Sunday, September 9 2012 8:29 PM EDT2012-09-10 00:29:52 GMT
More than 20 years after Hurricane Hugo struck the Charleston area, the former mayor of Folly Beach is taking a look back on the storm that changed his city forever.More >>
Sunday, September 9 2012 8:29 PM EDT2012-09-10 00:29:01 GMT
While Hurricane Hugo made his presence known in the Charleston area of the Palmetto State, the storm still had enough steam to make his mark in the Midlands.More >>
Thursday, September 6 2012 3:34 PM EDT2012-09-06 19:34:58 GMT
CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - Twenty years ago on Sept 21, 1989, Hurricane Hugo's winds blew their way into the history books of South Carolinians as the category 4 storm made landfall in Charleston. WhileMore >>
Twenty years ago on Sept 21, 1989, Hurricane Hugo's winds blew their way into the history books of South Carolinians as the category 4 storm made landfall in Charleston.More >>
Thursday, September 6 2012 3:34 PM EDT2012-09-06 19:34:16 GMT
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WIS) - It's the 20th anniversary of the worst natural disaster in modern times in South Carolina. Hurricane Hugo, a Category 4 storm, smashed ashore at Charleston with its 135 mph windsMore >>
It's the 20th anniversary of the worst natural disaster in modern times in South Carolina. Hurricane Hugo, a Category 4 storm, smashed ashore at Charleston with its 135 mph winds 20 years ago on Monday. More >>
Thursday, September 6 2012 3:30 PM EDT2012-09-06 19:30:26 GMT
As we commemorate Hurricane Hugo's 20th anniversary, we wanted to introduce you to a special story. It seems in all the chaos of the storm, a child was brought into this world.More >>
STATEWIDE - The greatest potential for loss of life related to a hurricane is from the storm surge!
Storm surge is simply water that is pushed toward the shore by the force of the winds swirling around the storm. This advancing surge combines with the normal tides to create the hurricane storm tide, which can increase the mean water level to heights impacting roads, homes and other critical infrastructure. In addition, wind driven waves are superimposed on the storm tide. This rise in water level can cause severe flooding in coastal areas, particularly when the storm tide coincides with the normal high tides. Because much of the United States' densely populated Atlantic and Gulf Coast coastlines lie less than 10 feet above mean sea level, the danger from storm tides is tremendous.
The storm surge combined with wave action can cause extensive damage, severely erode beaches and coastal highways. With major storm like Katrina, Camille, and Hugo, complete devastation of coastal communities occurred. Many buildings withstand hurricane force winds until their foundations, undermined by erosion, are weakened and fail.
Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
