Charleston is preparing for the effects of storm surge from Hurricane Milton

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — The City of Charleston is taking proactive measures to mitigate potential flooding as Hurricane Milton approaches, although the storm is not expected to directly impact the lowlands.

Mayor Cogswell activated the city's flood mitigation plan Tuesday to stay ahead of the storm's impacts. Deja Knight McMillan, the city's communications director, highlighted the main concern.

“The problem is that the storm surge from Milton will coincide with the high tide we will have here Thursday and Friday morning,” McMillan said. “So the tide will be at least eight feet. So that justifies a major flood stage.”

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In response, the city is urging residents to prioritize safety and follow basic precautions.

“If your street is barricaded or you see an intersection that is barricaded, do not try to drive around it,” McMillan said. “First of all, CPD can give you a ticket for it, and secondly, it could cause damage to your car and get you in serious trouble, requiring us to send first responders to help, which also puts their lives in danger.”

Several downtown parking garages will open at 9 a.m. Thursday so residents can move their vehicles to higher ground. Additionally, two sandbag distribution points are available for those wishing to protect their property.

“We will be using our street sweepers to clean the storm drains,” McMillan said. “We will go ahead and put up these barricades at the intersections that we know are already vulnerable to flooding.”

City officials are considering closing city offices due to the storm. An announcement is expected Wednesday at 2 p.m.