Hanna delivers strong winds, rain to Lowcountry after turnTropical storm causes heavy flooding in Summerville, Berkeley County; water main ruptures on East Bay Street By Tony Bartelme (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Originally published 12:00 a.m., September 6, 2008
Updated 11:25 p.m., September 5, 2008 
Track Hanna - View 5-day forecast of Tropical Storm Hanna Hurricane guide - Latest stories, tracking maps and information you need to know A few breaths short of a hurricane, Hanna cartwheeled into the Carolinas on Friday night, flooding streets with fierce rain squalls and lashing the area with gusty winds before heading toward the North Carolina border at a 20-mph clip. A few days behind, Hurricane Ike was expected to grow into a monster Category 4 and threaten Florida by Monday. When it comes to storms, Hanna was no Hugo. At 11 p.m. Tropical Storm Hanna was still below about 60 miles east southeast of Charleston, still packing 70 mph winds. The storm was expected to make landfall before 3 a.m. between Georgetown and Myrtle Beach, said Jonathan Lamb, a forecaster with the National Weather Service. “The winds kind of contracted during the day, which kept most of the strongest winds off the coast,” Lamb said at 11 p.m. “Right now it’s 45 miles southeast of Charleston, but we’re only seeing 16 mph of wind at the airport. That’s incredible.” At Folly Beach there were winds and rain and people singing karaoke. The Sand Dollar was open for business and police reported no incidents. In Myrtle Beach, winds were gusting near 40 mph and rain was coming in waves. The surf was climbing into the dunes, but on the other side, tourists lounged in hot tubs and slid the Lazy River at Grand Strand hotels. National Hurricane Center forecasters reported Hanna was beginning to tighten around its core and could become a hurricane with 74 mph winds before landfall, but hurricane specialist Lixion Avila noted that wasn’t much difference in winds. Shelters had taken in more than 100 people. North Myrtle Beach and Garden City were reporting flooding. Police had not reported major problems. Tropical Storm force winds were expected to end by 8 a.m. Still, Hanna had her moments. As the storm neared, torrential downpours dumped as much as three inches of rain in some areas. The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings for Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester and Berkeley counties. Heavy flooding was reported in Eadytown in northern Berkeley County, and in parts of Summerville. Water on some downtown Charleston streets was knee-deep. A 10-inch water main failed on East Bay Street, creating a small river flowing down North Market Street. In downtown Georgetown, police closed roads because of high winds and rain. Tides were two to three feet above normal Friday night because of storm surge. In Berkeley County, there was about a foot of water on Treeland Drive in Sangaree. But Hanna may be remembered more for the damage it did in the Bahamas and Haiti. As it roared through the eastern Caribbean, it left more than 140 dead, mostly in rain-soaked Haiti. Hanna began its trek north early Friday as a tropical storm, rolling up the Florida coast, its spirals becoming more distinct on radar, a sign that the storm was growing stronger. Officials get ready The first big band of rain hit the Charleston area just after noon at high tide, flooding low-lying streets downtown and making drives over the Cooper River Bridge feel like trips through a car wash. Offshore, the seas began to build, with government buoys recording 15-foot waves. While the winds and waves built at sea, emergency officials went on high alert. In a temporary command post in City Council chambers, Charleston Mayor Joe Riley huddled with police and other officials and ran through checklists. Sleeping bags were piled in one corner, and pizzas were stacked on a table in the break room. "I feel so good about our level of readiness and preparedness," Riley told staffers during one meeting. Meanwhile, in North Charleston, police Lt. Troy Jefferson told officers to watch out for downed power lines and flying debris. The Charleston Air Force Base warned its people to get ready for hurricane-force winds, and the Charleston International Airport canceled flights. Gov. Mark Sanford said, "Now is the time to look at taking shelter." Some didn't listen. As predictable as spring tides, surfers took advantage of an approaching storm. Ten surfers were at the Isle of Palms, including Joe Gillespie and Coco Johnson. They headed out to the beach at noon and rode six-foot swells for three hours before taking a break as the tide receded. "Oh man it's sweet," said Gillespie, a 34-year-old dentist from Mount Pleasant. Rip currents carried them down the beach during rain squalls that limited their visibility to about five feet. The rain bands hit every few hours, triggering wrecks and flooding in low-lying areas. One squall uprooted a tree at Rivers and Helm avenues in North Charleston, knocking down a power line. At about the same time, a black Jeep hydroplaned on Folly Road, doing a hurricane-like 360 into another Jeep driven by a Channel 2 news crew. Channel 2 reporter Timothy Gehret, 31, and videographer Walter Pendergrass, 32, were taken to Medical University Hospital, along with the driver of the other vehicle, 24-year-old Stephen Gant. None had life-threatening injuries, said Charleston County Deputy Harry Bohlander. 'I better seek help' As the evening wore on, more than 100 people filed into four emergency shelters in Charleston County. At one shelter at Stall High School, people rested on cots in the school's gym. Some people were from nearby neighborhoods, while others said they were homeless. In Summerville, Rita Miranda, 80, was one of a handful of people at a shelter in Fort Dorchester High School. Miranda moved from Belize four years ago, doesn't have a car or a phone, uses a walker, and was scared. "If I was young, I wouldn't be so fearful, but since I'm 80 and halfway disabled, then I thought I better seek some help," she said. In McClellanville, residents seemed to have one eye on Hanna and another on Ike. For some, all this tropical activity brought back memories of Hurricane Hugo, which came ashore in 1989 as a Category 4 storm. "I'm hoping for (Hanna) not to be like another Hugo," said Thomasena Singleton, who sought shelter at Lincoln High School and remembers the screams in the middle