Mayor declared a State of Emergency and ordered that all Town meetings, including board and commission meetings, scheduled for the week of 11 September be rescheduled to a later date. Town Hall was closed noon 11 September and will remain closed until the Governor’s evacuation order is lifted. While circumstances may change, Berkeley Electric has confirmed, that as of now, it does not intend to pre-emptively cut power to Seabrook Island. The Seabrook Island Utility Commission is not planning to interrupt water or sewerage services.
The Town urges residents to continue to monitor reporting of Hurricane Florence and emergency response agencies for changes pertaining to potential storm impacts. Information concerning residential hurricane preparations is available at the Town’s website (townofseabrookisland.org) under “Emergency Preparedness.” While forecasts of movement of Hurricane Florence currently indicate movement of the most severe impacts north of Charleston
County, the Town encourages residents to adhere to the Governor’s evacuation order. As of 5:00 pm Wednesday, 12 September, Charleston County Sheriff’s deputies will be stationed between the Freshfields traffic circle and the entrance from Betsy Kerrison Parkway to Kiawah’s Town Hall to control access to Kiawah and Seabrook. To gain access to Seabrook Island, motorists will be required to show residency or property ownership.
For emergency response call 911
For questions concerning non-emergency assistance during a state of emergency, call the Charleston County Citizen’s Information Hotline (843-746-3900)
For emergency response information for Seabrook Island, call the Town ‘s toll free telephone service (888-314-3177), or connect to the Town’s website (townofseabrookisland.org) and monitor the Town’s TWITTER feed (@seabrookislnd87) for announcements of availability of information updates
Property Owners with rental guests should forward this notice to their rental guests.
It is expected that the next Hurricane Florence information update will be issued early afternoon on Wednesday, 12 September.