Made landfall near Cape Hatteras but caused significant damage to SC coast.
Caused catastrophic flooding in the Pee Dee region. $2.5B in SC damage.
Made landfall near Charleston. Devastated the coast and inland areas. $7B in damage.
Caused major flooding across the Carolinas.
Know your evacuation zone — SC uses zones A through E. Zone A includes barrier islands and low-lying coastal areas.
Hugo showed that inland areas can be severely impacted — prepare even if you are not on the coast.
Prepare for flooding — SC's rivers and low-lying terrain make inland flooding a major risk.
Have flood insurance — many SC homeowners discovered after Matthew that their homeowner's policy didn't cover flood damage.
Monitor the NHC track carefully — SC is often in the 'cone' for storms tracking up the East Coast.
South Carolina's hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. The peak is August through October. South Carolina is most vulnerable to Atlantic storms that recurve northward along the East Coast, though Gulf storms that cross Florida can also affect the state.
The Grand Strand (Myrtle Beach area), the Lowcountry (Charleston, Hilton Head), and barrier islands are most vulnerable. However, Hurricane Hugo (1989) caused severe damage well inland, and Hurricane Matthew (2016) caused catastrophic flooding in the Pee Dee region far from the coast.
Yes. Hurricane Hugo made landfall near Charleston in 1989 as a Category 4 storm, one of the most powerful to ever hit the Carolinas. Hugo caused $7 billion in damage and killed 27 people in South Carolina. The storm's surge reached 20 feet in some areas.
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