Charleston County Government Public Safety

10/22/2026

A Day of Learning, Leadership, and Public Service!

This week, Charleston County Public Safety and Medical Services had the pleasure of welcoming cadets from The Citadel for Leadership Day!

The cadets kicked off their visit with presentations from Deputy County Administrator of Public Safety and Medical Services Eric Watson, Charleston County Consolidated Emergency Communications Center Director Allyson Burrell, and Charleston County EMS Chief Christopher Way. Each shared insight into their roles, leadership experiences, and the important work being done to serve our community.

Following the presentations, cadets received a behind-the-scenes tour of our 9-1-1 Center, where they got a firsthand look at the critical work of our public safety telecommunicators.

Their day continued at the Tri-County Biological Science Center, where Director Thomas Van Koughnett welcomed the group and led a tour of the laboratory, providing a closer look at the science and expertise behind its operations.

We appreciate the opportunity to connect with these future leaders, share the work of our departments, and highlight the many ways public service makes a difference in Charleston County.

Thank you to The Citadel cadets for spending the day with us!

10/19/2026

10/16/2026

Happy National Boss’s Day to our very own Deputy County Administrator of Public Safety and Medical Services, Eric Watson! 🎉

Thank you for your leadership, dedication, and continued support. We appreciate all that you do for our team and Charleston County!

10/14/2026

Members of Charleston County Public Safety and Medical Services attended Senior Energy Assistance Day, hosted by Dominion Energy in partnership with the City of North Charleston and CenterWell Senior Primary Care.

The event gave seniors a chance to learn about helpful resources, assistance programs, and services available to them.

We enjoyed connecting with our senior community, sharing important public safety information, and getting to know more of the people we serve!

Charleston County Consolidated Emergency Communications Center
Charleston County Emergency Management
Charleston County EMS

10/13/2026

🏆 Excellence in action!

We are proud to celebrate Jessica Wiebalk of the Charleston County Consolidated Emergency Communications Center on receiving the Palmetto Award at this year's SC APCO/NENA Awards Ceremony!

We also want to congratulate all of our nominees who were recognized for their dedication and contributions to the 911 profession.

The hard work, professionalism, and commitment of our Emergency Communications Center team do not go unnoticed. Thank you for all you do to serve our community and support your fellow first responders!

Congratulations to Jessica and all of our nominees! 👏

🏆 Congratulations to Jessica Wiebalk on receiving the Palmetto Award!

Over the weekend, at the SC APCO/NENA Awards Ceremony, Jessica Wiebalk of the Charleston County Emergency Communications Center was recognized with the Palmetto Award for her exceptional professionalism, positive attitude, adaptability, and commitment to excellence.

With nearly a decade of dispatch experience, Jessica joined our team ready to learn and grow. She quickly mastered multiple positions across law enforcement, records, fire, and EMS while continuing to support her coworkers and assist with training new employees.

Her dedication, teamwork, and willingness to go above and beyond make her incredibly deserving of this recognition!

We would also like to recognize our other outstanding nominees:

🏆 Zykia Williams | Training Coordinator of the Year

🏆 Amy Heid | 911 Contributor to the Profession of the Year

🏆 Charleston County Consolidated Emergency Communications Center | Communications/911 Center of the Year

Congratulations to Jessica and all of our nominees! We are proud to have such dedicated professionals representing Charleston County and the 911 profession!

10/12/2026

🚑 Looking for a career change? Your next opportunity might be with Charleston County EMS!

You might be surprised to learn that not everyone on our EMS Support Services team started their career in emergency medical services!

Our team members come from a variety of professional backgrounds, bringing different skills and experiences to the important work they do every day.

Charleston County EMS is hiring for multiple positions, and you could be the next great addition to the team!

🎥 Check out their reel to meet some of the faces behind EMS Support Services and hear where their careers began.

Ready to join the team? Explore current openings and apply today at www.workfor911.com!

10/11/2026

Help us welcome Mia to the Charleston County Public Safety and Medical Services Directorate!

Mia joins the Tri-County Biological Science Center with a background in forensic chemistry and drug analysis, bringing experience in laboratory testing, research, and forensic education.

We’re excited to have Mia on the team and look forward to the knowledge and experience she’ll bring to TCBSC and Charleston County. Welcome, Mia! 🔬

Meet Mia! 👋

Mia joins the Tri-County Biological Science Center with a Master of Science in Forensic Science and Law from Duquesne University and a strong background in forensic chemistry and drug analysis.

She began her career at NMS Labs in Horsham, Pennsylvania, where she performed seized drug analyses for jurisdictions across the country and provided expert testimony in controlled substance cases. She later joined the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education as a Forensic Chemist, contributing to drug chemistry research and analyzing seized fentanyl samples from the U.S. Southwest border. Mia also worked alongside public health partners to evaluate illicit drug supplies and identify controlled substances, adulterants, and emerging novel psychoactive substances.

Beyond the laboratory, Mia has supported forensic education through summer programs and internships for master’s students and by training international professionals in drug chemistry workflows.

Outside of work, Mia loves chasing big views from the top of a good hike, keeping up with the latest reality TV drama, and discovering new places to eat, especially when live music is involved. 🥾📺🍴🎶

We’re excited to welcome Mia to the TCBSC team and look forward to all she’ll bring to the lab! 🔬

10/10/2026

🌪️ A Tornado Watch has been issued for parts of Georgia and South Carolina until 8 PM EDT.

What does this mean for you?

A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop in and near your area. Now is the time to stay alert and be prepared!

🔹 Monitor weather updates throughout the day.
🔹 Identify a safe place indoors, away from windows.
🔹 Be ready to take shelter if a warning is issued.

🚨 Remember: A Tornado Warning means a tornado has been indicated by radar or reported. Take shelter immediately!

📲 Follow Charleston County Government and the US National Weather Service Charleston SC for updates. Sign up for CHS Alerts to receive emergency notifications.

🔗 https://charlestoncounty.gov/EM

Stay weather aware and be prepared!

10/10/2026

Flooding is possible today. Stay alert and be prepared.

As rain continues to move through our area, be aware of changing conditions and the potential for flooding. Make sure you have multiple ways to receive weather warnings and know what actions to take if flooding impacts your area.

🚧 Turn Around, Don’t Drown! Never drive through floodwater or around barricades. Flooded roads can be deeper than they appear, and driving through them puts you, your passengers, and first responders at risk.

🌊 Floodwater can hide open storm drains, sharp debris, and other dangerous hazards. As tempting as it may look, flooded streets are not the place to splash around!

📲 Stay informed:
🔹 Follow Charleston County Government and the US National Weather Service Charleston SC for updates.
🔹 Sign up for CHS Alerts to receive notifications about emergencies, severe weather, and major traffic impacts.

🔗https://charlestoncounty.gov/EM

Stay weather aware, allow extra time for travel, and never risk driving through floodwater.

10/09/2026

According to US National Weather Service Charleston SC, hazardous conditions are expected to develop tonight and continue through the weekend. The primary threats include heavy rainfall (3-6 inches possible through Sunday) and high tides, which are expected to produce flash flooding and coastal flooding in parts of the county.

Tornado advisories are possible tomorrow morning, particularly along the coast.

Based on this forecast and the potential for conditions to worsen quickly, county officials are encouraging residents to avoid all unnecessary travel Saturday.

Read our full update here: https://www.charlestoncounty.gov/news/2026/charleston-county-prepares-for-hazardous-weekend-weather-urges-residents-to-limit-travel-saturday.pdf?v=3