Effects of Hurricane Charley in South Carolina

The effects of Hurricane Charley in South Carolina included $20 million (2004 USD) in damage and approximately 135,000 power outages. Hurricane Charley lasted from August 9 to August 15, and at its peak intensity it 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, thus making it the strongest hurricane to hit the United States since Hurricane Andrew struck Florida twelve years before, in 1992.Hurdat

Prior to 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 convert|63|mph|km/h|abbr=on|lk=on at the Isle of Palms. The storm also spawned winds of convert|58|mph|km/h|abbr=on at Folly Beach and convert|51|mph|km/h|abbr=on 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 convert|7|in|mm|abbr=on|lk=on. No fatalities occurred.

Preparations

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. A tornado watch was issued eastward from a line extending from Aiken to Lancaster County.cite web|author=|title=Tropical Threats Bonnie and Charley|year=2004|publisher=South Carolina State Emergency Operations Center|accessdate=2008-06-10|url=http://www.scemd.org/news/sitreps/charley-04/Bonnie-CharleySitRep4_8-14-04%20AM.pdf]

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 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. About 180,000 people evacuated the Grand Strand. 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. State troopers directed traffic inland from Myrtle Beach.cite web|author=CBS.com|title=Hurricane Charley Comes Ashore|year=2004|accessdate=2006-06-01|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/14/national/main636019.shtml] In addition, U.S. Route 501 underwent a lane reversal to allow for evacuations.

Impact

The first storm to make landfall in the state at hurricane intensity since Hurricane Hugo in 1989, [cite web|author=National Hurricane Center|title=Chronological List of All Hurricanes which Affected the Continental United States: 1851-2007|year=2007|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=2008-06-16|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/ushurrlist18512007.txt] 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). With the landfalling system, five tornadoes were reported in the state. [cite web|author=Storm Prediction Center|title=Storm Reports for August 14, 2008|year=2004|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=2008-06-10|url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/040814_rpts.html] However, only two were confirmed; one moved through the Francis Marion National Forest, downing trees along its path. [cite web|author=National Climatic Data Center|title=Tornado Event Report for South Carolina|year=2004|publisher=|accessdate=2008-06-10|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~553550] Storm surge ranged from convert|4|ft|m|abbr=on–convert|6|ft|m|abbr=on, although only minor beach erosion occurred. A buoy situated convert|41|nmi|mi|abbr=on|lk=on southeast of Charleston recorded convert|16|ft|m|abbr=on seas and convert|74|mph|km/h|abbr=on winds.

Peak winds in the state were clocked at convert|63|mph|km/h|abbr=on|lk=on at the Isle of Palms. The storm also spawned winds of convert|58|mph|km/h|abbr=on at Folly Beach and convert|51|mph|km/h|abbr=on in downtown Charleston. Numerous trees, tree limbs and electrical poles were knocked down in those regions.cite web|author=National Climatic Data Center|title=Hurricane Charley Event Report for South Carolina (2)|year=2004|publisher=|accessdate=2008-06-10|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~553548] Trees were blown onto U.S. Route 17 in Mount Pleasant, and awnings were torn off of a few structures. [cite web|author=|title=Charleston South Carolina's history with tropical systems|year=|publisher=Hurricanecity|accessdate=2008-06-10|url=http://www.hurricanecity.com/city/charleston.htm] 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. Several businesses suffered broken windows, while about six hotels reported roof and outer wall damage. [cite web|author=Associated Press|title=Charley Hits South Carolina, Causes Minor Damage Along Coast|year=2004|publisher="WYFF 4"|accessdate=2008-06-11|url=http://www.wyff4.com/weather/3654065/detail.html] This led to $30 million (2004 USD) in hotel profit loss in Myrtle Beach, primarily along U.S. Route 17. [cite web|author=Dawn Bryant|title=Hurricane Charley takes $30 million from hotel profits in Myrtle Beach, S.C.|year=2004|publisher="The Sun News"|accessdate=2008-06-11|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-7145979_ITM]

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.cite web|author=South Carolina State Climatology Office|title=Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley|year=2004|publisher=|accessdate=2008-06-11|url=http://www.dnr.sc.gov/climate/sco/Tropics/HurricaneReports/2004/hurricane_Bonnie_Charley.php] Widespread rainfall peaking at over convert|7|in|mm|abbr=on|lk=on fell to the west of the storm's track.cite web|author=David Roth|title=Hurricane Charley Rainfall Summary|year=2004|publisher=Hydrometeorological Prediction Center|accessdate=2008-06-09|url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/charley2004.html] In downtown Charleston, convert|2.09|in|mm|abbr=on of rainfall was reported, while in Hampton convert|1.53|in|mm|abbr=on 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.Cite web|author=Charleston NWS|title=Hurricane Charley post tropical cyclone report|year=2004|publisher=National Weather Service|accessdate=2008-06-09|url=http://www.erh.noaa.gov/chs/text/PSHCHS_08162004.txt] Up to convert|1|ft|m|abbr=on|lk=on of water accumulated on South Carolina Route 17 and on numerous local streets. [cite web|author=National Climatic Data Center|title=Flooding Event Report for South Carolina|year=2004|publisher=|accessdate=2008-06-10|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~553552] Flash floods were also observed in Mount Pleasant. [cite web|author=National Climatic Data Center|title=Flooding Event Report for North Carolina (2)|year=2004|publisher=|accessdate=2008-06-10|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~553547] High winds spread vegetative debris, clogging storm drains and causing further flooding.cite web|author=National Climatic Data Center|title=Hurricane Charley Event Report for South Carolina|year=2004|publisher=|accessdate=2008-06-09|url= http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~553549 A bridge in Union County washed out following rainfall from Charley and Tropical Storm Bonnie. In total over 135,000 customers were left without power, [cite web|author=Alisson Askins|title=CHARLEY PULLS THE PLUG ON 135,500 IN S.C.|year=2004|publisher="The South Carolina State"|accessdate=2008-06-11|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CS&s_site=thestate&p_multi=CS&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1048191C7AE482F1&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM] [cite web|author=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY|title=Hurricane Charley Situation Report|year=2004|publisher=|accessdate=2008-06-10|url=http://www.oe.netl.doe.gov/docs/charley/hurrcharley_sitrept_081404_1500.pdf] and storm damage totaled $20 million (2004 USD).cite web|author=Richard J. Pasch, Daniel P. Brown, and Eric S. Blake|title=Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Charley|year=2004|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-06-10|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004charley.shtml]

Following the storm, Progress Energy Carolinas assembled approximately 1,200 tree and power line personnel to assist in damage recovery.cite web|author=|title=ESF-12 Situation Report|year=2004|publisher=oe.netl.doe.gov|accessdate=2008-06-18|url=http://www.oe.netl.doe.gov/docs/charley/hurrcharley_sitrept_081504_1500.pdf] Federal disaster funds were approved for the counties of Georgetown and Horry. The declaration covered damage to public property that occurred on August 14–August 15. The funding also covered certain state and local government costs for debris removal and emergency services related to the hurricane. [Cite web|author=|title=Disaster Aid Ordered For South Carolina Hurricane Damage|year=2004|publisher=FEMA|accessdate=2008-06-16|url=http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=13682]

ee also

*Effects of Hurricane Charley in North Carolina
*List of retired Atlantic hurricanes

References

External links

* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004charley.shtml Hurricane Charley Tropical Cyclone Report]