Aug. 6: Charleston extends curfew as Tropical Storm Debby brings heavy rain, reported tornadoes (2024)

Charleston is under a citywide curfew until at least 7:30 a.m. Aug. 7 as Tropical Storm Debby continues drenching the Lowcountry with heavy rain on its path up the Atlantic Coast.

Access to the peninsula remains shuttered until the curfew is lifted. Drivers will be cited if they violate the order, Mayor William Cogswell said at a press conference the morning of Aug. 6.

Road closures in Charleston can be found online atgis.charleston-sc.gov/road-closures-regional/.

National Weather Service forecasters have issued aflash flood warningfor Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton and Dorchester Counties until at least 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 6.

Keep reading for the latest updates on the storm.

Debby's updated forecast, curfew continues

6:30 p.m. The National Weather Service has discontinued a storm surge warning for South Carolina's Lowcountry, and the possibility of "life-threatening flooding" has decreased. But the state isn't quite in the clear yet—and Charleston's curfew is still on.

In a 6:00 p.m. forecast update, the agency wrote that additional rainfall over the coming days could still exacerbate existing flooding across the region.

South Carolina is expected to see an additional three to six inches of rainfall through mid-day on Aug. 9, with localized amounts up to eight inches. But NWS notes that the potential for flooding across the region remains high through at least Aug. 8, as the ground has been waterlogged by rain over the past several days.

Debby is pushing off of Chatham County in Georgia, and is anticipated to move east into the Atlantic, before turning back towards South Carolina for a second landfall Aug. 8. The storm is not anticipated to reach hurricane strength before its second landfall.

Storm surge levels 1-2 feet above ground level are still possible along the southeast South Carolina coast during the evening high tides through Aug. 8, NWS reports.

As the rainfall washes out into streams and rivers, the Weather Service is warning river levels will also continue to rise in the coming days. The Edisto River at Givhans Ferry State Park in Dorchester County is anticipated to reach a "major" flood stage by Aug. 7.

In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) the NWS wrote that it had confirmed two Aug. 6 tornadoes associated with Tropical Storm Debby. One touched down in Moncks Corner and the other in Edisto Beach. The office is still in the process of confirming the tornadoes' precise path and strength.

"Generally short-lived," isolated tornadoes are still a possibility in the Charleston tri-county area through the evening of Aug. 7.

Charleston Mayor William Cosgwell asked residents and businesses to be patient with the city-wide curfew just a while longer until officials can be sure the worst threats from Tropical Storm Debby are behind us.

Cogswell said the curfew, which began Monday at 11 p.m., will remain in place until at least until 7:30 a.m. on Aug. 7. Officials will re-evaluate the situation then and make an announcement shortly thereafter.

“It looks like our projections from last night, of 10 to 12 inches of rainfall, are fortunately proving to be a little bit lower than expected,” he said. “That said, the system has produced roughly a foot of water thus far, and based on the latest reports, which we received just a few minutes ago, we are projected to receive another few inches before midnight tonight.”

The National Weather Service's flash flood warning will remain in effect for the area until 10:30 p.m., reinforcing the decision to keep the curfew in place for the time being, the mayor said.

“Look, I don't want to have this in place any longer than we have to,” Cogswell said. “I promise you that the purpose of this curfew is not to be annoying. It is not to hurt businesses. It is to keep people off the roads and prioritize the safety of our residents and our first responders while we still have a tropical storm sitting right off of our coast.”

Police Chief Chito Walker and Fire Chief Dan Curia credited the curfew with reducing calls for service during the storm and placing less strain on emergency workers.

Walker said most citizens seemed to understand and respect the need for the emergency measures. Officers also tried to work with those who had an urgent need to get on or off of the peninsula for work, flights or other needs, he said.

Charleston had 81 road closures on Monday and 89 on Tuesday, with 45 still closed as of 5 p.m., Walker said.

Police issued nine citations during the storm for violations of barricades erected around the city to keep motorists out of flooded areas, Walker said. But most people seemed to stay home and off the roads, as officials had asked, he said.

