Heavy rain, heavier problemPumps fail to keep Friday's deluge from covering area of Calhoun, Washington streets with high water By Robert Behre (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Despite a modern, multimillion-dollar drainage system installed nine years ago, the floodwaters from Friday's rains still managed to spill under a luxury office building at East Bay and Calhoun streets. The water was so deep on nearby Washington Street that six men scrambled to rescue a small sedan that had floated onto railroad tracks. And the city is trying to figure out what went wrong. In 1999 the city cranked up a new pump station near the Dockside Condominiums. Its three pumps were built to suck water out of a 125-foot-deep tunnel that extended down Calhoun Street to Marion Square, then up Meeting Street, draining about 100 acres along the way. Charleston Public Services Director Laura Cabiness said she was monitoring the station's four pumps — a new one was added recently — from her home as the rain fell Friday afternoon; and she came downtown after one, then another, shut down. She said the station always had two pumps operating, and that should have been enough. The pumps are designed to cycle on and off, and two of them can handle the heaviest rains, such as what fell Friday afternoon, when the water came down briefly at the rate of 7 inches an hour. But there were still problems. Tim Tipton, chief financial officer of Rivers Enterprises, which operates the Gateway Center office building, said Friday's flooding was about as bad as it's been since 2005, when a lightning strike temporarily shut off power to the pumps. That incident caused water to pour into the building's lobby and spill down its elevator shaft, causing sparks to fly, and resulting in an insurance claim. Friday afternoon's flood was particularly bad on Washington Street, where many tenants exit. "There was a car that simply floated over onto the State Ports Authority's railroad tracks," he said. "Six guys went over and picked it up and put it back on Washington Street for the person who was driving it." Cabiness said the city is looking into the problem, but there are several possible causes. The drains near the building or farther down Calhoun could have clogged with pine straw, oak leaves and other debris. "The first time you get one of these rains after a while, there's more debris out there, and it's drier and it floats faster," she said. Also, part of Washington Street is in a different drainage basin, and that could have filled up and spilled over into the Calhoun-East Bay basin. Tipton said the building's maintenance crews regularly clean out nearby storm drains. He said he would like the city to consider slowing traffic on East Bay during flood incidents, so cars, trucks and buses don't make waves that can enter the building. "All the folks we work with at the city are great people, but it seems the system isn't working properly," he said. "We want to help and assist in any way we can, but we want to know that they're doing their best as well." Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 36 comment(s)
Posted by tellthetruth on June 25, 2008 at 6:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The City of Charleston can only do so much. Why is it people always need to hang someone out to dry when they are doing the best they can. No one wants to disappoint someone but when it does happen don't be so quick to complain but maybe you should try and help. Just my opinion.
Posted by Paul on June 25, 2008 at 7:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Typical Charleston infrastructure, lowest bidder, lowest quality.
Notice how after the traffic lights were "synchronized' ... they're worse than ever.
Posted by theronce on June 25, 2008 at 7:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh, but they did close the bars early, cut out some smoking, produced a nice report of the furniture fire, and are working to get the wine sipping off the streets. What more do you want.
Posted by Neponset on June 25, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Four words: "World Class Drainage System"
Posted by flinsc on June 25, 2008 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Is anyone really surpised?
Posted by feb251939 on June 25, 2008 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The money spent on Riley's Fish Tank would have better spent on THIS problem.
Posted by shoelaces on June 25, 2008 at 8:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What do you expect when you live on a penninsula or island? Didn't think it would flood...again?? Go find an old map of the penninsula and see how much of what people are living on is "filled land" and didn't exist a couple of hundred years ago. The Ashley and Cooper Rivers just want back what's theirs.
Maybe the city can clean up the drains and help it a little. Maybe it was just an awful lot of rain in a short period of time.
Posted by shoelaces on June 25, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
theronce, you forgot something. Don't forget that the IOP wants us to fill in our holes we dig in the sand. Another excellent idea for legislature.
feb251939, I was told (unconfirmed) that little Joe's fish tank has issues with settling into the mud and leaking walls.
Posted by Chilldiesel83 on June 25, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The problem is not so much the drainage system but the fact that a lot of the downtown area is at or below sea level. That might have something to do with it as well, I am not sure though.....
Posted by RTC on June 25, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The City of Charleston has flooded for as long as I can remember. So much of the city is built on man made land.
Let's hope that Roper Hospital doesn't ever go down in a sinkhole.
Imagine what Katrina would have done to Charleston.
Posted by 8642884616 on June 25, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
RTC, We don't have to imagine it was call Hugo
Posted by LadyTarHeel on June 25, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My car got stuck in knee-deep water Friday on Ashley Ave. Thankfully, I was able to wade through the water and move it. I have seen it flood in the medical center, but NEVER that bad! I didn't even know Charleston had a drainage system. Obvioulsy it doesn't work too well. The city of New Orleans is considerably under sea-level and before Katrina and the whole levee thing they really didn't have a big issue with flooding. They have these huge drainage systems under the city. Maybe that would work in Charleston.
