Urge your elected officials to identify funding and solutions to address flooding now.

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The Issue

Flooding in the Lowcountry is not a new problem. Just ask any resident of Charleston County and you’ll likely hear a story. Due to its low-lying coastal elevation, close proximity to rivers and the ocean, and poorly planned development on filled-in wetlands, Charleston County has experienced drainage and flooding complications for hundreds of years. Flooding in the region is attributed to:

Tidal flooding and storm surge resulting from extreme weather
Flash flooding that overburdens outdated drainage infrastructure
Riverine flooding caused by heavy and prolonged rainfall that overwhelms the capacity of river and stream channels

(Photo credits: Jared Bramblett)

Shallow Coastal Flooding Risk

In 2016 alone, Charleston County experienced 50 days of tidal flooding. This is a staggering increase from an average of four days just 50 years ago. It no longer takes a catastrophic storm to cause flooding. Municipalities in our region now experience significant flooding when rainfall is paired with a high tide. Flooding impacts vital transportation routes and causes major disruptions in travel and commuter patterns, and it major property damage.

Our coastal region is incredibly vulnerable. In fact, the Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester region ranks in the top 15 U.S. metro regions that are most prone to hurricane-driven storm surge damage. Scientists predict that sea level will rise 2.5 feet over the next 50 years. What does this mean for the Lowcountry? Simply put, tidal flooding could occur as often as 180 days in the year 2050. The time is now for Charleston County to address the problem and enable our community to prepare for, respond to and recover from flooding.

Category 1 Storm Surge

Funding the Solutions

Flooding problems—exacerbated by rapid growth, poorly planned development and filling wetlands—are expensive to both prevent and repair. However, Charleston County voters already supplied the money to get started. In 2016, our community approved a half-cent sales tax increase for roads, transit, greenspace and drainage improvements. Citizens clearly saw the need for such improvements, taking it upon themselves to pay for them out-of-pocket through the tax increase. That increase will bring in about $2 billion over the next two decades, and $200 million of that money is available now.

Revenue from the half-cent sales tax won’t be the panacea for flooding, either. As a community, we will need to work together to identify other sources of funding and prioritize money to fix flooding first. Our coalition urges Charleston County residents to urge local elected officials (city, town and county leaders) to pass resolutions prioritizing funding like available dollars from the half-cent sales tax for drainage infrastructure. Flooding and drainage must be addressed before Charleston County pursues other infrastructure or development projects.

Report Flooding

Have you encountered rain to tide related flooding? Snap a picture with your phone and submit it here. You can help us to identify problem areas and assess the magnitude of the issue. You can upload a picture right away, or later from your photo library. Here’s how to upload your images:

Click the red Report Flooding button below
Select what type of flooding you’re reporting (tidal or rain-related flooding)
Click the green Submit a Report button
Enter a few details about your photo (date, location, description)
Finally, click the Report It button

Photos from your neighbors

Testimonials

Get Involved

But first, sign our petition.

The first step to get involved in our community campaign is to sign our petition and urge your local officials in Charleston County to find and fund immediate solutions for flooding.

Then, connect with your elected officials.

Next, you can contact your local representatives by phone or email or attend an upcoming meeting. Please call or email your representative and let them know you’re concerned about flooding in your community. Tell a personal story and share your experiences. Remember, a phone call or visit to your council member is the most effective thing you can do as an advocate. You can find your representative and contact info, and connect with them quickly, using our Local Representative Finder App or our online action center.

Attending public meetings and speaking up during the public comment period is another effective, easy way to get involved. If you want help drafting talking points, please email us at info@fixfloodingfirst.org. Here are critical meetings coming up where you can raise your voice:

Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 5 p.m. — Charleston City Council
Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. — Mount Pleasant Town Council
Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 6:30 p.m. — Charleston County Council
Thursday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. — North Charleston City Council*
Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. — Charleston City Council
Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m. — Charleston County Council
Thursday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. — North Charleston City Council*
Thursday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. — North Charleston City Council*
Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. — Charleston City Council
Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 6:30 p.m. — Charleston County Council
Thursday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. — North Charleston City Council*
Tuesday, Nov. 27 at 5 p.m. — Charleston City Council
Tuesday, Nov. 27 at 6:30 p.m. — Charleston County Council
Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. — Charleston City Council
Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m. — Charleston County Council
Thursday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. — North Charleston City Council*
Tuesday, Dec. 18 at 5 p.m. — Charleston City Council
Thursday, Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. — North Charleston City Council*

* Please note: If you plan to speak at a North Charleston City Council meeting, you will need to notify the clerk ahead of time. You can fill out a request form here.

Who We Are

We are a local, community-driven, diverse, grassroots movement advocating for solutions and funding to address flooding in Charleston County now. We are demanding action to protect our neighbors, coastal communities, homes, businesses, natural resources and quality of life.

Our campaign is powered by a coalition of local residents, business owners, community groups and historic preservation and environmental nonprofits. The goal of Fix Flooding First is to create positive, immediate change locally to address flooding. Our first initiative is calling on our elected officials to allocate available dollars from Charleston County’s 2016 half-cent sales tax to fund urgent drainage projects.

Our supporters include: