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Hurricane Charley Strikes South Carolina

Posted on: Saturday, 14 August 2004, 06:00 CDT

McCLELLANVILLE, S.C. - Hurricane Charley struck the coast of South Carolina on Saturday with wind of 85 mph as the state's Grand Strand resort region stood nearly empty following a mandatory evacuation of many of the area's 180,000 tourists and residents.

Another mandatory evacuation order was in effect up the East Coast in North Carolina for vulnerable coastal areas hit less than two weeks ago by Hurricane Alex.

In Florida, Charley had already caused a "significant loss of life" at a mobile home park in Punta Gorda. The storm crashed ashore on Florida's west coast with 145 mph wind, making thousands of people homeless and knocking out power to an estimated 1.3 million homes and businesses.

Charley was still potent enough in South Carolina that the National Weather Service posted tornado warnings and flood watches. Charley was moving toward the north at 28 mph.

Not everyone heeded the evacuation orders.

Freddie Evans of Myrtle Beach was walking on the sand near the center of town about an hour before the strongest wind arrived. He said he makes the trek each time a storm threatens the area.

"It's a ritual we do. We come out here and look at the ocean," Evans said.

Horry County spokeswoman Lisa Bouchier said the region expected wind of 50 to 60 mph to continue through the early afternoon.

The main roads out of the Grand Strand were clear Saturday morning, very different from about eight hours earlier when bumper-to-bumper traffic stretched for about 60 miles as people evacuated from Charley's path.

McClellanville residents who had made it through previous hurricanes weren't that impressed with Charley.

"This is ground zero for hurricanes," said Windy Fowler, the manager of a convenience store. She said she got her name from her mom, nothing to do with hurricanes, although she did ride out Hugo in nearby Georgetown.

"I don't think we're going to get the wrath of it," she said.

Kari Sorrels and her family had little traffic problems as they evacuated North Myrtle Beach late Friday.

"We're very impressed with how they had the roads set up. They got us out of there quickly," said Sorrels, who was leaving with her husband and 10-month-old son Daniel.

Sanford told several hundred National Guardsmen across the state to get ready just in case he needs them.

North Carolina authorities ordered a mandatory evacuation in vulnerable areas of Brunswick County and on Ocracoke Island, which is accessible only by ferries. The island was battered less than two weeks ago by Hurricane Alex.

North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley declared a state of emergency and National Guard troops were dispatched to Charlotte, Raleigh, Kinston and Lumberton to help with any rescues and cleanup.

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Associated Press Writers John Shurr in Beaufort, Jeffrey Collins in Myrtle Beach and Tim Whitmire in Wrightsville Beach, N.C., contributed to this report.

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