Posted by 512c on June 25, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Because it's not really a water drainage system the city put in, but a federally funded secret missile defense system.
Posted by ln1959 on June 25, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lets see, you have a drainage system thats pumps the rain water into the sea, as the sea is pushing the water on land cause its getting the rain water also. Well, I guess that was a smart thing to do. The last that I heard Charleston is 7 degrees under sea level, so there will be flooding for the rest of our life.
tripsa...man your so full of information. To bad most of them are just full of hate and bull.
Posted by Girleygirl on June 25, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Please fix it QUICK AND CORRECTLY before a hurricane comes and our city is under water!
Posted by drp7773 on June 25, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's all Bush's fault, first he floods New Orleans to get rid of the Black folks and now it's Charleytown. Will that sob ever stoppppppppppppppppp.........
Posted by Neponset on June 25, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"We want to help and assist in any way we can, but we want to know that they're doing their best as well."
Sounds like the folks that got flooded are not pleased and are not sure that the city is doing their best in running this facility.
Looks like things are not going very well for joe.
Posted by GeecheeBoi84 on June 25, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
864... did u really just compare Hugo... to Katrina??? :-/
Posted by jonsey2 on June 25, 2008 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dear crew and others:
After viewing comments the gals have left regarding allwoman's suspention you seem to continually make excuses and and say she was removed for "off topic" comments. Actually she was banned because her's and other's "off topic" comments were XXX in nature. Grannyofsex, I mean grannyofsix, finally got it right when she suggested that you find another site to "have fun" - its too bad things got to this point before this was realized.
The fact is that this is a public site that people's kids and grandkids visit. There is no disclaimer that this is an adult site with graphic adult content and beleive it or not, some folks even, get this - come to talk about news and local events.
Grannyofsex, I mean, grannyofsix - you should know better than anyone; would you want your grandkids reading some of the junk you and the gals have posted? Everyone's comments are available to view - why don't you peruse through some of yours and see if you'd like to read them to your grandkids?
Because of my actions in contacting a moderator to view the threads, I was booted as well for my vulgar and hateful comments - I was pretty sure this would happen as my words spoke for themselves just as your posts spoke for themselves. I am actually sorry and ashamed for some of the stuff I posted in anger and would hope to God no one's kids or grandkids read them -- I suppose I'm the only one since you all feel you did nothing wrong to begin with evidently.
Once my suspention is over I may come back to comment, but if I do I will watch what I say and always remember this is a public site with rules and choose my words more carefully.
So keep on thinking you did nothing wrong by hijacking nearly every forum you were on by posting your personal XXX thoughts and stories. Again, it was not just "off topic" comments that got folks banned, it was the content of those "off topic" comments - try to remember that.
It does look like since allwoman is allgone the XXX content has toned way, way down which is a good thing. Again, I am ashamed of some of the comments I made in anger and apologize, but I just couldn't get the point across to you all that the P&C site is a news site, not your personal sex blog and that peoples kids and grandkids have read your comments - maybe your own kids and grandkids. Several commenter have agreed with me and thanked me for stopping your nonsense.
If you want to discuss XXX topics using sexually explicit language, there are literally hundreds of websites designed just for that - unfortuneately the P&C website is not one. I love sex and sexuality, but just because I love sex doesn't mean I think its ok to screw in the middle of WalMart.
Have a good day.
Jonsey
Posted by Girleygirl on June 25, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jonsey- go kick rocks...no one is even talking about allwoman on this thread. My gosh let it go! Do you want some type of recognition...geez get a life!!
Posted by Yeah_I_said_it on June 25, 2008 at 12:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LMAO @ eyfigueroa! I can see it now. Enters jonesy into a nice black tie event. "Yes, it was I who assisted in ridding the P&C of the vulgar group that I so aptly named the "Hooker Crew." Others appreciated my efforts and emailed me privately to thank me! No, no pictures, but I will sign a few autographs. Because of me the Internet is a safe place for kids all around the Lowcountry!"
Posted by jonsey2 on June 25, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have a life, thanks.
I posted this because I am actually embarrased, ashamed and sorry for the posts I made and wanted to apologize to all that read them before this login was removed - the mods aren't stupid.
Beleive me efig there is nothing to be proud of here.
Go ahead and keep up the ridicule of me, but you have to admit that since allwoman is allgone folks have actually been commenting on news.
Good day.
Posted by ln1959 on June 25, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OFLMAO @ Yea_I_said_it...that was a classic.
