MYRTLE BEACH

Power out at airport

Power outages at Myrtle Beach International Airport had some outgoing passengers fuming. Richard and Joanne Welsch had been waiting at Myrtle Beach International Airport with their daughters Alicia Puccio and Karin Welsch and their 2-year old grandson Nicholas for four hours Saturday for their flight to Long Island, N.Y.

"We're just trying to get to LaGuardia [airport]," Puccio said.

After the family discovered their 4:40 p.m. flight on US Airways had been canceled, Joanne Welsch spent another hour an a half on the phone trying to reach someone at the 800 number to make new reservations for a flight today.

"We're going to shell out for Holiday Inn tonight," Richard Welsch said. "It's difficult. That's more expenses. I have four people here to feed."

The family had stayed at an open shelter at Conway High School the previous night and were rear-ended on their way there. They had to wait about an hour for troopers to come.

HORRY COUNTY

Fireworks store loses roof

The Mr. Fireworks store on Kings Highway south of Myrtle Beach city limits lost its roof to Charley. The owner's family spent the afternoon removing merchandise from the store.

They've already called the roofer to rebuild, owner Hoyt Graham said. "It could've been a lot worse," he said, with the aluminum roof spread out over the parking lot and side yard. "The strange this is, we still have power."

MURRELLS INLET

Taking cover at The Pantry

As the brunt of the storm passed over Murrells Inlet, a handful of motorists took shelter under the canopy of The Pantry on U.S. 17. Inside, manager Harold Beaman manned the store. "Pantry policy is we stay open 24 hours a day, seven days a week," he said.

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH

High school packs in hundreds

More than 700 people crowded into North Myrtle High School at the height of the storm Saturday.

Strong winds knocked out a classroom window, and the lights flickered when the power went out, which triggered a silent alarm system and brought firefighters out to inspect.

There was only a small delay before the power came back on, as the school has two generators, said Robert Jinn, a volunteer with the American Red Cross.

Most people there had never been through a hurricane before, including the Ulbrichs from Edison, N.J.

"We weren't as prepared as everyone else that has been through this before," said 21-year-old Justin Ulbrich, who was at the shelter with his mother, Maryann Ulbrich, 48; sister Megan Ulbrich, 23; and his sister's boyfriend, Brian Taxeras, 25.

Others who had been through Hurricane Hugo said Charley was not nearly as bad. Ivey Braswell, a Red Cross volunteer, said, "Sitting here, looking out the window, [Charley] didn't look as bad."

MYRTLE BEACH

Refuge in Home Depot

Janna Waitman and her family from Lexington, N.C., were determined not to let Hurricane Charley cut their vacation short. So they spent the morning under the shelter of one of husband Bob Waitman's favorite stores: Home Depot.

The Waitmans were vacationing at an oceanfront hotel in Garden City Beach with daughter Jena Gates and grandchildren Mamie, 7, Benjamin, 4, and Dakota, 6 weeks. They left after the mandatory evacuation order but didn't want to go home.

"We were looking for a place to hang out until the worst was over, and my husband really likes Home Depot," Janna Waitman said.

The Myrtle Beach store allowed the Waitmans and others to stay inside until Charley passed. But the Waitmans weren't planning to buy anything other than drinks.

"We've got our car so loaded, there's not room for anything else," she said.

SURFSIDE BEACH

Last-minute shopping

Just after 8 a.m. Saturday, residents picked up last-minute supplies at the Bi-Lo grocery store in Surfside Beach. "You've got to be concerned about every [hurricane]," said Ed Keith, who has lived in Murrells Inlet for 24 years. By his count he's seen about 15 hurricanes. "I'm just glad I live in this day and age and not my grandfather's," Keith said. "With a big hurricane they were dead before they knew what hit them."

GEORGETOWN

Sweet tea or water, that's it

With power out, hungry residents found some refuge at George's Restaurant on Highmarket Street, where staff served up a few items cooked on a gas stove. Assistant Manager Gladys Barnes warned customers "we got sweet tea and water" to drink, nothing else.

MYRTLE BEACH

Landmarks lose trees

The storm knocked over the clock tower at the Pavilion and downed a few trees at Broadway at the Beach, said Pat Dowling, spokesman for Burroughs & Chapin Inc. Broadway reopened about 5 p.m. Saturday, and Dowling said other B&C parks were expected to reopen today. "We think we'll be able to get all our other parks operating according to our regular schedule" by today, he said.

GEORGETOWN

Stores sell out, close

The storm's arrival caught some residents in Georgetown unprepared, as folks finished last-minute shopping Friday morning.

The Money Saver convenience store on Highmarket Street in Georgetown was sold out of bread by 9 a.m., with other popular items gone or in short supply. Wal-Mart was closed, while the Food Lion on Fraser Street began turning away customers around 9 a.m.