“I know this has not been easy, but when it is all over, I strongly encourage all residents to go out and support your local restaurant, your local boutique, and yes, your local bar, and I hope to have a toast to the long goodbye of Debby,” Cogswell said.

—Jonah Chester in Mount Pleasant and Glenn Smith in Charleston

Coast Guard rescues 82-year-old man

6 p.m. A Charleston Coast Guard crew saved an 82-year-old man after his sailing vessel was disabled near Shipyard Creek located off the neck of the peninsula.

At 7:45 a.m., the insurance company of a 32-foot sailing vessel contacted the Coast Guard requesting help for the man. They were told the vessel had a large hole in its side from a previous accident and water was entering the ship because of Tropical Storm Debby’s rainfall. The ship was stranded after unspecified engine problems and difficulty raising the ship’s anchor.

No one was injured.

“If possible, all mariners are advised to stay off the water as Tropical Storm Debby approaches," said Lt. Michael Allen, Coast Guard Sector Charleston Incident Management Division chief. “If you are unable to evade the storm, make sure you are wearing a life jacket, know how to activate your distress signaling devices and call for help immediately if you get into trouble while staying in touch with the Coast Guard or anyone else you can reach to ensure your location is known and assistance can be sent if needed.”

The Coast Guard crew helped raise the ship’s anchor and move the vessel to Cooper River Marina.

Weather conditions were at about 6-foot seas and approximately 19 knot winds at the time of the rescue, according to a news release.

The Charleston port is only open to outbound vessel traffic absent an order from the Coast Guard, according to the Coast Guard’s port monitoring website. Incoming commercial shipping vessels are being redirected to alternative destinations.

At 8 p.m. Aug. 5, the Coast Guard Captain of the Port moved the Charleston port’s condition to Yankee, one level away from closing, ahead of Debby’s arrival. The Coast Guard could move to close the port. If it does, it will happen 12 hours before gale force winds, between 34 and 47 knots, are expected to arrive in the region.

—Alan Hovorka in North Charleston

Mount Pleasant drainage system backed up

5:50 p.m.Some residents of Mount Pleasant might be stuck in floodwaters for a while yet as town leaders report portions of the drainage system backed up Aug. 6 due to Debby's rainfall.

"Many ponds and the surrounding wetlands are at capacity," the town wrote in a statement. "As a result, there is nowhere for the water to drain, which is why stormwater may appear to not be subsiding. There is no immediate fix for this issue. The water levels will subside as the system drains and the water has time to dissipate."

Mount Pleasant officials report that they've received calls about flooding in theCarolina Park, Darrell Creek and Commonwealth neighborhoods.

— Jonah Chester in Mount Pleasant

Debby's downpour spurs leaks at Chas. sewage treatment plant

5 p.m. Charleston Water System's Plum Island wastewater treatment facility sprang two leaks due to Debby's downpour Aug. 6.

Plum Island, one of the largest sewer plants in South Carolina, is located on a 22-acre island in the Charleston Harbor. Typically, Plum Island sees about 25 gallons a day, said Mike Saia, spokesperson for the Charleston Water System. On Aug. 6, the plant was inundated with 95 gallons, leading to the leaks.

The first spillover of the morning, which saw partially treated wastewater spill into Dill Creek, stopped overflowing as of 2:30 p.m., Saia said. He said the leak could return at the next high tide.

“Whenever the area gets a heavy rain, coinciding with a high tide, all that massive amount of stormwater that infiltrated the sewers heads to Plum Island,” Saia said.

Saia said a second leak has since sprung in another location. This one for the first time. The water is coming from the plant’s primary clarifiers, releasing wastewater on the side of Plum Island that faces a small unnamed creek. The unnamed creek is directly adjacent to James Island Creek.

Andrew Wunderley, executive director of Charleston Waterkeeper, said that the wastewater that leaked from the plant is, simply put, disgusting.

