Officials from the National Weather Service planned to walk through the neighborhood on Johns Island about a dozen miles west of Charleston to determine if the damage was from a tornado.
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The severe storm hit along the coast at around 1 a.m. Friday, damaging homes, blowing out windows, sending trees onto roofs and flipping over a trailer, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
As of 10:02 A.M, Berkeley Electric Cooperative is reporting 1,034 homes without power on Johns Island due to tornado Damage.
Downed power lines and trees slowed responders’ progress on the 84 square-mile island, which has a population of about 14,000 and sits south of the city of Charleston. “Obviously, we’re really thankful”.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation is helping city the Charleston, St. Johns, James Island and St. Andrews Fire Departments and Charleston County Volunteer Rescue Squad clear roads. “Me and my family were scared to death”.
“And then when we came out, it was just unbelievable”, Bercik said. We didn’t know what was happening.
Anyone needing assistance is asked to call 843-764-2323.
Sydney said there were five or six trees down in her driveway alone so she couldn’t imagine how bad the damage was on Old Pond Road or in other areas nearby.
“Crews are methodically going through the area looking to help people”, Ghi said, but had found no one who had been hurt.
A flash flood watch is in effect until 8 a.m. Friday for much of southeast South Carolina that includes the metro Charleston area.
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American Red Cross has set up a reception center at the St. Johns Fire District Headquarters, 1148 Main Rd, to help those affected by the tornado.
