Dockside Condominium resident shares experience after mandatory evacuation

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Nearly two weeks after a mandatory evacuation, Dockside Condominiums residents have yet to return to their homes.

Harry Traulsen Jr. and his neighbors received a mandatory vacate notice on Feb. 27 to evacuate their homes within 48 hours. It came from the Dockside Association and the City of Charleston, noting the safety concerns surrounding the tower’s structural integrity.

“So, I got the notice on a Thursday. I got a text on my phone saying there’s an email you need to read, so I read the email and I got a little upset,” Traulsen said. “It said that basically the city has said that there’s a mandatory evacuation of the building and we had until Friday at 5 o’clock to get out of the building.”

The notice said residents were limited to bringing clothing and small items. This meant furniture and bigger items had to stay behind.

“I mean I made my bed, so that’s made, all my artwork that’s hanging on the walls. I paint myself and I have my collection, so that’s all in there, plus all my furniture – my dishes, pots, pans,” said Traulsen.

He had been living at Dockside for about four years and never anticipated he would receive a vacate notice, even when possible structural issues were brought to light in 2023. Traulsen added he saw the repairs being done back then, but realized this time it was a larger issue.

With 48 hours to pack and find a new place to stay, Traulsen said he was fortunate to find another place to rent nearby and received a refund from his March payment.

“So, I was lucky enough to calm down on Thursday and sit down, and went into Google and I found a totally furnished apartment over by Colonial Lake. So, it had everything from forks to sheets so not quite my taste, but it’s good for now,” Traulsen said.

However, some of his neighbors had a much harder time navigating the relocation. He told News 2 that some organizations reached out to assist with that process following the evacuation.

“A lot of people are totally stressed with this, some of them I’ve talked to they’re just besides themselves,” Traulsen said. “The other side to that coin from a monetary aspect, you know if you have a big investment in the building – what is going to happen with that.”

However, he encourages his neighbors to get in touch with their insurance companies as they may be able to help. Traulsen added that his biggest concern is his belongings, especially if he may not get back home anytime soon.

“The biggest question is can I get my belongings out to move to another place. If not, then I got to call my insurance as a total loss and I have things that I just don’t want to lose. But again with a 48 hour notice, there was only a certain amount of things we could get done,” Traulsen said.

The Dockside Association continues to keep close communication with residents, as they work with their engineers and the city to get residents back home as quickly and safely as possible.