"It's not fully treated sewage. So poop water from homes, businesses and wherever else goes to the Plum Island treatment plant to be treated before it's discharged into the harbor," he said. "But in this case, because of all the rainwater and floodwater that's gotten into the sanitary sewer system, the treatment plan is overwhelmed, and that partially treated sewage is spilling out of of the plant into the marsh and the harbor there where it's located."

Wunderley expressed that people should try their best to avoid contact with floodwater and stormwater.

"The floodwater is horribly polluted. It's about the dirtiest water that you can imagine," he said. "It's got high levels of bacteria, pathogens can be present. It's got pesticides, herbicides, gas and hydrocarbons, trash, debris, you name it. Anything that's on the ground can end up in the water and in floodwater."

Anyone in the city of Charleston who sees an overflowing manhole should call 843-727-6800, and Charleston Water System will come out to investigate.

—Komlavi Adissem in Ladson andTerri Errico Griffis in Charleston

Flash flooding in Huger

4:45 p.m.The National Weather Service reports that flash flooding is occurring in Huger after French Quarter Creek hit a "major" flood stage due to rainfall.The unincorporated community is located north of Mount Pleasant along Highway 41 in Berkeley County.

The Weather Service is warning of elevated river levels across South Carolina in the coming days, as rivers are set to rise through at least Aug. 8. The Edisto River at Givhans Ferry is forecast to hit a "moderate" flood stage later this week.

—Jonah Chester in Mount Pleasant

Road washout in rural Charleston County

4:30 p.m.The opening volley of Tropical Storm Debby washed out 150 feet of road near State Highway 174 when floodwater carried dirt from out of the ditches and onto the road on Aug. 6, county officials said.

Damage to Old Jacksonboro Run in Adams Run, about 30 miles outside Charleston, was reported at about 10 a.m. Aug. 6, Charleston County spokeswoman Chloe Field said. County public works crews and Charleston County Sheriff’s deputies deployed barriers to block access to the road on both sides, she said.

Field said the road couldn’t withstand the volume of water and dirt and eroded.

The damage began near the CSX railroad tracks on State Highway 174, near Savannah Highway, and traveled along Old Jacksonboro Road, leaving bare earth exposed underneath, according to photos by the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The full scope of damage won’t be understood until the waters recede, Field said.

—Alan Hovorka in North Charleston

FEMA disaster team arrives in North Charleston

4:15 p.m.To assist with potential storm rescue operations, North Charleston Mayor Reggie Burgess announced a team of 65 Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster responders arrived to the city Aug. 6. The task force, made up of flood search and rescue teams, will assist local first responders by providing additional equipment and personnel during rescue events. The team is currently on standby near waterways and flood-prone areas until an emergency response is needed.

"They came here to help the city of North Charleston," Burgess said during a 3:30 p.m. press conference Aug. 6. "We appreciate what they're doing, and we want to help them help us."

Burgess said he spoke with Gov. Henry McMaster on Aug. 5 asking for additional resources during the storm, to which McMaster responded with the FEMA rescue team.

Flooding remains a concern for the low-lying areas of North Charleston, particularly in the city's south end. Burgess said the public works department has been proactively preparing the typical flood areas for months. However, residents are experiencing flooded residential streets due to the consistent rainfall Aug. 6.

Karen Cordray, a deputy chief with North Charleston Police Department, said the agency has responded to flooded roadways and assisted the fire department with helping residents out of their flooded homes and bringing them to a shelter.

Burgess said the top four flood-prone streets include Joppa Avenue in Union Heights, Carner Avenue and Burton Lane near Military Magnet Academy, Pepperhill and the intersection at Otranto Boulevard and Rivers Avenue.

Burgess urged residents to follow local guidelines and avoid barricaded roads. According to a post on X at 4:30 p.m., the police department is urging drivers to stay off the roadways unless it's essential travel.

"We don't want you to hurt yourself by running into something that's flooded," Burgess said.

