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reprint or license thisStorm brings few woes to Horry, Georgetown
By Tonya Root
The Sun News
Horry and Georgetown counties were again spared the worst as Tropical Storm Ernesto saved its most intense winds and rain for the N.C. coast, leaving mild weather behind for holiday weekend visitors.
Cloudy skies and the normal seasonal weather conditions should return to the area in time for the Labor Day holiday weekend, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, N.C.
The Weather Service on Friday morning said 6 to 8 inches of rain fell across the eastern part of Horry County during Ernesto. Two to 4 inches fell in Georgetown County.
A hurricane watch and tropical storm warning posted for the Grand Strand was lifted at 5 a.m. by the National Hurricane Center.
Horry County officials held a conference call with municipalities early Friday and learned no major problems occurred from Ernesto.
No roads were closed, no beach erosion issues were reported and no signficant damage was found, said Kelly Brosky, an Horry County spokeswoman. Officials also said there were no debris removal issues to take care of Friday.
"It was basically just rain," Brosky said.
Wind turned out not to be an issue because the storm's circulation kept the most severe right side of the system in the Atlantic Ocean as it passed the Grand Strand. Gusts near or above 50 mph were reported across the area.
The storm on Thursday forced the closure of some bridges, the cancellation of some flights and meetings, shortened school days for Horry students and no school for Georgetown students.
Horry Electric Cooperative said early Friday morning that power had been restored to the 1,000 or so households who lost it during the storm.
About 50 Santee Cooper customers scattered throughout the Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach and Briarcliffe areas were without power overnight Thursday because of fallen tree limbs in their neighborhoods, said Laura Varn, spokeswoman for Santee Cooper. All power had been restored by 7 a.m. Friday, she said.
"We're all clear and getting ready for the next event," Varn said.
Gov. Mark Sanford also planned to survey the northern South Carolina coast Friday, his office said, and will greet visitors for the Labor Day weekend. Most tourists didn't cancel their reservations for the weekend, so officials expect the beach to be busy after Ernesto has moved through.
Horry County
Horry County closed its emergency operation center Friday morning.
Several flights at Myrtle Beach International Airport were cancelled Thursday, but normal activities resumed today.
Horry County schools were set to begin an hour later today and dismiss an hour earlier. The dismissal was because of Labor Day traffic concerns, officials said.
After-school activities and various municipal meetings were postponed Thursday night as the heart of the storm was expected to pass through.
Emergency operation centers in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach and Georgetown were staffed Thursday, in addition to the county's EOC that opened Wednesday. No shelters were opened along the Grand Strand and officials did not expect much damage to occur overnight.
The Barefoot swing bridge was locked down for vehicle traffic overnight by North Myrtle Beach officials, a release said.
The storm will likely put a damper on the last-minute, walk-in traffic hotels expected to pick up today and Saturday, according to Coastal Carolina University's Center for Economic Forecasting, which scaled back its weekend occupancy projections.
"Even if it's sunny on Saturday, I wouldn't expect more than 70 percent occupancy because people are pretty much making their decisions now [as the storm approaches the coast]," CCU's Taylor Damonte said.
That's a drop from what occupancy could have been storm-free, but not near the complete washout that area promoters had feared as Ernesto approached.
"Nationally, we are getting the word out that we are going to be open for Labor Day," said Nicole Aiello, spokeswoman for the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.
Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes said "We were very fortunate that it moved to the right. A hurricane is the last thing we need right now."
Meanwhile, as officials monitored the storm Thursday, extra city staff was on hand to assist with storm cleanup.
Georgetown County
Georgetown County officials reported that some streets that regularly flood had standing water Thursday during the heavy rains.
"Our worst drainage problem is around Georgetown City Hall and on U.S. 17," said City Administrator Steve Thomas.
The flooded streets were barricaded. "It [the flooding] was starting to get pretty serious. We were concerned about access in and out of city hall," he said.
Schools will begin an hour later today, officials said.
Some shelters in local churches or other buildings could be opened if the need dictates from people affected by flooding, said Angela Nicholas, director of the Coastal S.C. Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Georgetown County emergency officials said the county emergency operations center went into "limited activation" on Thursday.
Hospital operations were continuing as normal in Georgetown, said Georgetown Memorial Hospital spokeswoman Ronda Wilson.
"We have a well-prepared and practiced plan," Wilson said. "As it gets closer, we meet at a management level. We will continue to monitor the storm and we are well prepared."
Georgetown County offices closed Thursday at 2 p.m., and city employees were allowed to leave early, Thomas said.
The Wal-Mart Supercenter in Georgetown was doing a brisk business Thursday, but shoppers were not panicked and took their time preparing for the storm. Most said they bought bottled water nonperishable items to last for several days.
"I don't know how to provide for this storm," said shopper Deborah Addison, a former resident of New York. "This is my first hurricane. I've got jelly and peanut butter and tons of tuna fish. I've got a television that runs on batteries."
Staff writers Dawn Bryant and Kelly Marshall Fuller contributed to this report.
Contact TONYA ROOT at 248-2149 or troot@thesunnews.com.
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