Flooding in the Town of James Island on July 7

On Saturday, July 7, there was serious flooding in the Town of James Island.  Fortunately it did not last long.

The Camp and Folly intersection was badly flooded.   The recently completed Camp and Folly improvement project included drainage that meets the 25 year design storm standard.   That is 3.2 inches per hour at high tide.   The rain was very heavy and almost exactly at high tide.  The best evidence is that the rainfall was at least slightly more intense--3.5 inches per hour.   Review of the drainage structures showed no blockage.  (Thank you to Charleston Transportation for providing this information.)  After the rain stopped and the tide fell, the water drained away.  The flooding was gone by Sunday morning. 

The neighborhoods near Folly and Camp also had significant flooding, especially in streets and yards.   Oakcrest, Lynwood, and Queensborough all reported problems.   Again, very heavy rain at high tide was the source of the problem.  Slightly worse than the 25 year event.   By the next morning, the water had drained away--at least from the roadways.   That is a sign that the drainage is working, even if it is not robust enough to take such heavy rain at high tide.

The Town of James Island, the City of Charleston, and Charleston County plan an Island wide drainage study.  The County is taking the lead, and is in the process of retaining a consultant who will identify all the drainage basins on James Island.   After that is complete, the three jurisdictions will identify a drainage basin for more detailed work.   The result will include recommendations for improved drainage infrastructure for that basin.  Then we will work on a study for an additional basin, while working to implement recommendations for the first basin.  The goal is to have a complete study for the entire island.  The basin between Folly, Fort Johnson, and Camp is an area of great concern to both the Town of James Island and the City of Charleston.

Right now, the City of Charleston is taking the lead on a drainage study for the area between Folly, Central Park, and Riverland and Maybank.   They are working with Charleston County.   That area is north of the Town's jurisdiction.   The County is taking the lead on a drainage study for Signal Point Road.   They are working with the City of Charleston.   That is south of the Town's jurisdiction.   These studies will lead to recommendations for drainage improvements. 

The cost is to be allocated to the three governments according to the area in each jurisdiction.

The Town of James Island has budgeted more than $400,000 for drainage improvements during the current fiscal year.  We also have $200,000 budgeted for public works projects, which can include basic drainage maintenance as well as drainage repairs.  Most of the money under that budget line item has been used on drainage problems in the past.  We have three on-call stormwater infrastructure contractors and have been mobilizing them to complete necessary drainage improvement projects throughout the Town.  County drainage crews continue to provide services valued at up to $150,000 per year in the area of the Town.

Earlier this year, we completed several repair projects in the Lynwood Subdivision. This summer, we upgraded an outfall in Lighthouse Point subdivision and this fall we have another drainage improvement project scheduled for the Tallwood neighborhood. We’re also hard at work securing necessary drainage easement acquisitions so we can properly maintain existing systems. We’re just wrapping up an easement project in the Stonepost subdivision, and we have another one underway in the Greenhill/Honey Hill community.

We have had a number of citizens report damage due to the storm on July 7.   Please contact the Town at 843-795-4141 or email mjohnson@jamesislandsc.us to report any flood damage, especially to the living areas of your home.