Burgess said the city distributed over 15,000 sandbags in preparation for the storm. For residents who still need sandbags, call 843-740-5883 or 843-740-5887, and a city staff member will deliver the sandbags. Residents can utilize the city's 24-hour information call line for any nonemergency storm-related questions.

— Kenna Coein North Charleston

Update from Gov. Henry McMaster, state officials

4 p.m.There have been no reports of deaths from Tropical Storm Debby’s ongoing impact in South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster said during an Aug. 6 briefing at the state Emergency Management Division office near Columbia.

But the threat of severe flooding from the slow-moving storm still remains “very high,” including in the northeastern part of the state around the Pee Dee and Myrtle Beach.

“This storm is creeping across our state,” McMaster said.

The southern part of the state has already experienced 9-13 inches of rain, said John Quagliariello, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. The highest reported wind through midday Aug. 6 was a 63 mph gust at Folly Beach.

With impacts expected late into the week, rain remains the biggest concern and could result in “catastrophic” flash and urban flooding across the east of the state. River levels are also expected to rise, particularly in the Pee Dee basin, and storm surge and tornadoes remain a threat.

Such flooding and rainfall can make it easier for winds to knock down trees and power lines because of the wet ground.

There are 11 emergency shelters open in the state, currently housing 85 people, including 81 in Charleston County, according to Mike Leach, director of the Department of Social Services.

More shelters are being opened in Charleston, Florence and Georgetown counties Aug. 6, with more expected to open later in the week.

A small dam in Colleton County was breached but did not impact any homes or roads. Like most in South Carolina, that dam was unregulated because of its size.

The state had previously identified 19 dams for last-minute checks before the storm’s impact, said Myra Reece, interim director of the Department of Environmental Services. None of those checks reported urgent issues.

Over 100 National Guard soldiers are on state active duty with more expected along with 50 high-water vehicles Aug. 7. The guardsmen previously deployed to Florida to aid with the storm response there are in the process of convoying back to South Carolina.

The state has not had to conduct any swift-water rescues yet, but federal teams are in place though the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said Emily Farr, director of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

Officials urged residents not to walk or drive through floodwater, or to drive around or move barriers.

“Your life is not worth taking the risk,” Quagliariello said.

— Ian Grenierin Columbia

Inside Charleston's emergency response center

3:18 p.m.A brief look into the city’s Municipal Emergency Operations Center, located on the second floor of the Gaillard Center on George Street, is like glimpsing inside a high-tech beehive.

It’s calm around 2:30 p.m. Aug. 6 between bands of rainfall, but there is the hum of constant activity as they coordinate the city’s real-time response to the storm.

A screen on one wall tracks downed trees— seven have been reported since it was last updated, and two have already been cleared off roadways. Another monitor shows live camera feeds throughout downtown. One captures an empty Market House, usually a flood-prone area, but the footage reveals only the steady flow of rainfall at the time.

Dozens of city workers, representing nearly all of the city’s 20-some departments, collaborate at various stations in the room. At one table, uniformed police officers and fire department personnel sit with a member of the Coast Guard, which has rescue crews stationed in Macon, Ga., and Savannah should rooftop evacuations be needed.

Formal operations started at 7 a.m. Aug. 5 with the center’s staff rotating every 12 hours. Hotels nearby have offered up rooms for staffers who live too far to get home safely.

“This is a marathon, not a sprint,” said Logan McVey, Mayor William Cogswell’s chief policy officer. “We have to be in it until Thursday.” That’s when he hopes the worst of the storm will pass Charleston.

The team gets hourly updates from the National Weather Service from another room in the operations center. It’s a fluid situation, McVey said, so it’s helpful to everyone in one place.

He reiterated how effective the citywide curfew has been in keeping the roadways clear of potential hazards, like stalled cars from driving through flooded streets, and enabled crews to get to clogged storm drains faster.

“We can keep water out of your home because we’re not rescuing people,” McVey said.

— Ali Rockettin Charleston

Tornadoes reported across Charleston Co.

