State of Emergency Declared in Charleston

A COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) –A state of emergency has been declared in Charleston because of approaching Hurricane Matthew.

The ordinance approved late Thursday by city council says Charleston is threatened by a hurricane that could result in vast damage or destruction to both commercial and residential buildings.

Council passed two other ordinances, including one outlawing price gouging in the event food, gas and other commodities are in short supply after the storm. The other allows police to close streets flooded or blocked by storm debris and makes it illegal for people to be on those streets.

Forecasters warn Matthew could bring rains and a storm surge that could cause flooding worse than that of a year ago when rains from a so-called 1,000-year storm forced the closing of the downtown area for several days.