Located on the hurricane-prone coast of South Carolina, Charleston is one of the nation’s most historic cities, and its ability to prepare for, anticipate, and respond to climate-related events is critical to its survival. In July 2024, the Preservation Society of Charleston released the Resilience Guidance for Charleston, a resource, developed in partnership with the city, that guides residents on how they can help protect their properties in the face of floods, wind, heat, and even earthquakes. Below, we highlight details from the guide.

0 Cost, in dollars, to access the free guide at preservationsociety.org. Print copies are $10 each. A National Trust grant helped pay for the execution of this project.

3 Feet of sea level rise anticipated in Charleston by 2100, according to a city report released in 2020. This change would make about 15,000 properties inaccessible due to tidal flooding.

7 Sections covering specific parts of a property, including landscaping, roofing, exterior wood, exterior masonry, windows and doors, building systems, and interiors.

31 Landscape improvements, such as reducing paved surfaces, using native plants, and installing rain barrels and cisterns, suggested to improve resiliency.

656 Total recommendations for homeowners and tenants, including key tips and checklist items. Philadelphia-based firm Preservation Design Partnership wrote the guidelines.