Hurricane Florence District Updates

Published Sept. 12, 2018

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, has activated their Emergency Operations Center and stands ready to respond to Hurricane Florence recovery efforts. The District’s priority continues to be the life, health, and safety of those potentially impacted by Hurricane Florence.

Recent Updates:

  • To prepare for impacts from the storm at the Myrtle Beach and Folly Beach re-nourishment projects, contractors have secured equipment and moved their dredges to safe harbor. The beaches of these projects were surveyed prior to evacuation.
  • The dredges from the Charleston Harbor Post 45 Deepening Project Entrance Channel have been moved to safe harbor and the equipment has been secured.
  • Construction projects at Fort Jackson, Joint Base Charleston and the Lake Marion Regional Water System Project have been secured and all potential projectile objects have been tied down.
  • All potential projectiles around the St. Stephen Powerhouse and dam at the Cooper River Rediversion Project have been secured and the powerhouse remains operational.

Overall Information:

Hurricane Florence has the potential to be a devastating storm which could impact the entire East Coast and the hazards might be felt state wide in South Carolina with flooding, severe winds, and power outages. The Charleston District prepares and trains for events such as this and has incorporated lessons learned from last year’s unprecedented storm season.

The District has strong standing partnerships with state, county, and local officials to prepare for Hurricane Florence and has Liaison Officers dispatched to Horry, Georgetown, Berkeley and Charleston Counties as well as to the State Emergency Operations Center in Columbia. The Liaison Officers will work with the state and counties to provide them with assistance where possible as well as provide feedback to USACE on local conditions and needs. Emergency response will be coordinated as needed and directed through the Federal Emergency Management Office, but USACE remains ready to support in whatever way is requested. The Charleston District is prepared to respond in debris removal, temporary roofing, and infrastructure assessment missions.

The Charleston District is in close coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Charleston as well as the Captain of the Port and are dedicated to having the Charleston Harbor clear and open as quickly as possible in order to ensure safe passage for vessels post-storm.

The Charleston District, along with the U.S. Geological Survey, is closely monitoring the salinity levels in the Cooper River to protect the water supply in bushy park reservoir, which is the water supply for the City of Charleston. At this time, salinity levels are normal.

For more information on the Charleston District response to Hurricane Florence, please visit:
www.sac.usace.army.mil, https://www.facebook.com/CharlestonCorps and http://www.twitter.com/CharlestonCorps.