Tropical Storm Idalia Update

The Charleston Southern University Emergency Management Team continues to monitor the path and projected impacts of Tropical Storm Idalia. The National Weather Service expects the storm to become a Category 1 hurricane tonight, making landfall as a possible Category 3 along Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday morning. Its path continues moving northeast, and Idalia is expected to lose strength as it crosses land. According to the National Hurricane Center, the South Carolina Lowcountry could see tropical-storm-force winds from Idalia as early as Wednesday morning and into the evening, with rain bands arriving late Tuesday. Idalia’s bigger brother Hurricane Franklin remains in the Atlantic and could cause high surf and rip currents toward our coast; however, forecasters are not concerned.  

At this time, CSU remains on a normal operating schedule, and there is no expectation that evacuation will be necessary. Currently, classes and offices will remain open; however, the following events are postponed until October 4: the President’s Chapel, the Legacy Luncheon, and the Presidential Meet & Greet. CSU will make a final decision on class cancellation and office closure no later than Tuesday afternoon.  

Please note: 

• If it is unsafe to travel at any point, regardless of whether classes are cancelled, please stay home. Students should communicate with their professors if they are unable to attend class in person.  
• Unless the university cancels classes, missed classes will not be excused.  
• Dining services will remain open throughout the storm.  
• Thursday’s events, including Elevate and CSU football vs. North Greenville, remain as scheduled. 

Important updates will be sent via campuswide email, with urgent releases also communicated via BucAlert (the campus emergency notification system), the website, and social media as necessary. 

Stay safe, Bucs! 

Helpful Resources 

Emergency: 911 
Campus Security: 843-553-5896 or 843-863-7105 
 

• How to pronounce Idalia “ee-DAL-ya” and all Atlantic tropical cyclone names 
• Hurricane season in Charleston: what you should know   
• The difference between a hurricane watch or warning  
• National Weather Service: outlook and impact on Charleston  
• CSU’s Emergency Preparedness Plan 
• CSU Security  

Last updated: Aug. 28, 2023 at 6:47 p.m.