Hurricane & Storm Damage in 2024 (Recap)
South Carolina faced another active hurricane season in 2024, continuing the trend of increasingly intense Atlantic storm systems affecting the Palmetto State. Coastal communities from Hilton Head to Myrtle Beach once again found themselves preparing for and recovering from tropical weather systems that brought heavy rainfall, storm surges, and damaging winds. The Charleston peninsula, already vulnerable to flooding during normal high tides, saw several significant flooding events when hurricanes and tropical storms coincided with lunar high tides, further highlighting the region's precarious relationship with rising sea levels.
The early 2024 season saw Tropical Storm Alberto brushing the South Carolina coast in June, bringing moderate rainfall but causing minimal damage. By July, Hurricane Beryl had strengthened into a Category 2 system in the Atlantic, eventually weakening before affecting the state's coastline with heavy surf and rip currents, though its center remained offshore.
Hurricane Debby made a more significant impact in mid-August, making landfall near Edisto Beach as a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 85 mph. The storm dropped over 15 inches of rain in parts of Colleton and Charleston counties, causing widespread flash flooding and leaving approximately 120,000 residents without power for several days. Debby's slow-moving nature exacerbated flooding issues, with the Santee River basin experiencing significant swelling in the days following the storm.
By September, Hurricane Ernesto tracked through the Gulf of Mexico before turning northeast, bringing tropical storm conditions to South Carolina's western counties – a relatively unusual path that caught some inland communities less prepared than their coastal counterparts. While wind damage was minimal, the heavy rainfall caused localized flooding in the Upstate region, particularly around Greenville and Spartanburg.
Emergency management officials noted improvements in evacuation procedures compared to previous years, crediting better public communication and coordination between state and local agencies. The state successfully implemented its lane-reversal strategy on Interstate 26 during Hurricane Debby, allowing for more efficient evacuation of Charleston and surrounding areas.
Many residents reported feeling "hurricane fatigue" after several consecutive active seasons, though community resilience remained strong as neighbors helped neighbors with preparation and cleanup efforts. In the aftermath of these storms, local organizations like the Lowcountry Hurricane Recovery Fund mobilized volunteers and resources to assist vulnerable populations, particularly in rural communities with limited resources.
Tourism, a critical economic driver for South Carolina's coastal communities, saw brief but impactful disruptions during storm events, though most businesses were able to reopen quickly following each system's passage. The Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce estimated approximately $40 million in lost revenue during the 2024 season through October, though this was offset somewhat by an otherwise strong tourist season.
Environmental experts continued to monitor the long-term impacts on the state's fragile coastal ecosystems, particularly barrier islands and marshlands that serve as natural buffers against storm surge. The Coastal Conservation League noted concerning erosion patterns on islands like Hunting Island and Edisto Beach, where dune systems were already compromised from previous storm seasons.
As residents looked toward the end of the 2024 hurricane season, state officials emphasized the need for continued investment in infrastructure improvements, particularly relating to stormwater management and power grid resilience. With climate scientists predicting increasingly active hurricane seasons in the coming years, South Carolina communities continue adapting to this "new normal" of enhanced storm activity along the Atlantic seaboard.
