Filbin Creek runs across North Charleston along I-526 and drains toward the Cooper River. For Cameron Terrace residents beside it, flooding is not only a hurricane problem, because daily drainage can be a struggle too.
Key takeaways
- Cameron Terrace residents near Filbin Creek reported flooding in Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Irma, plus day to day drainage problems.
- A 2017 study by Davis & Floyd found the creek basin was shaped by Cooper River tidal surge and by heavy rain.
- A missing flap gate that keeps Cooper River salt water out of the creek is to be replaced by the state DOT, which helps daily flooding but will not stop storm surge.
- The neighborhoods near the creek covered by the study are in federally designated flood zones.
- Standing water should come out fast, because it wicks into drywall and flooring in a coastal, flood prone area.
Where Filbin Creek runs and what residents reported
North Charleston covers parts of Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties, and the Ashley River forms much of its southwest border while the Cooper River forms the southeast border.
Filbin Creek crosses the city along I-526 and drains toward the Cooper River. Because it empties into a tidal river, the creek responds to tides as well as rain.
What residents reported
Residents near Filbin Creek in Cameron Terrace reported flooding during Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Irma, along with day to day drainage problems.
One Cameron Terrace resident said water in his backyard has reached six feet deep, mostly from backwash of Filbin Creek. That is a striking figure, and it shows why backyard water is not a minor matter for the house beside it.
- Hurricane Matthew in October 2016 flooded Filbin Creek neighborhoods through tidal surge and rain.
- Hurricane Irma in September 2017 added more tidal flooding.
- Day to day drainage problems appear even when no storm is named.
What the 2017 drainage study found
A drainage study completed in 2017 by Davis & Floyd found that the Filbin Creek basin was influenced by Cooper River tidal surge from Matthew and Irma and by heavy rain.
In other words, the basin has two problems at once. Tide water pushes in from the river, and rain water cannot drain out.
When both happen together, yards and streets near the creek hold water for longer.
The flap gate
The state DOT agreed to replace a missing flap gate that keeps Cooper River salt water out of Filbin Creek. The gate helps daily flooding, but it will not stop storm surge.
Federally designated flood zones
The neighborhoods near Filbin Creek covered by the study are in federally designated flood zones. A homeowner there should expect water to be a recurring concern.
What happens inside a house when creek water arrives
Creek water that reaches a house is outside water. It carries sediment and debris, and in a tidal creek it can also carry salt.
The first stage is extraction, because standing water that sits keeps climbing into drywall and flooring by wicking. A wet floor is only the visible part of the problem.
- Standing water is pumped out before any drying equipment is placed.
- Soaked carpet pad, insulation and lower drywall are removed.
- Salt residue on metal fittings and appliances is wiped down early.
- Moisture readings in walls confirm what has to open up.
Tidal creek water compared with rain water
Rain water that pools in a yard is one kind of problem. Water that comes up a tidal creek from the Cooper River is another, because it can carry silt and salt along with debris.
Salt matters to a house. It lingers on metal, corrodes fittings and electrical contacts, and leaves a residue on hard surfaces that has to be wiped away.
A cleanup in a flood prone area includes that step, and it should be done early, before the residue dries into place.
- Wash down appliance bases, cabinet hardware and exposed metal soon after the water leaves.
- Check air conditioning equipment that sat in or near the water before running it.
- Keep wet shoes and tools out of clean rooms so silt is not tracked deeper into the house.
Renters, landlords and shared responsibility
About 47 percent of housing units in North Charleston are renter occupied, so a share of homes near the creek have a tenant who is not the owner. Flooding raises practical questions for both sides.
A tenant should report the water to the landlord right away and keep dated photographs. An owner should arrange extraction and drying quickly, because delays let damage spread through walls and floors that the tenant may not be able to see.
What a tenant can do
Photograph the water, move belongings to higher spots and keep written records of messages with the landlord. Avoid running electrical equipment that sat in water.
What an owner should arrange
Extraction, material removal and monitored drying, with moisture logs that show when each room is dry. Those logs are useful for insurance and for any lease discussion.
A first day plan for Cameron Terrace
A short plan helps when the creek is rising, because there is rarely time to think once water arrives.
Before the water arrives
If a storm is forecast, move small valuables and papers upward, shut off power to the lowest outlets if it is safe, and photograph the rooms as they look dry.
When water is inside
Stay out of standing water, keep the panel off if it is wet, and take photographs of the water level on walls. The photos give the claim a clear start.
After the water recedes
Do not wait for the yard to drain before calling. Water in walls and under floors can keep spreading even after the street looks dry.
Keeping a record for the next storm
A homeowner near Filbin Creek should assume the water may come back. A folder with photographs, readings and receipts from this event makes the next one easier to handle.
Drying a house in a flood prone area
Lowcountry air is humid and slow to dry, so a flooded house needs monitored equipment, not open windows. Moisture readings set the target, and the team returns to check them until the structure is dry.
The water extraction page for North Charleston explains the pumping stage, and the North Charleston storm water damage page covers outside water in the city. The North Charleston hub lists every service available in town.
Questions
Where does Filbin Creek run?
It runs across North Charleston along I-526 and drains toward the Cooper River.
Has Cameron Terrace flooded before?
Residents near Filbin Creek reported flooding during Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Irma, plus day to day drainage problems.
Will the flap gate stop flooding?
The state DOT agreed to replace the missing gate. It helps daily flooding but will not stop storm surge.
Is the area in a flood zone?
The neighborhoods near Filbin Creek covered by the 2017 study are in federally designated flood zones.
What is removed after creek water enters a home?
Porous materials such as carpet pad, insulation and lower drywall are normally removed, while framing and hard surfaces are cleaned and dried.