Teams survey damage; hundreds still without power

Hundreds remained without power on Johns and Wadmalaw islands this morning following Sunday's storms, as assessment teams from the local American Red Cross chapter fanned throughout the area to survey damage.

Red Cross personnel will be at the St. John's Fire District station from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today to meet with anyone whose home was damaged, said Louise Welch, regional executive director of the Red Cross' Carolina Lowcountry Chapter. The Red Cross provides assistance with temporary shelter, as well as the loss of food or medical supplies.

As of 9:30 p.m. Sunday, the organization had learned of nine damaged houses, though none were destroyed, Welch said. There were no reports of serious injuries.

"The break of day may show us differently," she said.

Residents reported a tornado touching down near Adams Run around 6 p.m. Soon, inhabitants of the Sea Islands near Charleston hunkered down as a frightening storm bore down on the area. High winds and heavy rain left branches and even whole trees strewn about yards and roadways.

The same storm front left at least 22 dead in three other southern states, including 15 in Missouri, six in Oklahoma and one in Georgia.

The National Weather Service also was surveying damage in the Charleston area, but did not expect to have an update an until this afternoon, Bob Bright, a meteorologist in the local office.

About 400 Berkeley Electric Cooperative customers remained without power on Wadmalaw Island and another 120 on Johns Island, Communications Specialist Micah Ponce said at 7:30 a.m. At its peak, the storm left 3,000 Berkeley Electric customers without power, Ponce said. South Carolina Electric and Gas Co.'s Web site showed that 167 customers had no power.

Although the storm has left the area, the National Weather Service urged mariners to use caution all day Monday on Lake Moultrie. Strong westerly winds are expected to reach 25 to 30 knots today, with gusts up to 40 knots and waves up to 4-feet high on the east side of the lake, a statements says. Conditions should improve slightly this afternoon, but winds and rough waves could persist into the night.

To make a donation to the American Red Cross Carolina Lowcountry Chapter, send contributions to 8085 Rivers Ave., Suite F North Charleston, SC 29406 or call (843) 764-2323, ext. 355. Online donations can be made at www.lowcountryredcross.org.

Reach Noah Haglund at 937-5550 or nhaglund@postandcourier.com