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The effects of Hurricane Charley in South Carolina
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[edit] Preparations
Prior to the hurricane, a tropical storm watch was issued for locations from the Altamaha sound, Georgia to the South Santee River on August 12. The next day, the watch was upgraded to a hurricane watch from the Altamaha sound to the South Carolina–Georgia border. As Charley approached the region, a hurricane watch was issued for the entire area.[1] A tornado watch was placed into effect eastward from a line Aiken to Lancaster County.[2]
Governor Mark Sanford declared a state of emergency as Charley approached its final landfall and declared a state of emergency and issued a mandatory evacuation for residents on barrier islands and in coastal locations in Georgetown and Horry Counties. In Georgetown County, this order was focused on residents and tourists east of U.S. Route 17, and likewise for Horry County.[2] About 180,000 people evacuated the Grand Strand.[3] Drawbridges in Beaufort and Charleston Counties were shut down, and bridges in Georgetown and Horry Counties were locked down. Hampton County requested 2,000 sandbags, that were provided by the Department of Corrections. The Wateree Correctional Institution also filled 30,000 sandbags for potential floods.[2] State troopers directed traffic inland from Myrtle Beach.[4] In addition, U.S. Route 501 underwent a lane reversal to allow for evacuations.[2]
[edit] Impact and aftermath
Hurricane Charley struck near Cape Romain, South Carolina as an 80 mph (130 km/h) hurricane, moved offshore briefly, and made its final landfall near North Myrtle Beach as a minimal hurricane, with winds of 75 mph (120 km/h).[5] With the landfalling system, five tornadoes were reported in the state.[6] However, only two were confirmed; one moved through the Francis Marion National Forest, downing trees along its path.[7] Storm surge ranged from 4 ft (1.2 m)–6 ft (1.8 m),[8] although only minor beach erosion occurred.[1] A buoy situated 41 nmi (47 mi) southeast of Charleston recorded 16 ft (4.9 m) seas and 74 mph (119 km/h) winds.[9]
Peak winds in the state were clocked at 63 mph (101 km/h) at the Isle of Palms. The storm also spawned winds of 58 mph (93 km/h) at Folly Beach and 51 mph (82 km/h) in downtown Charleston. Numerous trees, tree limbs and electrical poles were knocked down in those regions.[8] Trees were blown onto U.S. Route 17 in Mount Pleasant, and awnings were torn off of a few structures.[10] A total of 2,231 houses were damaged, with 2317 severely damaged and 40 destroyed. 221 of those damaged were beachfront structures on Sunset Beach.[3] Several businesses suffered broken windows, while about six hotels sustained roof and outer wall damage.[11] This led to $30 million (2004 USD) in hotel profit losses in Myrtle Beach, primarily along U.S. Route 17.[12]
As dry air from northern sections of the state wrapped into the circulation of the storm, a band of convection developed along a frontal boundary stretching from Newberry northward.[9] Widespread rainfall peaking at over 7 in (180 mm) fell to the west of the storm's track.[5] In downtown Charleston, 2.09 in (53 mm) of rainfall was reported, while in Hampton 1.53 in (39 mm) of rain fell. However, the bulk of the rainfall remained offshore. With the soil still saturated from the previous Tropical Storm Bonnie, some flooding in low-lying areas of Charleston County occurred.[1] Up to 1 ft (0.30 m) of water accumulated on South Carolina Route 17 and on numerous local streets.[13] Flash floods were also observed in Mount Pleasant.[14] High winds spread vegetative debris, clogging storm drains and causing further flooding.[3] A bridge in Union County washed out following rainfall from Charley and Tropical Storm Bonnie.[9]
In total over 135,000 customers were left without power,[15][16] and storm damage totaled $20 million (2004 USD).[17]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Charleston NWS (2004). Hurricane Charley post tropical cyclone report. National Weather Service. Retrieved on 2008-06-09.
- ^ a b c d Tropical Threats Bonnie and Charley. South Carolina State Emergency Operations Center (2004). Retrieved on 2008-06-10.
- ^ a b c National Climatic Data Center (2004). Hurricane Charley Event Report for South Carolina. Retrieved on 2008-06-09.
- ^ CBS.com. "Hurricane Charley Comes Ashore". Retrieved on 2006-06-01.
- ^ a b David Roth (2004). Hurricane Charley Rainfall Summary. Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Retrieved on 2008-06-09.
- ^ Storm Prediction Center (2004). Storm Reports for August 14, 2008. NOAA. Retrieved on 2008-06-10.
- ^ National Climatic Data Center (2004). Tornado Event Report for South Carolina. Retrieved on 2008-06-10.
- ^ a b National Climatic Data Center (2004). Hurricane Charley Event Report for South Carolina (2). Retrieved on 2008-06-10.
- ^ a b c South Carolina State Climatology Office (2004). Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley. Retrieved on 2008-06-11.
- ^ Charleston South Carolina's history with tropical systems. Hurricanecity. Retrieved on 2008-06-10.
- ^ Associated Press (2004). Charley Hits South Carolina, Causes Minor Damage Along Coast. WYFF 4. Retrieved on 2008-06-11.
- ^ Dawn Bryant (2004). Hurricane Charley takes $30 million from hotel profits in Myrtle Beach, S.C.. The Sun News. Retrieved on 2008-06-11.
- ^ National Climatic Data Center (2004). Flooding Event Report for South Carolina. Retrieved on 2008-06-10.
- ^ National Climatic Data Center (2004). Flooding Event Report for North Carolina (2). Retrieved on 2008-06-10.
- ^ Alisson Askins (2004). CHARLEY PULLS THE PLUG ON 135,500 IN S.C.. The South Carolina State. Retrieved on 2008-06-11.
- ^ U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (2004). Hurricane Charley Situation Report. Retrieved on 2008-06-10.
- ^ Richard J. Pasch, Daniel P. Brown, and Eric S. Blake (2004). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Charley. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2008-06-10.