2:23 p.m. Multiple communities from Berkeley County to Isle of Palms, West Ashley and Edisto were hit by possible tornadoes throughout the early morning of Aug. 6, with several homes, businesses and vehicles damaged as Tropical Storm Debby neared.

Ron Morales, a meteorologist with the NWS Charleston Station, said crews are normally sent out to investigate and confirm reported tornadoes as soon as possible, but the ongoing tropical storm is straining the office.

"We only have so many bodies," he said. "I might try to get somebody out there today at a few of the sites, but we've got five or six of them. We just don't have people, just don't have time. And it's not safe to go to some places."

He noted that, under normal conditions, there is a 12-18 hour response time for reported tornadoes.

"But this isn't normal. This is a long-term event. We have to go when it safe. We have to go when we have people," he said. "We'll do what we can. It's not ideal. We'd like to get that out there as soon as we can, but we just can't."

Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties were under a tornado watch until at least 5 p.m. Aug. 6.

As of 2:30 p.m., Dominion Energy reported that nearly 2,000 out of its 315,748 customers in the tri-county area were without power. Essentially all of those outages are located in Charleston County.

— Jonah Chester,Komlavi Adissem, Teri Errico Griffis, Anna Sharpe and Megan Fernandes in Charleston

Charleston Co. emergency shelter full

1 p.m. A general population shelter at Matilda Dunston Elementary School on Remount Road in North Charleston has reached capacity, Charleston County officials said. Anyone, including those with pets, who still needs shelter can go to 3831 Leeds Ave.

Officials plan to open a third shelter this afternoon. Those who need transportation to a shelter should call the Community Information Line at 843-746-3900 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Para español: 843-746-3909.

Two pet friendly shelters in Dorchester County are open:

• Charles B. Dubose Middle School (1005 Dubose School Road, Summerville)
• Woodland High School (4128 US-78, Dorchester)

— Jocelyn Grzeszczak in Charleston

Sullivan's Island faring well amid Debby

12:14 p.m. As Isle of Palms takes a beating, officials on neighboring Sullivan's Island report the tiny town has largely avoided Debby's wrath.

Sullivan’s Island Police Chief Glenn Meadows said the town has not received any storm-related calls for service as of noon. No roads on the island are officially closed, though flood-prone portions of Atlantic Avenue have been barricaded as a precaution.

"Residents are still able to come and go. We don't anticipate closing any of our roadways," Meadows said.

Town maintenance and fire crews are actively clearing out drains, he said. S.C. Department of Transportation crews are on the island with pump trucks to ensure the main outfalls are clear.

As Debby continues battering the coast, Meadows said his biggest concern will be downed trees from high winds. No power outages have been reported yet on the island, according to Dominion Energy's outage map.

— Anna Sharpe in Charleston

Debby's updated forecast

Noon Debby's forecast is basically unchanged as the storm nears South Carolina's southern border. It's currently above Chatham County in Georgia, which encompasses Savannah.

The slow-moving tropical storm is expected to drift east this afternoon. Debby will remain over the Atlantic Ocean before curving to the north and making a second landfall Aug. 8 — this time near Charleston County's coastline, said NWS meteorologist Ron Morales.

Exact tracks vary, but models agree on Debby's general east-north movement, he said. What remains unclear is how long the storm stays above warm ocean waters, how much strength it picks up and where it strikes.

Threats of heavy rainfall, storm surge and tornadoes continue to be greatest in South Carolina as Debby drifts farther from Georgia, Morales said. Weather watches and warnings are in place up and down the coastline, including a tornado watch in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties.

Forecasters predict Debby will dump up to 25 inches of rain in some areas. The Charleston International Airport measured nearly 9 inches of cumulative rain just before 9:30 a.m., according to the NWS. Residents can expect another 6 to 15 inches through the morning of Aug. 9.

— Jocelyn Grzeszczak in Charleston

Charleston's Neck area squeezed

11:16 a.m. Debby has already begun cutting off the Charleston peninsula from the rest of the world.

