Spinal Decompression Therapy in John's Island, SC

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The City of Charleston is taking steps to prepare for potentially significant flooding this weekend as heavy rain from Hurricane Isaias and a king tide cycle threaten parts of the Lowcountry.

Mayor William Cogswell has activated the City’s Active Flood Mitigation Plan, with crews clearing storm drains, deploying mobile pumps and lowering water levels at local lakes ahead of the expected rainfall.

Although Hurricane Isaias is expected to track west of the Charleston area, the city could receive three to four inches of rain, with higher amounts possible in some locations. The combination of heavy rainfall and elevated tides could make flooding particularly challenging.

“When you add in rainfall, the rain doesn’t have any place to drain. It’s running into that tide,” said Charleston Emergency Management Director Jon Stewart.

City crews have been preparing throughout the week, focusing on areas historically prone to flooding.

Mobile pumps have been deployed in areas including Morrison Drive, Limehouse Street, Huger Street and Lockwood Drive. Crews have also been clearing debris from storm drains and lowering water levels at Colonial Lake and Lake Dotterer to create additional capacity for stormwater.

“We’ve lowered the lakes. We’ve opened the parking decks. Kind of a normal state of affairs when it comes to these flooding events, which unfortunately, we know all too much about,” Cogswell said.

To help residents protect their vehicles, the city is offering free storm parking at five municipal garages beginning Friday, October 9, at 6 p.m. through Sunday, October 11, at 4 p.m.

Participating garages include:

Residents should pull and keep their parking ticket upon entering. When exiting, they can scan the city’s designated storm parking QR code to receive free parking.

City officials are also preparing for possible road closures, with barricades staged throughout Charleston and two high-water rescue vehicles staffed by the Charleston Fire Department.

Stewart warned that even relatively shallow floodwaters can be dangerous.

“It’s only a few inches of water can knock you off your feet. So even if you think it is safe to cross a road, drive your vehicle through it, it’s probably not safe. So please, just don’t take that chance,” Stewart said.

Officials are encouraging residents to secure loose outdoor items, keep nearby storm drains clear and avoid unnecessary travel throughout the weekend.

The greatest concern is expected Saturday, when heavy rainfall and king tides could lead to widespread flooding in vulnerable areas.

Cogswell’s message to residents is simple: stay home if possible.

“Watch football, put something on the stove, watch cartoons, whatever you want to do, man. But stay home because it’s going to be a pretty wet one on Saturday,” Cogswell said.

Residents can find updated storm information, road closures and flood preparedness resources through the city’s WaterWise website.

The city is also encouraging residents to monitor official updates as conditions change throughout the weekend.

JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCIV) — Charleston Mayor William Cogswell outlined a series of transportation, development, public safety and infrastructure initiatives during the State of Our City: Johns Island event, where traffic and growth concerns remained top issues raised by residents.

During the event, Cogswell highlighted a newly proposed ordinance that would require developers to conduct more extensive traffic analyses before new projects can move forward, a move aimed at addressing longstanding growth and congestion concerns on Johns Island.

The proposed ordinance, which will be submitted to Charleston City Council for consideration, would expand traffic analysis requirements during the city's Technical Review Committee process. Developers would be required to demonstrate how a project affects the surrounding road network, not just traffic at the development's entrances and exits.

"When discussing development, if you're only looking at the turn lane in front of a project and not considering impacts a mile down the road, that doesn't make any sense," Charleston City Councilman Jim McBride said. "Finally, we're looking at pushing the envelope a little bit to look at those impacts."

Growth and traffic have been among the top concerns raised by Johns Island residents. According to the city, when Cogswell took office in 2024, staff mapped development entitlements across the island and found about 1,500 housing units already approved between River Road and the Maybank Highway connector bridge. Those projects were approved years ago and remain legally vested.

When discussing development during the event, Cogswell said many of the projects now being built were approved years ago under previous growth plans that anticipated the I-526 extension, which was ultimately abandoned.

"State law limits what local governments can do to restrict development that's already been approved, and I'm not going to pretend otherwise," Cogswell said. "What we can do is raise the bar for what comes next."

The city previously revised its stormwater regulations to make them the strictest in South Carolina and is pursuing a similar approach to traffic impacts.

"If a road is already failing, a new development has to account for that," he said. "That is the standard we are working to put into law."

Residents attending the event said traffic and flooding remain major concerns as Johns Island continues to grow.

"It's changed drastically, especially for the traffic," resident Rev. Gertie Smalls-Ford said.

"Traffic's gotten ridiculous. Flooding's still bad," resident Marc Knapp said.

City leaders also highlighted several transportation projects already underway, including the Main Road/U.S. 17 interchange project, which officials said remains on schedule for completion in September 2028, and the Maybank Highway widening project, which is expected to enter construction between 2027 and 2028.

Knapp said he was encouraged by the progress.

"I'm really excited about the flyover at 17 and Main Road. Unfortunately, it's taking a good while," he said.

Smalls-Ford said road improvements remain a priority for many island residents.

"The main thing for me was the Cane Slash Road update and the Maybank Highway update," she said.

The city also highlighted efforts aimed at reducing future residential development on Johns Island. Officials said four previous land-use decisions, including acquisitions for the Johns Island Recreation Center, Dale Morris Eco Park and other public uses, have prevented approximately 1,225 potential housing units from being built.

Additional projects discussed included Fire Station 23, which city officials said remains on track for completion by the end of 2026, and the new Johns Island Recreation Center, which is expected to begin construction in 2027.

If approved, the traffic ordinance will become part of the city's development review process following public review and a vote by Charleston City Council.

JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) – What was once a rural area with very little traffic has grown into a densely populated part of the city, which has brought lots of traffic.

