Charleston Woman Shocked After Flood-Carried Vehicle Ticketed Multiple Times

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – What began as a nightmare with flash flooding turned even more surreal for one Charleston resident, whose car was swept out of its parking spot by rising water—only to receive multiple parking tickets in its new location.

Flooding Turns Parking Mishap Into Viral Moment

Medical student Anna Brooks had parked on a side street near her classes, unaware the area was prone to flooding. Days later, a powerful storm dumped nearly 11 inches of rain in Charleston over two days, triggering flash floods across the city.

Brooks said her car was lifted by the water and floated just a few feet, but unfortunately landed in a designated tow-away zone. When she returned, she found several tickets placed on her windshield despite the unusual circumstances, as shown in her viral TikTok video.

“To the individual who gave me parking tickets, my car floated here,” Brooks said in the video, clearly frustrated.

Frustration After Tickets Pile Up

Brooks told Fox Weather she initially thought her car had been stolen. When she located it, the vehicle was still bobbing in floodwater—now with bright orange citations attached.

“It was definitely a crazy experience,” she explained. “I kind of had to say, ‘Where’s my car?’ I found it. And then suddenly there were parking tickets, which were not great.”

Her vehicle, already badly damaged from the floodwaters, was later impounded by the city before her insurance company could retrieve it.

FEMA Warning: Cars Can Float With a Foot of Water

Officials note that it takes as little as 12 inches of water to float a mid-sized vehicle, a reminder of how quickly flash flooding can turn dangerous for both drivers and property.

Brooks said her car only drifted a short distance but still incurred three tickets, two of which she successfully appealed.

“I think people think that my car literally was like a boat,” she joked. “It really only floated just a couple of feet, but by the time I got to my car, it was bobbing up and down.”

The unusual ordeal highlights the challenges Charleston residents face with chronic flooding in low-lying neighborhoods, and the sometimes rigid enforcement of parking rules despite extreme weather events. For more community stories and updates across the South, follow saludastandard-sentinel.com.