Rising waters from heavy rains forced paramedics responding to a routine EMS call around 8 a.m. on Delaware Avenue to use an inflatable boat to transport someone into an ambulance. Charleston County spokeswoman Chloe Field said she could not confirm the incident because of patient privacy laws.

Here in North Charleston’s south end, low-lying streets were already belly deep in places. Storm drains gulped for air in others.

Residents on Adams Street could be seen moving their belongings out of their home as the water encroached.

A handful of disabled vehicles have already popped up along this part of the peninsula’s Neck and the streets that surround Union Heights, a historically Black neighborhood.

Councilman Michael Brown, whose district includes this area, said flooded roadways include the low-lying parts of Dorchester Road and residential streets along Spruill Avenue.

"Considering the amount of rain that has happened in the last 24 hours, I guess it's to be expected, but it's not that bad," Brown said.

The only rain-related concern Brown received from a constituent included an elderly resident's leaky roof that has since been repaired.Residents are urged to report any structural damage or water intrusion at this link.City inspectors will visit the impacted properties to assess the damage and conduct safety inspections.

According to North Charleston's list of road closures, nearly two dozen streets were shuttered due to flooding as of 11 a.m. Most of the closures are concentrated in the city's south end.

Water poured from the Port Access Road overpass that looms over the intersection that splits into Spruill Avenue and Meeting Street Road toward the Interstate 26 on-ramp.

From the waterfall, a pond grew on Meeting Street Road, claiming two red vehicles — a PT cruiser and a Chevrolet SUV. A disabled red sedan with visible front-end damage sat near the on-ramp.

The SUV's driver stood on the corner of Little Avenue as she called 911 and her family outside a condemned home. The persistent rain fought her as she tried to thumb phone numbers. She stood in sandals in ankle-deep water.

Similarly sized SUVs, oversized pickup trucks and semitrucks braved the knee-deep water beneath the underpass as the woman, who declined to identify herself, watched and shivered.

One semi came barreling through the water, causing a large wake that bobbed her car like a boat into the PT Cruiser.

"Oh my God," she said three times.

A Charleston Fire Department transport truck arrived soon after. Firefighters with PVC walking poles told her they’re backed up on calls and can’t move her car. The best they could do was evacuate her to the Gaillard Center on Calhoun Street.

Farther down the peninsula’s critical artery, Charleston police officers barricaded Meeting and King streets near Discher Street.

Officers shooed and yelled at pickup trucks trying to make it past them, ordering them to turn around. Charleston is closed.

— Alan Hovorka in North Charleston and Kenna Coe in Charleston

City of Charleston officials give update

10:50 a.m. Cogswell extended the citywide curfew that first went into effect 11 p.m. Aug. 5. City officials will reassess the morning of Aug. 7.

"Tropical Storm Debby is here, and it looks like she is wearing out her welcome," the mayor said at a 10 a.m. press conference.

Officials said the curfew has proven effective: No rescues were needed overnight and no injuries have been reported.

But Police Chief Chito Walker said officers have ticketed several motorists for ignoring the order and driving around barricades blocking off flooded streets. The number of citations issued was not immediately available.

Cogswell and the city's top brass continued to encourage people to stay home.

"No one should be out in these conditions," the mayor said.

Calls to the fire department dramatically decreased, Chief Dan Curia said.

Firefighters respond to 75 to 100 service calls on a given day. The volume more than doubles during storms of this magnitude, Curia said. The department went on 101 calls between Aug. 5 through 8 a.m. Aug. 6.

"That's incredibly important," he said. "It enables the fire department to get on to different calls to restore quality of life, and most importantly, it does not overload our resources, so we're available for things like structure fires that may come in."

Preparations in advance of the storm and other flooding mitigation efforts have also proved effective, Cogswell said. Flooding on the peninsula doesn’t appear to be as severe as past storms despite the deluge of rain. Areas off the peninsula are still seeing substantial flooding, however.

