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reprint or license thisErnesto brushes Charleston
Area around port easily weathers rain and wind
By LISA MICHALS
lmichals@thestate.com
SULLIVAN’S ISLAND — They danced in floodwater on Market Street. They traipsed through Charleston Waterfront Park in bathing suits and galoshes. And they surfed the unimpressive whitecaps off Sullivan’s Island.
Tropical Storm Ernesto inspired more playfulness than fear Thursday among Charleston-area residents as the storm skimmed the South Carolina coast. The worst Ernesto offered was persistent rain and moderate winds.
The best evidence of Charleston-area residents’ caution was their absence — from downtown districts, from the roads and from businesses. Schools closed as a precaution, as did Charleston International Airport.
Sullivan’s Island resident Chris Jones brought his sons out to the beach Thursday afternoon because 8-year-old John Jones wanted to see the “storm surge.” He was disappointed.
“The water is higher,” said his brother, 13-year-old Joel Jones. “We were expecting all-out chaos.”
For many College of Charleston students, canceled classes sparked “hurricane” parties.
“We had a really big party last night,” said student Kali Schrott, 19. “I woke up this way.”
Schrott had “We (heart) Ernesto” written in red below her neck. She splashed through floodwaters Thursday with friends near Charleston City Market, where Market Street swelled with 5 to 9 inches of water at high tide around 1 p.m.
Fellow College of Charleston students Sally Berton, 21, and Greg Rockwell, 20, danced through the water at the empty market.
“I’m from Nebraska originally, and we don’t have hurricanes,” Berton said.
City worker Omar Wilkie —on the clock since 6 a.m. —donned rubber hip boots for the first time and waited for the water to recede so he could sweep up the market area.
“Whatever it takes, get the job done,” Wilkie, 22, said cheerfully. “Let’s keep our city clean.”
Charleston City Market vendors stayed home Thursday, and many shops sported sandbags. Wild Wing Cafe on Market Street kept its doors sandbagged but open. At the Vendue Inn in Charleston’s historic district, Labor Day weekend tourists considered canceling plans.
“We’ve had a lot of people calling,” said desk clerk Ardella Salimia.
Fellow desk clerk Laura Davenport said they had clear advice for visitors. “We’ve been telling people tomorrow is going to be beautiful.”
Up in North Charleston, travelers were also making the best of the weather-related closings.
Stranded at Charleston International Airport without a rental car, Eric Hoffman had one option.
“I had to call my sister’s ex-boyfriend to pick me up,” Hoffman said.
Fortunately, the former couple parted on good terms.
Hoffman, 22, flew into Charleston Wednesday for a job interview and arrived back at the airport around noon to fly home to Richmond, Va.
He didn’t know the airport had closed at 11 a.m.
“It’s not that bad,” he said.
Hoffman and his sister’s ex-boyfriend decided to take advantage of Hoffman’s misfortune: They scored tickets to Saturday’s Clemson football game, and Hoffman switched his departure to the Greenville airport.
Charleston airport deputy director Sue Stevens said the decision to close was partly due to the need to give airport employees time to make their own arrangements for weathering the oncoming storm.
Charleston will close its bridges when sustained winds reach 30 mph, Stevens said. She and a few other employees were set to stay at the airport Thursday night and make preparations today for the airport’s anticipated reopening at 9 a.m.
The first scheduled flight departs at 9:40 a.m., Stevens said.
By noon Thursday, the normally bustling airport was eerily empty. A few travelers awaited a ride elsewhere. Several people who hoped to pick up rental cars for weekend travels were turned away.
Jill Poplawski, daughter Samantha Gamba and grandchildren Zachary and Colin Gamba were among those turned away. The Summerville residents planned to rent a car for a Labor Day weekend trip to Virginia.
“We’re deciding what to do,” Samantha Gamba said as she and her mother consulted in the airport parking garage.
Their frustration didn’t extend to Zachary, 5.
“We don’t have to go to school today because there’s a storm,” he said.
Reach Hammond at (803) 771-8474.
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