For Hurricane Hugo survivors, even after nearly 15 years, the day-after scenes from Florida on Saturday were heartbreakingly familiar: Devastated families returning to non-existent homes, businesses and dreams destroyed; those who stayed behind recounting the terrifying hours they huddled together not sure they would survive Hurricane Charley's Category 4 winds; the search for food, water and transportation and the lack of information about loved ones. But despite the losses and worries about the future, the right perspective was voiced time and again: gratitude for escaping alive.
At this point, it's unknown how many weren't so lucky in Florida. In the area of Punta Gorda, which Gov. Jeb Bush declared Ground Zero, scores of body bags were being ordered and cadaver dogs brought in to search dozens of decimated trailer parks. "Our worst fears have come true," said the governor in describing what happened to his state. Only 12 years ago Florida suffered the devastation of Hurricane Andrew, which caused record damages that some estimates put as high as $30 billion.
South Carolina was lucky this time. Charley had faded to Category 1 status by the time it hit our coast Saturday morning. The result was lots of downed tree limbs, some property damage and more than 100,000 power outages.
Gov. Mark Sanford had ordered a mandatory evacuation of Georgetown and Horry county residents who live east of U.S. Hwy. 17, following the logic that the storm's projected course showed its most powerful blow would be dealt along the state's upper coast. That evacuation apparently went relatively smoothly, thanks in large part to the timely reversal of two lanes of U.S. 501, making all four of that highway's lanes northbound out of Myrtle Beach. Authorities reported that 30,000 residents and 150,000 tourists evacuated the Grand Strand area.
And while 2-0/20 hindsight could make that evacuation seem unnecessary, Charley provided grim testament to why it is better to over-prepare and take nothing for granted when hurricanes come calling. Charley made an unexpected turn that gave those in Florida's Ground Zero only a few hours to either flee or brace for the onslaught. One official noted to CNN that many of the residents were new to Florida and didn't take storm preparations as seriously as they should have.
The S.C. coast also has many new residents since Hurricane Hugo, and there are many weeks left in this hurricane season. Rather than expecting to escape as relatively easily next time as we did from Charley, we should keep sadly in mind what happened Friday in Florida.
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