The drainage tunnel underneath the Septima P. Clark Parkway and the city's often inundated Medical District, which recently came online, is "playing a pretty crucial role in keeping our city dry," he said.

Ahead of Debby's arrival, Cogswell asked Gov. Henry McMaster for more state resources, which are expected later today. The National Guard is bringing several high-water vehicles to aid in rescues. State officials are sending four more pumps to aid the nine that the city rents during storm.

These pumps suck up standing water from flooded streets and overrun drainage areas through long tubes that move the water to areas where it can drain.

— Ali Rockett in Charleston

Tornado warning wakes up West Ashley residents

9:55 a.m. Mike and Erica Spears awoke just after midnight to the blare of an emergency alert. NWS had declared a tornado warning for their area of West Ashley, between Glenn McConnell Road and Ashley River Road, for the next 30 minutes.

The husband and wife ran down the stairs, scrambling to grab their cat and 14-year-old dog before taking shelter in a bathroom.

"We’re no strangers to storms here in Charleston, but no one wants to wake up to alarms telling you you’re in the path of a tornado," Mike Spears said.

The pair followed local news feeds, waiting for the alleged twister to pass. Fifteen minutes felt like a lifetime, they said.

While the Spears' home was safe, neighbors just a few houses down said they could hear the train-like whoosh of winds blowing through their yards.

A survey of West Ashley’s Forest Lakes neighborhood come morning light showed downed trees, fences doubled in half and a car crushed beneath the weight of limbs. Flooding continues to be a major concern as a small neighborhood creek had already spread onto properties by 7:30 a.m.

Officials have not confirmed whether a tornado touched down in this area.

— Teri Errico Griffis in Charleston

1 person suffers minor injuries in Moncks Corner

9:35 a.m. Multiple stores were damaged and broken glass injured at least one person after a possible tornado wreaked havoc in Moncks Corner around 3 a.m.

Mayor Thomas Hamilton Jr. said the Arby's at the corner of U.S. Highway 52 and Rembert C. Dennis Boulevard took the brunt of the reported twister.

"It took the two AC units off the roof," he said. "It blew out multiple windows and damaged the roof extensively."

Hamilton said that several cars lost windows and one vehicle was flipped over. Glass burst from the front of a nearby Walmart, he added, leaving one person with minor injuries.

"We got lucky when it came through," the mayor said. "It came between the Walmart and the Dollar Tree center, so it actually went straight back and knocked over an 18-wheeler. So it was a strong storm."

— Komlavi Adissem in Ladson

Reports of tornado on Isle of Palms

9:04 a.m. A possible tornado touched down on the Isle of Palms around 2 a.m., causing significant property damage on 25th Avenue between Palm and Waterway boulevards.

One house was hit by the reported twister, said Sgt. Matt Storen, a spokesman for the police department. One car was crushed under a fallen tree and there were downed cable and power lines from the strong winds. No injuries were reported.

More than 600 customers on Isle of Palms are without electricity, according to a Dominion map.

— Anna Sharpe in Charleston

3,000 on Edisto Island without power

8:53 a.m. An estimated 3,000 people on Edisto Island are without power after a tornado reportedly touched down late Aug. 5, according to Dominion Energy.

Downed trees, branches and power lines dotted the coastal enclave as residents began surveying damage in the daylight. Wires could be seen snaking across S.C. Highway 174, a main thoroughfare connecting the island to Edisto Beach.

Across South Carolina, roughly 260 incidents have left more than 11,000 customers without power. The vast majority are located in the Lowcountry, according to a Dominion map.

— Scott Hamilton in Edisto Island

Parts of Charleston peninsula flooded, others dry

8:22 a.m. East Bay Street, one of Charleston's main thoroughfares, remains relatively dry as Debby approaches South Carolina. The busy street — usually packed with commuters at this time — is deserted.

A rain band lashed the historic City Market, but the flood-prone area is mostly above water for now.

