September 21, 2021 marked the 32nd anniversary of Hurricane Hugo, a Category 4 storm that ravaged South Carolina, among other places. Here in the Palmetto State, there are families that will never forget the devastation and despair caused by this single, deadly storm. In the coming weeks we can expect many media outlets to remember the storm through videos, photos, and first-hand accounts – as we are now with photos. We’ll be right there with you, glued to the coverage, reading and watching in awe of the storm and in our people and our strength to overcome.
Following are some photos that show some of the devastation of this 1989 hurricane that hit South Carolina.
1. Hurricane Hugo swept ashore in the late evening hours of September 21, 1989, and brought with it Category 4 force winds and a storm surge exceeding 20 feet in some areas. The eye made landfall just north of Charleston, with those to the north receiving the worst of the storm surge.
However, while those to the north were hit with winds and a high storm surge, those to the south also felt the full force of the storm's 160-mph gusts and 140-mph sustained winds. Among other nearby locales, the storm's wide eye crossed over Sullivans Island.
2. This photo shows the Ben Sawyer Bridge connecting Mt. Pleasant and Sullivans Island was picked up and turned around before being dropping into the Intracoastal Waterway during the storm.
4. After Hurricane Hugo, all that remained of the Atlantic House can be seen here: the pilings that lifted the restaurant high above the water line — but not high enough to keep the popular eatery from being swept out to sea during the epic storm.
9. Boats up and down the central and northern coast of South Carolina were uprooted; some deposited in huge piles, like this one near the Isle of Palms Marina.
13. Lincoln High School in McClellanville in the days after the hurricane. It was used as a storm shelter. Reports after the storm place the water level inside the school well above the heads of those seeking shelter here.
16. In the days after the storm, looting was a major problem in urban and rural areas alike. It was also common to see the entire contents of stores and homes piled high as garbage on the side of the road.
17. Hurricane Hugo was responsible for 14 deaths throughout the Carolinas, and a total of 10.3 billion dollars in damages. It was the most costly hurricane to date.
The days and weeks that followed Hurricane Hugo sent many affected by the storm into a daze as those whose property received damage struggled to dig out. Others, whose jobs were displaced because their employers were closed due to the storm, struggled to survive on a different level.
To look back at more of Hurricane Hugo, watch this eight-minute 25th anniversary video posted five years ago from youtube user NWSCharleston:
Were you living in South Carolina when this devastating storm hit in September of 1989? Join the conversation in the comments and share your own photos if you have them. In fact, the National Weather Service in Charleston is reaching out to those willing to share photos and stories of Hurricane Hugo during this 30th anniversary. You’ll find more on that on their official website, here.
