Ernesto strengthens, heads for Carolina coast

MEG KINNARD

Associated Press

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - This beach town buttoned up and red no swimming signs were posted on life guard stands by the oceanfront Pavilion on Thursday as Tropical Storm Ernesto regained strength and aimed for a landfall nearby on the eve of the busy Labor Day weekend.

A hurricane watch was posted and the National Hurricane Center said the storm, which was producing sustained winds up to 70 mph, could reach hurricane strength by the time it came ashore north of the North Carolina state line late Thursday.

To the south, the storm dumped torrential rains, inundating Charleston streets prone to flooding. By late afternoon, the downpours were tapering off with more than 6 1/2 inches of rain reported in Mount Pleasant.

Despite the rain and stiff winds that whipped the waves, 75-year-old Marylou Hertel of Brookville, Ind., was on the beach with her daughters. She's been coming to this vacation spot for two decades.

"This is exciting as long as it's not dangerous," she said, pointing at the whitecaps. "It's extremely beautiful, even today."

The storm was tracking north-northeast through the day, keeping the South Carolina coast on the west, or weaker, side of the storm.

"Right now we have been lucky, based on what Mother Nature has dealt us," said Gov. Mark Sanford. "I'd ask we extend thoughts and prayers, because it looks like the brunt of what may come our way is going North Carolina's way."

Between 2 and 6 inches of rain had fallen in the state since the bands from Ernesto started spinning ashore, said state climatologist Hope Mizzell.

"At this time we are not anticipating any major flooding events, however we are closely watching for the possibility of flash flooding anywhere across the state we received those heavy rain bands," she said.

As a steady rain fell at midday, crews worked their way along the beach, removing trash barrels and anything else that could be tossed around by the storm. Horry County schools dismissed an hour early Thursday.

Tourism officials said this week they expected Ernesto to move through quickly and the town would be open for business as usual by Friday.

In North Myrtle Beach, dozens of surfers tried their luck on the choppy waves a few hours before landfall.

At 8 p.m., Ernesto's center was about 75 miles south-southwest of Wilmington, N.C., moving north-northeast about 18 mph.

The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch from South Carolina's Santee River at the Georgetown-Charleston county line to Cape Lookout in North Carolina.

Dozens of people walked along the beach past high-rise hotels and condominiums early in the morning. Winds were brisk, and whitecaps speckled the churning surf. Those on the beach quickly sought cover from the squalls.

To the south, morning rush hour traffic on the arching Arthur Ravenel Bridge that links Charleston to Mount Pleasant was light. Officials worried strong winds could cause the closing of the span and other high bridges in the area.

As it became clearer the storm would miss Charleston, Mayor Joseph Riley Jr. thanked residents for their readiness. Charleston was hammered by Hurricane Hugo and its 135 mph winds 17 years ago.

"This is a great drill for us," Riley said. "We're in the hurricane season, and preparation on the part of the government and preparation on the part of all of us citizens is so essential. We live in this most beautiful place on the Atlantic Ocean, but this time of year we have extra duties and responsibilities."

A flood watch was in effect through Thursday night for Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties.

Police in Charleston reported 14 intersections or sections of streets were closed to traffic because of standing water. Most were in the downtown area.

The worst flooding was during early afternoon as the storm passed at sea around high tide at 1:44 p.m. At one intersection, the water lapped up against several houses.

The Red Cross reported that 125 people were in seven shelters across Charleston, Berkley and Dorchester counties Thursday afternoon.

Schools were closed in Berkeley, Colleton, Charleston, Jasper and Georgetown counties. Colleges in Charleston County also closed. Coastal Carolina University in Horry County canceled Thursday evening classes.

The Charleston International Airport stopped operations at 9 a.m., and the Port of Charleston was closed. Myrtle Beach International Airport was open Thursday afternoon, although many flights were canceled.

Grand Strand visitors weren't too worried about Ernesto.

The Laymer family, visiting from Hewitt, N.J., said they didn't plan to leave before their planned check-out on Sunday.

"If it got really bad, we'd just go into Conway," about 14 miles inland, said Karen Laymer, 55.

Laymer's stepson, who has been coming to Myrtle Beach with his father since the 1970s, said he has ridden out worse storms. And Chuck Laymer, 41, said he barricaded himself in his Fort Walton Beach, Fla., home as Hurricane Opal came ashore in 1995.

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AP writers Bruce Smith in Charleston and Susanne Schafer in Columbia contributed to this report.