Following up on our Stay Prepared: Be Hurricane Aware article, we’re taking a closer look at how local Lowcountry municipalities are helping residents put those safety plans into action.
In this day and age, Lowcountry residents have come to rely on smart phones, television and social media to keep us updated on our daily weather. During hurricane season though, there’s more to being ready for a storm than simply checking weather forecasts. Several cities in our area offer free programs in the spring or early summer to help folks learn the best way to prepare for an impending threat. And with an average of 14 hurricanes in a normal hurricane season, there is no such thing as “one and done.” In the nearly 200 years of recording hurricanes, there have been numerous seasons when more than one hurricane has made landfall here.
Just lying in wait to see what happens when a hurricane is forecast is not the soundest approach this time of year. Coastal communities are urging residents to know what to expect from a hurricane and what can be done to ensure the safety of their homes and families. The Isle of Palms is one city that helps its residents prepare by offering an annual Hurricane & Resilience Expo where people can learn the basics of what to do to protect life, home and property. At the Expo held each May, city officials, community agencies and local vendors provide information and guidance regarding what to do before, during and after a storm as well as when to evacuate and where to go should that need arise. Additionally, a free hurricane kit containing flashlights, batteries, first aid supplies and other essentials is given away to one lucky guest.
The city’s Mayor Phillip Pounds advised that “it is important that residents and visitors are prepared, have knowledge of what to do, understand precautions they can take now and know the resources available to them in the event of a storm.” Tables and booths are set up to provide hurricane preparation tips, evacuation route updates and information on city services. Specialty vendors are also on hand. Isle of Palms Fire Chief Craig Oliverius explained that “the goal is to keep the public well-informed on what steps to take.” Although it’s an educational and information-gathering event, the 2026 Expo held on May 7 was also a family affair. Free face painting and balloon art were available for kids, and it featured live music and food trucks as well. Attendees had the opportunity to mingle with other members of the community and get to know their neighbors. That’s always a plus, but it’s particularly important during a hurricane event. As those who lived on the island during Hugo in 1989 can attest, neighbor helping neighbor became the norm.
Over the years, Summerville, Seabrook Island and other local municipalities have held their own versions of hurricane preparedness events. To make hurricane awareness more widely available to the public, the City of Charleston held a Hurricane Preparedness Week in mid-July three years ago. Social media posts, a newsletter and educational videos provided area residents with important information necessary to not only prepare for a storm but to learn what can be expected afterward. Emergency management teams, the Charleston Fire Department and local TV meteorologists delivered daily messages to help area residents be “weather aware” and learn how they could best protect themselves and their property.
Preparing for hurricanes and knowing the risks they pose is just part of living in this wonderful place we call home. If we are sufficiently prepared and follow the advice of weather experts and government officials, we can all weather the storm together. And we wouldn’t want it any other way.
By Mary Coy
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