News Flash

Marquel Coaxum, Multimedia Coordinator
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (November 17, 2016) - As the weekend rolls in The Town of Mount Pleasant is projected to experience high tides across the Town due to high seasonal tides.

Those seasonal tides know as King Tides, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, occur naturally and are typically caused when a spring tide - when the sun, moon, and earth align during a new and full moon, increasing tide ranges.

This takes place when the moon is closest to Earth during the 28-day elliptical orbit.

“We track the tide cycles each month to monitor conditions, inspect infrastructure, and prepare for impacts to critical transportation networks like Longpoint Road,” said Hillary Repik, Mount Pleasant stormwater program manager. “It depends on how high the tides go as to what areas are impacted. We track these low-lying areas that are flood prone during these tide cycles, of which most were built in areas that used to be marsh but were filled in to build roads and homes.”

SCDHEC projects that South Carolina will experience two more periods of vulnerability for King Tides. One of which the State is currently in.

The tides can have different effects on different areas depending on the location, and can also cause coastal erosion and flooding of low-lying areas.

There are several actions residents of flood prone areas can take to decrease the potential for damage or injury due to flooding:

• Do not walk through flowing water. • Avoid driving through flooded areas. If your vehicle stalls in high water, abandon it immediately and seek higher ground.
• Keep everyone away from flood waters, ditches, culverts, and storm drains.• Report blocked drains and flooded areas to the Town for investigation.
• Keep yard debris and other materials away from drains – check and clear the drains before a storm event.

For more information on King Tides visit **SCDHEC King Tides Initiative website here**