Effects of Hurricane Charley in South Carolina

The effects of Hurricane Charley in South Carolina included $20 million (2004 USD) in damage and 135,000 power outages. Hurricane Charley lasted from August 9 to August 15, 2004, and at its peak attained 150 mph (240 km/h) winds, making it a strong Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. The storm made landfall in southwestern Florida at maximum strength, making it the strongest hurricane to hit the United States since Hurricane Andrew struck Florida twelve years before, in 1992.[1]

Hurricane Charley
Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Charley prior to moving ashore on South Carolina
Winds1-minute sustained: 80 mph (130 km/h)
Pressure992 mbar (hPa); 29.29 inHg
FatalitiesNone reported
Damage$20 million (2004 USD)
Areas affectedSouth Carolina
Part of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season

Before the storm, Governor Mark Sanford declared a state of emergency as Charley approached its final landfall and issued a mandatory evacuation for residents on barrier islands and in coastal locations. About 180,000 people evacuated the Grand Strand. Peak winds in the state were clocked at 63 mph (101 km/h) at the Isle of Palms. The storm 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. Flash flooding was also reported with rainfall peaking at over 7 in (180 mm). There were no fatalities.[2]

Preparations
Hurricane Charley five-day forecast map on August 13

Prior to the storm, 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 warning was issued for the entire area.[3] A tornado watch was issued eastward from a line extending from Aiken to Lancaster County.[4]

Governor Mark Sanford declared a state of emergency as Charley approached landfall 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, likewise for Horry County.[4] 180,000 people evacuated the Grand Strand.[5] 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.[4] State troopers directed traffic inland from Myrtle Beach.[6] U.S. Route 501 used a lane reversal to allow for evacuations.[4]

Impact

The first storm to make landfall in the state at hurricane intensity since Hurricane Hugo in 1989,[7] 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).[8] With the landfalling system, five tornadoes were reported in the state.[9] However, only two were confirmed; one moved through the Francis Marion National Forest, downing trees along its path.[10] Storm surge ranged from 4 ft (1.2 m)–6 ft (1.8 m),[11] although only minor beach erosion occurred.[3] A buoy situated 41 nmi (47 mi) southeast of Charleston recorded 16 ft (4.9 m) seas and 74 miles per hour (119 km/h) winds.[12]

Peak winds in the state were clocked at 63 mph (101 km/h) at the Isle of Palms. The storm spawned winds of 58 mph (93 km/h) at Folly Beach and 51 mph (82 km/h) in downtown Charleston. Trees, limbs and electrical poles were knocked down in those regions.[11] Trees were blown onto U.S. Route 17 in Mount Pleasant, and awnings were torn off of a few structures.[13] A total of 2,231 houses were damaged; 2317 of these were severely damaged and 40 were destroyed. Two-hundred and twenty-one of those damaged were beach front structures on Sunset Beach.[5] Businesses had broken windows, six hotels had roof and outer wall damage.[14] This led to $30 million (2004 USD) in hotel profit loss in Myrtle Beach, primarily along U.S. Route 17.[15]

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.[12] Widespread rainfall peaking at over 7 in (180 mm) fell to the west of the storm's track.[8] 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 Tropical Storm Bonnie, some flooding in low-lying areas of Charleston County occurred.[3] Up to 1 ft (0.30 m) of water accumulated on South Carolina Route 17 and on local streets.[16] Flash floods were also observed in Mount Pleasant.[17] High winds spread vegetative debris, clogging storm drains and caused further flooding.[5] A bridge in Union County washed out following rainfall from Charley and Tropical Storm Bonnie.[12] 135,000 customers were without power,[18][19] and storm damage totaled $20 million (2004 USD).[2]

Following the storm, Progress Energy Carolinas assembled 1,200 tree and power line personnel to assist in damage recovery.[20] Federal disaster funds were approved for the counties of Georgetown and Horry. The declaration covered damage to public property on August 14–15. The funding covered state and local government costs for debris removal and emergency services related to the hurricane.[21]

See also

References
  1. "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. May 25, 2020.
  2. Richard J. Pasch; Daniel P. Brown; Eric S. Blake (2004). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Charley". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  3. Charleston NWS (2004). "Hurricane Charley post tropical cyclone report". National Weather Service. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
  4. "Tropical Threats Bonnie and Charley" (PDF). South Carolina State Emergency Operations Center. 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  5. National Climatic Data Center (2004). "Hurricane Charley Event Report for South Carolina". Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
  6. CBS.com (2004-08-14). "Hurricane Charley Comes Ashore". CBS News. Retrieved 2006-06-01.
  7. National Hurricane Center (2007). "Chronological List of All Hurricanes which Affected the Continental United States: 1851-2007". NOAA. Archived from the original on 2008-09-21. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
  8. David Roth (2004). "Hurricane Charley Rainfall Summary". Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
  9. Storm Prediction Center (2004). "Storm Reports for August 14, 2008". NOAA. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  10. National Climatic Data Center (2004). "Tornado Event Report for South Carolina". Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  11. National Climatic Data Center (2004). "Hurricane Charley Event Report for South Carolina (2)". Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  12. South Carolina State Climatology Office (2004). "Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley". Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  13. "Charleston South Carolina's history with tropical systems". Hurricanecity. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  14. "Charley Hits South Carolina, Causes Minor Damage Along Coast". WYFF 4. Associated Press. 2004. Archived from the original on 2011-05-22. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  15. Dawn Bryant (2004-08-23). "Hurricane Charley takes $30 million from hotel profits in Myrtle Beach, S.C." The Sun News. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  16. National Climatic Data Center (2004). "Flooding Event Report for South Carolina". Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  17. National Climatic Data Center (2004). "Flooding Event Report for North Carolina (2)". Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  18. Alisson Askins (2004). "CHARLEY PULLS THE PLUG ON 135,500 IN S.C." The South Carolina State. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  19. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (2004). "Hurricane Charley Situation Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  20. "ESF-12 Situation Report" (PDF). oe.netl.doe.gov. 2004. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  21. "Disaster Aid Ordered For South Carolina Hurricane Damage". FEMA. 2004. Archived from the original on 2008-10-27. Retrieved 2008-06-16.

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