Charleston’s wealthiest and most historic neighborhoods were drying off on Tuesday following a tidal surge from Hurricane Irma that saw floodwaters rise around four feet.
Residents waded through murky water and hosed down muddied walls and gardens as the city’s pumps worked over-time to drain the streets lining centuries-old buildings.
Cleaning companies were dotted throughout the area on Tuesday, sweeping up debris from palm trees and drying out the first floors of water-damaged homes.
On Monday, the South Carolina city was hit with record tides while beaches and barrier islands, such as the affluent resort community of Isle of Palms, suffered significant erosion.
Several feet of water remained around beachfront homes on Isle of Palms on Tuesday but only a handful of properties had substantial damage, according to local authorities.
Charleston, South Carolina, is beginning to repair the minimal flooding damage caused by Hurricane Irma. Its historic and exclusive neighborhoods saw a tidal surge that caused floodwaters rise around four feet on Monday
The coastal city was hit with record tides while beaches and barrier islands, such as the affluent resort community of Isle of Palms (pictured), suffered significant erosion
Several feet of water remained around beachfront homes on Isle of Palms on Tuesday but only a handful of properties had substantial damage, according to local authorities. Pictured: Homes in the Harleston Village district of Charleston
The slight flooding led some residents to dig out their rain boots while walking the flowing streets on Tuesday
Irma sent four feet of ocean water into downtown Charleston as the storm’s center passed 250 miles away. City officials urged residents to stay off the streets.
The most significant flooding in Charleston took place close to the harbor where the ocean topped the Battery wall, which typically protects downtown.
Only Hurricane Hugo’s direct hit in 1989 and a 1940 hurricane that hit a short way down the coast pushed higher seas, AP noted.
Charleston’s Historic District is a National Landmark due to its collection of 18th and 19th century architecture.
Morton Matuny spoke to DailyMail.com as he worked on the garden of his home facing Colonial Lake.
‘The water reached the top of the benches,’ he said. ‘I thought we were going to be flooded but it only reached the second step to the house. The problem was that it happened during high tide. If it was rain it would be okay but the problem is the brackish water.
‘This is the third year in a row we’ve had a storm at this time. But I lived through Hugo, so this really isn’t a big problem.’
On the next block, Eric Wooten was wading through floodwaters with his bike to go collect his car which he had parked in a garage out of harm’s way.
However only a handful of properties had substantial damage, according to local authorities on Tuesday
Irma sent four feet of ocean water (pictured) into downtown Charleston as the storm’s center passed 250 miles away. City officials urged residents to stay off the streets
The most significant flooding in Charleston took place close to the harbor where the ocean topped the Battery wall, which typically protects downtown
Eric Wooten was wading through floodwaters with his bike to go collect his car which he had parked in a safe garage
‘We had a little water in the back bedroom and a circuit breaker blew,’ he said. ‘There was six to eight more inches of water than Matthew last year. I’m surprised we got such a storm surge.’
Wooten said he was relieved to have had minimal damage and also to find that a cousin in Tampa, Florida, was safe following Irma.
He said that the city of Charleston had 12 pumps but noted that the water was taking longer than usual to recede in the streets. ‘We got a lot of briefings from the authorities but it’s better to be safe than sorry,’ he added.
David Mahvi showed DailyMail.com the waterline where the tidal surge had risen four feet at his home. The family’s pool was also filled to the brim with muddy water.
‘We were worried as we watched the water coming up and up,’ he said. ‘But it was fine. We have the pumps and we are ready for it here. There are many, many people who are a lot worse off.’
Irma weakened to a still-deadly, 415-mile wide tropical storm on Monday as it moved beyond Florida.
Although it was downgraded to a tropical storm, former Hurricane Irma sent four feet of ocean water into downtown Charleston, South Carolina on Monday
Residents were prepared to see some flooding but breathed a sigh of relief when there was minimal water damage to very few homes in the historical neighborhoods
Morton Matuny spoke to DailyMail.com as he worked on the garden of his home facing Colonial Lake. ‘The water reached the top of the benches,’ he said. ‘I thought we were going to be flooded but it only reached the second step to the house’
Broad Street along Colonial Lake was closed to through traffic due to standing water in the Harleston Village district of Charleston on Tuesday
More than half a million people were ordered to evacuate days earlier from Savannah and the rest of Georgia’s coast.
Charles Saxon, 57, became South Carolina’s first recorded death when he was struck by a tree limb while clearing debris outside his home in Calhoun Falls.
While he was outside, the wind was violent with gusts of about 40mph, according to a statement from Abbeville County Coroner Ronnie Ashley.
At least 18 deaths in the US were connected to Hurricane Irma and at least 37 people died in the Caribbean.
Around half of Florida’s population remains without power as many return home in sweltering heat.
Nine of out ten properties in the Florida Keys have sustained damage while 25 percent are completely destroyed.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster on Tuesday lifted an evacuation order that had been in effect on the barrier islands in the southern part of the state
Homes and people who live along Rutledge Ave. in the Harleston Village district of Charleston, South Carolina are effected by standing water left over from Tropical Storm Irma
Utilities South Carolina reported more than 63,000 customers were without service Wednesday morning. Duke Energy had the biggest problem with nearly 37,000 customers without service
At least 18 deaths in the US were connected to Hurricane Irma and at least 37 people died in the Caribbean