Hurricane Michael Update #1

Hurricane Michael Update #1
Wednesday 10 October 2018 -- 1:00 pm

Charleston County is currently under a tropical storm warning. As of 12:00 pm on 10 October, Hurricane Michael was a Category 4 hurricane and landfall was forecasted to occur on the Florida panhandle in the early afternoon of Wednesday, 10 October. The forecast track calls for the storm to rapidly decrease in strength as it moves inland through Georgia and the Carolinas towards the Atlantic coast as a tropical storm. The most significant storm impacts for Seabrook Island are expected to occur Wednesday evening and during the day Thursday, 11 October. During the same period, conditions will be favorable for tornado formation. Expected storm impacts are: sustained winds of 25 - 30 mph with gusts of 35 - 45 mph, primarily in association with rain bands; rainfall of 1 - 2 inches; storm surge no greater than the recent high tides with potential for some beach erosion. The Charleston County Sheriff's Office has advised that motorists should not use bridges when sustained wind speeds are 30 mph or greater.

On Wednesday the Governor declared a State of Emergency that includes Charleston County. Charleston County offices and Charleston County courts will be closed Thursday, 11 October. Charleston County Emergency Management Department changed its emergency response readiness status to Operations Condition 3 effective at noon 10 October.

The Town remains at increased emergency readiness status of Operations Condition 4. Town officials continue to monitor storm developments as they undertake storm preparations in accordance with the Town's emergency plan. Town Hall will be closed Thursday 11 October and reopen Friday for normal business hours. Seabrook Island Municipal Court scheduled for Thursday, 11 October has been rescheduled to 6 December. The Fall shredding event will take place at the Town Hall parking lot on Friday, 12 October (10:00 am to 1:00 pm) as scheduled.

Berkeley Electric reported Wednesday that they continue to monitor storm developments and have no current plans to interrupt power to Seabrook Island. Residents are advised of the potential for unplanned power interruptions in consequence of storm impacts from extraordinary flooding and downed power lines supplying power to Berkeley Electric substations.

The next expected Town emergency information update is expected to be issued early in the afternoon of Thursday, 11 October.

For emergency response call 911.

For emergency response updates and announcements from the Town of Seabrook Island:
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• Continue to monitor the Town’s website at townofseabrookisland.org;
• Call our toll-free number at 888-314-3177;
• Follow the Town’s TWITTER feed at twitter.com/seabrookislnd87; or
• Follow the Town’s FACEBOOK page at facebook.com/townofseabrookisland.

Property Owners with rental guests should forward this notice to their rental guests.