Editor’s Note: The following harrowing tale originally appeared in Hurricane Hugo – The Storm of the Century. For more survival tales about this powerful 1989 storm, visit the digital version of the magazine at www.HugoMagazine.com. I would like to have been somewhere where I could have seen it,” said a Lowcountry resident who lost everything to Hugo. It’s a reaction … [Read more...]
Search Results for: hurricane hugo
Lifelong lessons learned from Hurricane Hugo
It’s that time of year again. Hurricane season. It’s also the anniversary of what many folks in the Lowcountry consider a day that will live in infamy: September 21, 1989. If you were living anywhere near here at the time, you know exactly what that date signifies. “Where were you during Hugo?” are words that many long-time residents still ask one another. I personally … [Read more...]
Remembering Hurricane Hugo
The Lowcountry is no stranger to hurricanes. From the time we began tracking hurricane statistics in 1851, Southeast South Carolina has seen 309 tropical cyclones, including 16 hurricanes which have made landfall in Charleston County – the most of any county in the area according to weather.gov. Even before hurricanes were formally named, our home had several recorded storms, … [Read more...]
Nightmare in McClellanville: Hurricane Hugo 1989
"We made it, Evangeline. The worst is over." These were the words that Thomas Williams spoke to his wife as he looked out the back door of his McClellanville home during the calm of Hugo's eye. The view before him was pretty bad but it wasn't devastating. For the most part, his house and the houses of his friends and relatives on DuPre Street, were in good shape. There was … [Read more...]
Talking with Bill Walsh About Hurricane Hugo
Episode 10. On this episode of VOICE for Mount Pleasant Bill Walsh, Chief Meteorologist with WCSC-TV speaks to Bill Macchio, Publisher of Mount Pleasant Magazine regarding Hurricane Hugo as well as other hurricanes that Bill Macchio has chased including Hurricanes Andrew and Bob. More information about hurricanes at www.HurricaneMagazines.com. Listen To Us … [Read more...]
Hurricane HUGO 30 Years Later: A Retrospective — and How to Prepare for the Next Big One
Late evening on September 21, 1989, a powerful Category 4 storm dubbed Hurricane Hugo raged ashore, bringing 135 mph winds, torrential rainfall and a towering tidal surge that flooded homes and businesses, washed out roads and bridges, reduced homes to rubble, toppled mighty oaks and snapped pines like twigs. Isle of Palms Fire Department Chief Ann Graham was serving as fire … [Read more...]
Escaping Destruction: Surviving Hurricane Hugo
It’s been a quarter of a century since Hurricane Hugo pounded the Carolina coast, destroying everything unlucky enough to be in its path and forever etching memories good and bad in the minds of those who experienced its wrath and aftermath. Virtually everyone who was in the Lowcountry at the time and even some who weren’t can recall where they were and what they were doing … [Read more...]
A Look Back on Hurricane Hugo’s Devastation
Directly after Hurricane Hugo in 1989, Publisher Bill Macchio revealed his limited-edition magazine entitled “Hurricane Hugo: Storm of the Century” to residents of Mount Pleasant and the surrounding islands. Take a sneak peek at some of the articles here, and then head over to our website, mountpleasantmagazine.com, to continue reading these awe-inspiring, sometimes … [Read more...]
Calm Before the Storm: The Time to Prepare for Hurricanes is Now
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 … [Read more...]
Stay Prepared: Be Hurricane Aware
Here we go again! It’s time to stay tuned to weather forecasts. Not just to see how those frequent afternoon thunderstorms will impact our outdoor activities but to monitor the tropics for the latest hurricane updates. Hurricane season has begun and runs from June 1 until Nov. 30. Decades ago, Lowcountry residents did not have the benefit of advance warnings like we do … [Read more...]