John Teklenberg News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

If we had seen something like the heartbreaking devastation down in the bahamas, it would be a different story. our hearts go out. we've already started organizing some relief efforts from charleston to go down to the bahamas and help as soon as dorian passes our way. because that kind of devastation, boy, that takes more than time to recover. >> well, unfortunately, a lot of people along the coast of the united states knows what it is to be in the path of the storm. but kudos to you and your community for reaching out to the folks who took the brunt of this. thank you so much, mr. mayor, and ...

Operations. this is the emergency response. we're actually on board this chopper here with customs and border protection air marine operations. john holman is one of those that's on board. i guess we're heading out to one of the areas that needs help. how do you feel about the mission? >> it's a good mission. we need to help any way we can, and that's really what we're here for. >> when you see the devastation, it's got to hit your heart. >> it's never easy. we did katrina, we did houston a couple years ago, puerto rico for maria. we do these all the time and it never gets easier. it really ma...

John teklenberg. mr. mayor, i know you have your hands full, so i appreciate you taking the time to talk with us. what are your major concerns right now as we speak? >> our major concerns is the level of water that may be upon us late tonight or early tomorrow morning. there is a high tide predicted at about 1:00 a.m. of 10.2 feet, which is above flood stage here in charleston. many roads will have some water on it. and when the tide gets that high, that's a combination of storm surge and high tide. the rain, if we have copious rain, it has nowhere to go. it just gets stuck no matter how much ...

High-wheeled military type vehicles. >> we saw some people evacuating, but there are some people staying. what will happen for those people if the road gets washed out? >> they will shelter in place and they will be there. there will not be any way to get out except by boat after the storm passes. >> reporter: are you guys going to go in if you get distress calls from those areas? >> we will go in if it's safe for us to do so. >> reporter: this is a really unique storm because we have the sound right here, the atlantic on the other side. you're saying worst-case scenario is if this moves a lit...

Paper, that destruction will be at 8 feet. if you're looking at 10 feet, what would be the danger in that? >> it would be similar to two storms we've had over the years, hurricanes matthew and irma. the high tide was nearly ten feet, not quite, and what you saw was a goodly portion of downtown and other parts of our city, west ashley, were inundated with water. i'd say about 25% of the peninsula. so this could lead to some significant flooding. so that's why it's so important if folks haven't evacuated already to stay in place, to stay safe. don't come out and try to be driving around for anyt...