Posted by Girleygirl on June 25, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you would like to say sorry so be it but there is no need to keep calling Allwoman out and go thread hunting for everybody so they can read your apology. Look who's hijacking threads that has nothing to do with the story now! I hope you feel better, now move on.
Posted by Yeah_I_said_it on June 25, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ln1959,
Thanks, but that is what he sounds like right now. This dud needs to let it go. People were talking about sex and got banned for "off topic and inappropriate" comments which was defined as threadjacking. Now he comes and offers a half jaded apology in which he refers to one of the posters as "grannyofsex" throughout and explains that "it is an apology to all I offended that day." Give me a break. Okay, moving right along....Charleston is below sea level so it would leave one to believe that the drainage system would fail at some point.
Posted by jonsey2 on June 25, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
YISI:
No actually many people posted it publicly that they thought you all's XXX comments were out of control, but they were either ignored or blamed to be me in disguise.
I'm sorry you take my staments as self-aggrandizing and patting myself on the back - I assure you that is not the case.
The end did not justify the means and that is the point and why I am apologizing.
Posted by Yeah_I_said_it on June 25, 2008 at 12:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Blah, blah, blah jonesy. Blah, blah, blah.
Now back to the story at hand....My co-worker said the water rose to her door handle and was shifting her car this weekend while she was traveling Downtown She drives a mid sized SUV. Imagine getting caught in that while walking. Scary.
Posted by jonsey2 on June 25, 2008 at 12:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
YISI:
At leat I know you really care.
Thanks.
Posted by Girleygirl on June 25, 2008 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In West Ashley I saw so many people stuck on the little side road where the Burger King is at before you get onto the Cosgrove Bridge it was crazy. Then I kept seeing smaller cars trying to get past that river of rain and I just shook my head. Some folks got stuck Friday due to their own ignorance. I wonder how many wreckers were out on Friday and how many people did they get out.
Posted by charleston_grown on June 25, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
two words, Joe Riley. get him out of office!
Posted by Yeah_I_said_it on June 25, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
eyfigueroa,
I was thinking about the streets of Venice as I was reading this story. And I think you under shot the price of the gondilers' fares. That would be $25 a pop, food and gas prices are high and they have to feed their kids and fill up their cars.
Posted by Late27 on June 25, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Chilldiesel83,
Charleston is not below sea level. There are some areas (I believe 2) that are close or right on the border, but the peninsula is actually about 8 feet above sea level.
Posted by jammanofdi on June 25, 2008 at 4:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Chill and IN1959, you all are slightly incorrect. Nowhere on the peninsula is below sea level and certainly nothing is built in Charleston below sea level (you wouldn't be able to get/maintain insurance). Thanks to these carriage operated tour guides, everyone seems to think that we're all below sea level and are doomed. The truth is that most of the peninsula is at least 8 feet (degree's?? lol) above and that while we do flood from time to time, the water is permanent, but gravity will take over and eventually pull it out to the ocean. The problem is that this infrastructure and pumps ARE below sea level, so they are continuously working to push water up and out (just like a drinking straw) and they can only handle so much at one time. When you have rain coming down at 7 in/per hour, live on a peninsula pretty much surrounded by water, have 75% of the peninsula impervious (i.e. paved) and also have the tides to contend with - there's just not a perfect answer. I think overall that the system works pretty well, we just have to deal with mother nature from time to time - just like everyone else.
A Civil Engineer,
jam
Posted by shoelaces on June 25, 2008 at 4:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It must be difficult to pump water up and out of low lying areas at high tide. I love living in the LOWcountry but you have to take the good with the bad. The more we build and inhabit the more it will flood. Where else can the water go?
Sort of like the cougars...they have to go somewhere.
Posted by Rebel_Yell on June 25, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well put Jam. The inbred islanders can't quite understand such complicated issues as floods and fires. They just want to make income in the city and then complain as they drive home to their tax free shelter. Once we're done annexing all of JI, we'll use that extra money to add some more pumps and screw them to the wall.
Posted by letstakeawalk on June 25, 2008 at 5:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, well said Jam. Downtown floods more frequently today than previously because of the amount of pavement we've laid down. (Jokingly) I suppose we should blame all those posters who insist that their tax money paid for the roads!
I am reminded of a friend who happens to live in Venice. When visiting, I noticed how all his furniture (even kitchen appliances!) were up on legs to keep it all about 8 inches above the floor. He explained that Venice floods, and that the locals have just learned to live with it. Some of his other Italian friends thought he was crazy, but his response was "I live in Venice - they're just jealous." The incredible rain pooled higher in front of my house than I'd ever seen it in 14 years, about a foot and a half deep. It was so high it actually overflowed the coffer dams my father and I built some years back to keep the water out of our back yard. But once the tide turned, it cleared pretty quickly. Of course, now the college kids renting the apartments next door understand why I clear the drains every so often...