After nearly a week of nervous anticipation, Hurricane Charley slid by the Lowcountry on Saturday, passing 50 miles off the Beaufort County coast before crashing into Myrtle Beach.

Beaufort County received trace amounts of rain and only one wind gust of 30 mph, a stark contrast to the devastation Charley unleashed as it lashed through Florida on Friday.

Less than 30 people sought refuge in the two designated county shelters Friday, said William Winn, director of Beaufort County Emergency Management. The storm was more unpredictable than similar previous threats to the area, he said, and emergency response plans changed with Charley's path.

"This was a difficult storm to work with," Winn said. "We weren't sure where it would come out."

By the time the county's Emergency Operations Center closed down at 9 a.m. Saturday, Winn said officials were happy to get home and grateful that the tropical storm had missed the county.

"Thank goodness everybody had a home to go home to," he said.

Jasper County Emergency Management Director Mike Hodges said only six people used the shelter at Jasper High School, and that the storm quieted the area down. Despite all the preparations, Hodges said he was glad that, in the end, there was nothing to prepare for.

"I'd rather prepare and have everything ready and not need it, then to wind up like our friends in Florida," Hodges said.

Hardeeville officials spent Friday night at the city's new community center. They passed the time playing video games and watching movies, and left around 6 a.m. after the storm failed to show, said Rob Dewig, Hardeeville's community development director.

"It was actually kind of fun," Dewig said.

With Charley gone, Bay Street hummed with the standard weekend stir Saturday afternoon. Rose Sweet, her husband and some friends were visiting Beaufort from England. While the group said they followed the storm's track over the past few days, they were relieved it didn't affect their holiday.

"We don't get hurricanes in the U.K.," Sweet said.

Down the street, Chip Dinkins, director of operations for Plum's restaurant, said business was slow Saturday morning, but that it wasn't too drastic of a drop because the busy tourist season is winding down.

"A hurricane coming is not going to help you," he said of Charley's economic effects on the eatery.

Nonetheless, a smattering of people were eating lunch at Plum's at noon Saturday.

"They want to grab a bite to eat after being holed up for four days," Dinkins said.

Strolling down Bay Street, Beaufort resident Anne Wilson was delighted to not see Charley when she woke up Saturday morning.

"We started laughing," she said of her and her husband's reaction. Things seemed to be returning to normal quickly, she said.

"My husband's haircut is still taking place," Wilson said.

Vern Rominger was visiting form Orlando, and said he had already called friends and family in Charley's path to make sure everyone was fine.

Standing next to him, Marine Capt. Dev Spradlin said he was supposed to go diving on the Florida Keys this weekend.

"The hurricane changed that," Spradlin said.

Dottie Allem, the owner of Finishing Touches, Etc. in downtown Beaufort, said she had actually seen more business Saturday than on previous weekends.

"I thought everybody would stay away," Allem said.

Heather Holmes and Penny Gumbel were doing some last-minute shopping before a friend's wedding on Fripp Island Saturday night. They said they were relieved that Charley didn't crash the ceremony.

"Now, we just hope the weather holds out," Gumbel said.

For Winn, a return to the normal is just what the county needed after a few tense, weather-worn days.

"I am so thankful that nothing happened to our community," Winn said Saturday. "But my heart goes out to all the people in Florida."