City offers hurricane recovery update

Another fallen tree.

The City of  Charleston today offered this update about what’s going on around the city as it recovers from Hurricane Matthew:

Issued Oct. 10, 2016  |  Each department within the City of Charleston remains hard at work on storm recovery efforts.

Mayor Tecklenburg and the Emergency Management Team held a press conference this afternoon to discuss the recovery. Watch the video of the press conference on Facebook here.

Report Damage

To help in the city’s preliminary damage assessment effort, citizens are asked to report any damage to www.charleston-sc.gov/report-damageor call the City of Charleston Citizen Information Line at 843-973-7219. This information will be used to evaluate which areas of the city were most affected by the storm.

Debris Removal

City of Charleston resumed normal garbage and trash collections today.

• To handle the large amount of storm debris, Charleston County has hired a contractor that will collect storm debris throughout Charleston County, including the City of Charleston. The city will release a schedule for storm debris collection in the next couple of days.
• Citizens should begin putting debris out to the curb as soon as they are able.

When placing debris at the curb, remember not to C.H.E.A.T. the system, and sort in the following categories for collection:

C – Construction debris (building materials, drywall, lumber, carpet, furniture, etc.)
H – Hazardous waste (oils, batteries, pesticides, paints, cleaning supplies, etc.)
E – Electronics (televisions, computers, radios, stereos, DVD players/VCRs, etc.)
A – Appliances (Refrigerators, washers/dryers, freezers, air conditioners, stoves, etc.)
T – Trees and vegetation (tree branches, leaves and logs)

If residents are placing items at the curb that need to be assessed by an insurance adjuster prior to being picked up, please clearly mark on the items that they are not to be picked up yet.

Recreation Department

• All recreation facilities re-opened to the public today with the exception of the 50 meter MLK Pool and the Municipal Golf Course.
• All scheduled City Recreation games, matches and programs will be held starting tomorrow.
• The water heater at MLK Pool was damaged. WLS Pool at Forest Park in WA is open, so programs will be relocated to this site until the heater at MLK can be repaired.
• The Municipal Golf Course is closed due to major tree damage.
• Many of our parks have some down limbs and debris. Please use caution when enjoying our parks, as the cleanup continues.

Parks

City of Charleston Parks Department has been responding to reports of downed trees, conducting facility assessments of city buildings and parks and taking down the hurricane protection from the city’s historic buildings.

Public Service

• Public Service continues to work in cooperation with the Parks Department to respond to down trees and clear roads.
• The standing flood water around Colonial Lake has been drained. It was determined that the Tideflex valve at Rutledge Avenue failed. Public Service is working on a project to replace the device.
• Engineering Inspectors began early assessment of debris estimates.
• Four two man damage assessment teams were deployed manned by inspectors from building inspections and the fire marshal’s office. They are working their way through James Island, John’s Island, West Ashley and the peninsula identifying structures with damage.

Planning Department

Planning Department staff has been assessing Protected and Grand trees throughout the City as requested by citizens for single family parcels, commercial sites and public locations not already assessed by Parks and Public Service.

They have also been performing windshield surveys and individual site assessment of all buildings in the Old and Historic and Old City districts, including buildings known to be compromised or in danger of collapse, historically rated buildings, commercial corridors and historic neighborhoods.

Traffic and Transportation

Traffic and Transportation has been repairing traffic signals throughout the city. Some signals are still out due to power outages.

CALL 2-1-1 TO GET OR GIVE HELP:

Encourage friends or colleagues in need of NON-EMERGENCY assistance or wishing to provide assistance to call 2-1-1. Sponsored by Trident United Way, 2-1-1 is fully staffed and ready to receive calls. This service offers referrals to critical community resources, supportive listening, and crisis intervention.

• Dial 2-1-1 anytime, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to link to vital services in the local community. You can also call 2-1-1 toll free at 1-866-892-9211. The service is free and is available in multiple languages. For your convenience, 2-1-1 is available throughout the state of South Carolina.
• Dial 2-1-1. Help starts here. www.sc211.org

For More Information: The City’s Citizen Information Line (843-973-7219) will remain active during business hours, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

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