Other parts of the peninsula are soaked. By 8:30 a.m., more than 8 inches of rain had fallen in downtown Charleston's medical district, turning the area into a giant shallow lake.

Unlike December's nor'easter, which caught many residents by surprise, Debby's arrival turned the normally bustling hospital zone into a ghost town. With the exception of a few police cruisers and tow trucks, few vehicles were on the streets, many of which weren't passable anyway. A lone pedestrian walked across Calhoun Street and ducked into the Medical University of South Carolina.

— Tony Bartelme and Glenn Smith in Charleston

Colleton Co. urges residents near McGrady Dam to evacuate

7:45 a.m.Officials in Colleton County warned that the McGrady Dam in Walterboro has the potential to fail.

The dam is near Cane Branch and Cavanaugh roads. Anyone who lives between Edward and Cavanaugh roads south of Cane Branch Road should immediately evacuate the area, according to Colleton County Fire-Rescue. Cane Branch Road could be impassable, officials noted.

The McGrady Dam near the intersection of Cane Branch Rd & Cavanaugh Rd has the potential to fail. If you live between Edward Rd and Cavanaugh Rd south of Cane Branch Rd, you should evacuate the area immediately. Cane Branch may be impassable. ... https://t.co/9ZHPHSKXsW

— ColletonFire (@ColletonFire) August 6, 2024

KC Campbell, the department's spokesman, said the dam hadn't flooded as of 8:20 a.m. But water is now flowing over the top of the structure.

"That's going to affect roughly 50 or so residents in that area," Campbell said.

He added that getting the word out about the risk "allows the dam folks to get involved and keep it on their radar as well."

— Komlavi Adissem in Ladson

Latest forecast from NWS Charleston

6:30 a.m. Meteorologists updated their forecast to predict severe flooding will last through at least the morning of Aug. 9.

They also warned of tropical storm-force winds, storm surge and possible tornadoes. Long-term river flooding could extend recovery efforts into the next week and beyond, they said.

Debby's center was about 50 miles southwest of Savannah as of 5 a.m. Aug. 6. The storm is expected to move off Georgia's coast sometime this afternoon before turning northwest late Aug. 7.

NWS officials say Debby will then make a second landfall Aug. 8 along South Carolina's coastline. They predict it will remain a tropical storm, though they noted the intensity and path remain uncertain.

The Charleston area can expect to see as much as 25 inches of rain, with the heaviest rainfall lasting through midday Aug. 8. Higher winds and possible power outages are likely, along with isolated tornadoes.

Much of Georgia and South Carolina's coastlines are under tropical storm wind and storm surge warnings, plus flood and tornado watches.

— Jocelyn Grzeszczak in Charleston

Charleston wakes up to heavy rain, reported tornadoes

6 a.m.Rain continues to pound Charleston's tri-county area as Debby inches closer toward South Carolina.

Rainfall from the storm set a record 4.71 inches in North Charleston on Aug. 5, according to NWS— nearly three times higher than the old record of 1.78 inches set in 1941.

And Debby spawned reported tornadoes overnight along the Lowcountry's coastline. The Colleton County Sheriff's Office said a twister touched down on Edisto Beach around 10 p.m. Aug. 5, knocking down several power poles and damaging properties. No injuries were reported.

Significant home damage here on Edisto Island, South Carolina after a tornado came through. #Debby pic.twitter.com/tn61m9eofG

— Bryce Shelton (@BryceShelton01) August 6, 2024

Things to know from Aug. 5:

• Charleston Mayor William Cogswell announced a citywide curfew starting at 11 p.m. Emergency vehicles were stationed at each of the peninsula's eight arteries, closing them to other traffic. Drivers will be cited if found violating the curfew, Cogswell said.
• President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for South Carolina. This allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts and provide assistance.
• Debby made landfall at 7 a.m. in Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 1 hurricane before downgrading to a tropical storm as it slowed over land.

— Jocelyn Grzeszczak in Charleston

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.