Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Charleston City convenes emergency meeting as tropical disturbance 94L threatens area
Summary
City officials briefed council on disturbance 94L (possible Imelda), ordered lake-level reductions including Lake Dodder, deployed pumps and barricades, identified parking decks for potential opening, and scheduled coordination calls this evening.
Mayor Cogswell called an emergency meeting of the Charleston City Council on short notice to hear updates about a tropical disturbance—identified in the briefing as 94L—that could develop into Tropical Storm or Hurricane Imelda.
EM specialist Daniel Flusses, citing National Weather Service guidance, said the system east of Cuba represents the city’s primary concern. "We're calling it disturbance 94 l," he said, adding that the National Weather Service presented three possible scenarios for the track and impacts and that "a lot of uncertainty" remains about where it will go. Flusses said the earliest impacts may be rainfall tomorrow, with a central forecast of about a half-inch to 1.5 inches and an outlier possibility of 2 to 3 inches.
The briefing outlined immediate operational steps. City stormwater crews have deployed pumps; police have checked barricade placements; fire personnel have readied high-water vehicles; public works is preparing a sandbag plan; and communications staff are drafting public messaging. The mayor also ordered that city lakes be lowered as a precaution, explicitly naming Lake Dodder. Officials stressed that lowering lake levels depends on tide and creek conditions, noting the lake drains into Church Creek and drops primarily at low tide.
Council member Justin Seekings asked whether the city would open parking garages if conditions worsen. Chief Mike Delazada said three parking decks have already been identified for potential opening on Monday, with two additional decks held in reserve. "At that time, there will be a news release issued, via city communications," Delazada said, and the city will publish which facilities are available when it becomes necessary.
Officials set a schedule for further coordination: a Charleston County emergency-management call at 5:00 p.m., a Berkeley County call at 6:00 p.m., and a city leadership update at 6:30 p.m. The mayor said staff will circulate an email update to council members after those calls and post information through the city's normal channels.
Councilman Shealy raised neighborhood concerns about lake levels around Lake Dodder, saying residents there have flooded multiple times in the past and urging continued efforts to reduce levels. City leaders responded that they will continue monitoring conditions and issuing guidance to residents and staff.
No formal votes or motions were taken during the emergency meeting. The council adjourned after the briefing with instructions for staff to provide updates as more information becomes available.
The city urged residents, staff and visitors to prepare emergency kits, review hurricane guidance on county and state websites and know their evacuation zones (downtown = Zone B; West Ashley = Zone C).
