Charleston-area residents rushed to hardware stores Monday as forecasters predicted the coldest temperatures in two years, prompting city officials to issue warnings about frozen pipes and potential utility service disruptions.

Temperatures are expected to drop into the teens Tuesday and Wednesday nights, according to the National Weather Service. The cold snap has local government agencies scrambling to protect infrastructure and residents seeking last-minute home preparations.

“We’ve sold more pipe insulation in three days than we normally do all winter,” said Mike Thompson, manager of Elder’s Ace Hardware in Mount Pleasant. “People are finally taking this seriously.”

The city of Charleston activated its cold weather protocol Sunday, opening warming centers and increasing patrols to check on homeless populations. Mayor William Cogswell’s office said Monday the city has allocated $75,000 for emergency cold weather response, drawing from contingency funds approved in the current budget.

Charleston Water System issued advisories warning customers to protect exposed pipes and allow faucets to drip during overnight hours when temperatures fall below 32 degrees. Spokesperson Jennifer Combs said the utility has crews on standby but warned residents that service calls could face delays during peak demand periods.

“We’re asking people to take preventive measures now rather than wait for problems to develop,” Combs said.

Berkeley Electric Cooperative reported a 15% spike in electricity usage over the weekend as residents tested heating systems. The utility said it has adequate capacity but urged conservation during morning and evening peak hours.

Hardware retailers across the region reported runs on foam pipe insulation, space heaters and weatherstripping. Thompson said his Mount Pleasant store sold out of pipe wrap by Sunday afternoon and was waiting for emergency deliveries from suppliers.

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division issued statewide guidance recommending residents insulate pipes, seal air leaks around windows and doors, and keep cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate around plumbing.

Charleston County’s emergency management office activated its Emergency Operations Center at a Level 2 status, allowing coordination between municipal agencies and utility providers. Director Jason Patno said the county has identified 12 potential warming centers that could open if needed.

“This is the most significant cold weather event we’ve seen since February 2021,” Patno said. “We’re treating it with appropriate seriousness.”

The 2021 freeze caused widespread pipe breaks across the Charleston area, leading to water service disruptions that lasted several days in some neighborhoods. Charleston Water System spent $2.3 million on emergency repairs following that event, according to budget documents reviewed by the Charleston Sentinel.

City Council discussed cold weather preparations during last week’s meeting, with several members expressing concern about the city’s readiness following infrastructure problems during previous weather events. The discussion came amid broader Politics & Government debates over infrastructure spending and emergency preparedness.

Councilman Keith Waring said Monday the city has improved its response capabilities since 2021, including better coordination with utilities and expanded warming center capacity.

“We learned hard lessons from that freeze,” Waring said. “The question now is whether we’ve done enough.”

Local plumbers reported scheduling delays as residents sought emergency pipe protection services. Mike’s Plumbing Services in West Ashley said Monday it had a three-day backlog for weatherization calls.

“People wait until the last minute, then panic,” said owner Mike Rodriguez. “The smart ones called us last week.”

Charleston’s homeless services coordinator said outreach teams have been working since Friday to encourage people to use warming centers. The city opened emergency shelters at three locations, with capacity for 200 people.

The cold weather comes as the city faces ongoing budget pressures related to infrastructure maintenance and emergency services. Council members have debated whether current emergency preparedness funding is adequate, particularly given increasing frequency of extreme weather events.

Budget documents show Charleston spent $4.7 million on weather-related emergency response in fiscal 2023, compared to $2.1 million the previous year. The increase reflects both more frequent events and higher material costs for repairs.

Utility officials said they have coordinated with the city to prioritize service restoration to critical facilities including hospitals, nursing homes and emergency shelters if outages occur.

SCE&G reported no major equipment failures as of Monday evening but warned customers that power outages remain possible if ice accumulates on power lines.

The National Weather Service forecast shows temperatures returning to normal ranges by Friday, with highs in the 50s expected over the weekend.

City officials plan to assess damage and response effectiveness once temperatures moderate. Emergency management coordinator Lisa Hayes said the review will inform future cold weather preparations and budget requests.

“Every event teaches us something,” Hayes said. “The goal is making sure we’re better prepared next time.”

Residents seeking warming center locations can call the city’s emergency information line at 843-724-7111. Updates on utility service disruptions are available through Charleston Water System’s website and social media accounts.