As part of the State of Our City tour, Charleston Mayor William Cogswell and other leaders are meeting the public at various locations.

A couple of projects highlighted at Tuesday’s meeting include: widening Maybank Hwy. to four lanes, from River Rd. to the connector bridge.

Main Rd. and U.S. 17 Interchange, adding several roundabouts and overall improvements. At $354 million, officials say it’s the largest project in County history.

Many new traffic signals at Southwick Dr and Maybank Hwy.

“Once we have all these, the traffic will flow a lot smoother,” Johns Island resident Duane Lapp said. “We’re getting a lot of traffic circles. That won’t have us stop at the lights and things.”

The City and County are also outlining several stormwater, recreation and public safety projects.

The projects are mainly funded by the half-cent sales tax, which has been in effect since 2004, and could be extended by voters in the November General Election.

“It’s a huge source of revenue for the local region to address roads, greenbelt and public transportation,” Mayor Cogswell said. “It’s the funding source we have for major mobility projects. Even small mobility projects.”

The City is also rewriting its stormwater regulations, now the strictest in the state. It will require potential developers to identify real impacts to the surrounding area, in addition to the traffic study.

The City will hold three more meetings:

Weather News

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An updated flash flood warning was issued by the NWS Charleston SC on Saturday at 7:23 a.m. in effect until 9:30 a.m. for Charleston County.

"At 7:23 a.m., City of Charleston Emergency Management reported heavy rain in Downtown Charleston. Flash flooding is already occurring with several road closures across the city," explains the NWS. "An area of intense rainfall moved through the Folly Beach, James Island, Johns Island, West Ashley, and Downtown Charleston areas and produced 1 to 2 inches of rain. The heaviest rain has now lifted northward but light to occasionally moderate rain will continue. Additional rounds of heavy rain could develop through mid morning. City of Charleston Emergency Management reported several roads closed across the Downtown Charleston area and flash flooding is ongoing. Additionally, a inundation depth sensor on Ogier Street near Calhoun Street reported an inundation depth of over half of a foot."

Locations impacted by the warning include North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, James Island, Johns Island, West Ashley, Downtown Charleston, Fort Sumter, Daniel Island, Folly Beach and Kiawah Island.

"Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas," says the NWS. "Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles."

This warning is in effect until 9:30 a.m.

For either residents or campers of flood-prone, low-lying areas, take immediate action and seek higher ground. Follow evacuation instructions without delay. If time permits, lock your home upon departure and disconnect utilities and appliances. Avoid entering basements or rooms where electrical outlets or cords are submerged in water. If you see sparks or hear buzzing, crackling, snapping, or popping sounds, evacuate the area immediately. Refrain from entering water that may have electricity in it and avoid walking through floodwaters. Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet. If you find yourself trapped by moving water, move to the highest possible point and contact emergency services, and dial 911.

When heavy rain occurs, there is a risk of flooding, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone regions. It is important to never attempt to drive through water on the road, regardless of how deep it appears. According to the NWS, as little as 12 inches of rushing water can sweep away most vehicles.

What is hydroplaning?

Hydroplaning is the term for when a vehicle begins sliding uncontrollably on wet roads.

This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle's weight can push water out of the way. The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control. Hydroplaning is primarily caused by three factors:

In the event of your vehicle hydroplaning, here's what to know:

Source: The National Weather Service

United Robots South Carolina

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — With heavy rain and possible flooding expected Saturday, Charleston leaders are urging residents to stay off the roads, prepare their property and follow safety rules as high tide peaks.

Emergency management officials said the combination of expected rainfall and the morning high tide is likely to cause coastal flooding on the peninsula and could create dangerous conditions if people are not prepared. The city is encouraging people to stay home this weekend if they can.

“The more you can stay at home, off the roads and off the streets this weekend, the better it’s going to be for for everyone,” said Jon Stewart, the city’s emergency management director.

Mayor William Cogswell said conditions could vary widely from neighborhood to neighborhood and could change quickly.

“It might not be bad, but it could also be worse than we anticipated," Cogswell said. "You just never know, how these different fronts are going to work together. And your area may be different than an area half a mile away."

City preparations have been underway all week, including crews clearing drains and gutters, barricades placed across the peninsula, mobile pump tanks brought in and lake levels lowered to allow for excess water.

Officials said flooding is possible beyond the peninsula.

“We can’t rule out any flooding over, on James Island, over in West Ashley, too," Stewart said. "So we’re monitoring throughout the city. But right now, it’s going to be a lot of our traditional areas where we see a lot of, normal flooding."

Residents were reminded to clean up debris on their property and to never drive through flooded roads. Stewart urged people to stay inside if possible and to call for help if needed.

“Please don’t go out," Stewart said. "If you don’t need to. But if in those situations, call 911. It’s only a few inches of water can knock you off your feet. So even if you think it is safe to cross a road, drive your vehicle through it."

Cogswell also asked residents to avoid putting first responders at risk.

“We just hope people will, take that under consideration and stay home and not put our, first responders and unnecessary danger,” he said.

City leaders also highlighted a new ordinance aimed at discouraging disruptive behavior during flooding events, including going around barricades or speeding through flooded streets.

“We want to make sure people are safe. We want to make sure properties, remain safe," Cogswell said. "So we have ordinances that, you can get in a lot of trouble for going around a barricade or for speeding through flooded waters. So we’re asking residents and visitors alike to be respectful."

For residents who need a safer place to park, five downtown parking garages will be free starting at 6 p.m. tonight through Sunday afternoon: the Aquarium, Visitors Center, Queen Street, East Bay/Prioleau and Charleston Tech garages. Residents will need to scan a QR code when exiting the garage to receive free parking.