West Ashley and standing water have a long history together, and parts of this side of town flood far more readily than the rest of Charleston.
Low ground and heavy rain
Much of West Ashley sits low, close to tidal creeks and marsh, on soil that does not drain quickly. Neighbourhoods around the Church Creek basin have struggled with drainage for years. When a heavy rain lands on an already high water table, the water has nowhere to go and ends up under houses.
Under the house, not in a basement
Basements are rare here, so this is mostly about keeping water out of crawl spaces — away from floor framing, ductwork and insulation. If you have noticed a musty smell you have been blaming on the air conditioning, damp under the house is very often where it starts.
Pumps fail during the storm, not before
The usual reasons are a float switch stuck after months sitting idle, a valve letting water run back into the pit, or no battery backup when the power goes out. Around here heavy rain and power cuts tend to arrive together, so a pump without a backup is off at the worst possible moment.
Two minutes to test yours
Pour a bucket of water into the pit and check that the pump starts, moves the water and stops cleanly. If it hums without pumping or runs constantly, it needs attention now rather than in September.