Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Charleston is under a state of emergency as residents in some of the city’s hardest-hit neighborhoods begin cleaning up what city officials have described as the worse flooding the area has seen in decades.
Mayor Amy Goodwin declared the state of emergency Monday night following Sunday storms, giving the city more flexibility to coordinate personnel, equipment and other resources as damage assessments and recovery efforts continue.
Officials said Garrison Avenue and Sugar Creek Drive are among the areas that sustained significant damage.
“I’ve worked for the city for 29 years now, and in the city this is the worst flooding probably in over 20 years,” Charleston director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Chad Jones said.
Bryan Marshall, who lives near Garrison Creek, said it took only minutes for the flooding to move vehicles and threaten homes.
“Probably less than two minutes,” Marshall said. “He looks out the window like, ‘Where’s my car?’ It was sitting right over there, and it was moved down the road.”
Marshall said the vehicle was pushed about 40 feet from the driveway. He also described watching his garage collapse as floodwater pushed against his home.
As residents shovel mud, remove damaged belongings and determine what can be saved, Mayor Goodwin said the scale of the damage means recovery will take time.
“This is catastrophic flooding,” Goodwin said. “It’s a lot of work to rebuild.”
Goodwin said the state of emergency allows the city to move more quickly when it needs additional manpower, equipment or other resources. She stressed, however, that the declaration does not guarantee reimbursement or financial assistance for those affected.
Charleston police have also increased patrols in several affected neighborhoods, including Wertz Avenue, Garrison Avenue, Sugar Creek Drive, Scraggs Drive, Hanna Drive, Greenbrier Street and Chandler Drive.
Jones said officials had received about 200 damage surveys countywide as of Tuesday, though those reports were still being reviewed to determine how many properties sustained minor, major or catastrophic damage.
Officials are urging residents whose homes or property were damaged to complete a storm damage survey.
The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department offered free tetanus and Hepatitis A vaccinations Tuesday in flood-affected areas.
Residents impacted by flooding can also pick up available cleanup supplies at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center. Donations of cleaning and recovery supplies are being accepted there as well.
Current needs include mops, bottled water, 5-gallon buckets, disinfectant cleaner, flathead shovels, fans, dehumidifiers, heavy-duty trash bags, work gloves and paper towels.
Residents needing assistance or information about available resources may call 211.
FULL STORY: wchstv.com/news/local/state-of-emergency-declared-as-charleston-begins-flood-recovery
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Charleston is under a state of emergency as residents in some of the city’s hardest-hit neighborhoods begin cleaning up what city officials have described as the worse flooding the area has seen in decades.
Mayor Amy Goodwin declared the state of emergency Monday night following Sunday storms, giving the city more flexibility to coordinate personnel, equipment and other resources as damage assessments and recovery efforts continue.
Officials said Garrison Avenue and Sugar Creek Drive are among the areas that sustained significant damage.
“I’ve worked for the city for 29 years now, and in the city this is the worst flooding probably in over 20 years,” Charleston director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Chad Jones said.
Bryan Marshall, who lives near Garrison Creek, said it took only minutes for the flooding to move vehicles and threaten homes.
“Probably less than two minutes,” Marshall said. “He looks out the window like, ‘Where’s my car?’ It was sitting right over there, and it was moved down the road.”
Marshall said the vehicle was pushed about 40 feet from the driveway. He also described watching his garage collapse as floodwater pushed against his home.
As residents shovel mud, remove damaged belongings and determine what can be saved, Mayor Goodwin said the scale of the damage means recovery will take time.
“This is catastrophic flooding,” Goodwin said. “It’s a lot of work to rebuild.”
Goodwin said the state of emergency allows the city to move more quickly when it needs additional manpower, equipment or other resources. She stressed, however, that the declaration does not guarantee reimbursement or financial assistance for those affected.
Charleston police have also increased patrols in several affected neighborhoods, including Wertz Avenue, Garrison Avenue, Sugar Creek Drive, Scraggs Drive, Hanna Drive, Greenbrier Street and Chandler Drive.
Jones said officials had received about 200 damage surveys countywide as of Tuesday, though those reports were still being reviewed to determine how many properties sustained minor, major or catastrophic damage.
Officials are urging residents whose homes or property were damaged to complete a storm damage survey.
The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department offered free tetanus and Hepatitis A vaccinations Tuesday in flood-affected areas.
Residents impacted by flooding can also pick up available cleanup supplies at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center. Donations of cleaning and recovery supplies are being accepted there as well.
Current needs include mops, bottled water, 5-gallon buckets, disinfectant cleaner, flathead shovels, fans, dehumidifiers, heavy-duty trash bags, work gloves and paper towels.
Residents needing assistance or information about available resources may call 211.
FULL STORY: wchstv.com/news/local/state-of-emergency-declared-as-charleston-begins-flood-recovery
_________________________________________
Follow WCHS on social media:
Facebook: facebook.com/eyewitnessnewscharleston
Twitter: twitter.com/wchs8fox11
Instagram: instagram.com/wchs8fox11
For the latest local and national news, visit our website: wchstv.com
Sign up for our newsletter: wchstv.com/sign-up