of the night as the storm surge from Hugo reached her chin and she hoisted her 7-year-old son onto her shoulders to save him. "It was terrible," she said. "I'm still traumatized." For other battle-scarred Hugo veterans, Hanna wasn't strong enough to merit much stress. Debbie Thames, owner of Bulls Bay General Store, predicted the storm might knock down power lines and bring high winds, but that a nearby generator would provide most of the community with electricity. Convective burst? As darkness fell, Hanna picked up speed, shooting toward the South Carolina-North Carolina border at 20 mph. Flying into the storm itself, an Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft reported that Hanna was just below hurricane strength. "The motion is somewhat wobbly," a forecaster with the National Hurricane Center noted at 5 p.m., adding that the computer models forecasters use to predict a storm's trajectory all agreed that the storm would kiss the Grand Strand and then head north toward the North Carolina border. Forecasters didn't expect the storm to strengthen, but also hedged a little, saying there was a chance a "convective burst" — a sudden surge of heat and wind — could cause the storm to reach hurricane strength. Some in Myrtle Beach appeared to take their vacations more seriously than forecasters' warnings. With the wind howling, Chuck Parrett and Bruce Stolz, of Decatur, Ala., went swimming. "A little rough, a little choppy," Parrett said. "Man, this is fun," Stolz said. At the Ocean Club, the Moyers and Snyders of Harper's Ferry, Va., squinted in the rain as they packed coolers of ice into the back of a sport utility vehicle. But that was for the trip home today. "I paid for five days and I'm going to stay for five days," Calvin Moyer said. Diette Courrege, Bo Petersen, Katy Stech, Jessica Johnson, David Slade, Warren Wise, Robert Behre, Yvonne Wenger, Nita Birmingham and Edwa |
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Comments
This article has 28 comment(s)
Posted by iceman1978 on September 6, 2008 at 1:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't understand why they opened shelters for this. I'm on James Island and we haven't even lost power. To me this is just another thunderstorm. The super cell storms that sometimes roll through are worse than this. Not to sound cold but if you can't take care of yourself in a tropical storm you may want to consider moving to a different part of the country.
Posted by chrisj on September 6, 2008 at 2:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"The storm was expected to make landfill..."
I think they meant 'landfall'? Take care, all.
Posted by justmyview on September 6, 2008 at 7:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder if the governor is upset that he left the convention early becuase of this storm.
Posted by STREETLAW on September 6, 2008 at 7:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why no report about damages?
The media weathernoia and hurrihype for this storm caused millions in lost business in the Charleston area, and all along the east coast.
Are they insured for such losses?
And as for that idiotic flash flood warning (when they couldn't save us from the wind anymore), would someone please tell the powers that be we don't have flash floods in the lowcountry. Tell them I am not sure but there may have NEVER been a flash flood in the entire state of South Carolina. I certainly don't remember anyone actually dying from one.
Now that would be a story. I mean the fact that ever happened in SC.
Posted by ChasCarolinaGirl on September 6, 2008 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Iceman ~ I second your comment. Tropical storms are nothing compared to the storms we had been having. Only rain and wind.
Looks like Ike may miss the US unless it is heading straight for south Tx the last time I checked. Thank goodness!
Posted by woodrob12 on September 6, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Much ado about nothing.....again. On JI we got rain. I was up until 1 or so and didnt get as much as a stiff breeze.
Posted by RTC on September 6, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
woodrob, the same in Mt.P.
Rain, rain, rain.
Posted by shoelaces on September 6, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We had worse storms during July/August with high winds and hail.
Guess everyone was just being overly cautious. The only problem is that when the next "big one" comes some people will think of all the hoopla about Hanna and may not take it seriously.
Worst part....make-up day of school.
Posted by jeff61 on September 6, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually looks like New Orleans may get Ike (Eat the cake Anna May) Turner. I feel sory for the places that have to accept SOME of these people from evacuations of that area. Some of the stories on how these people treat facilities and thier additude are unbeleivable
Posted by ForPnC on September 6, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was at the stores this morning and I couldn't believe what I didn't see. I didn't see water, ice, or bread. I asked the workers at the store what happened to their shelves over night and they said it was basically a mass paranoia. They were slammed with people stocking up because of this big storm.
The media loves people like this. They feed on the easily frightened and manipulated.
Posted by commonsence on September 6, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Summary of TS Hanna in northern MP...breezes that neared 15 MPH at times and a few pleasant rain showers - no kidding.
Gimme a break. Josh Marthers and Bill Walsh should be fired for their uber-hyping of weather risks...
Posted by jeff61 on September 6, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I seen more people buying beer then anything else .. except one guy who had the audacity to buy a gallon of milk. So that must be true that beer is a needed item. I will tend to agree. It was the first item I bought.
Posted by RTC on September 6, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I know why Hanna didn't hit us. My husband bought a brand new generator.
Posted by karmann on September 6, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Media frenzy at its best.
Posted by jeff61 on September 6, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That Hanna coverage was the most blatant form of false advertisement if I ever saw it.
Posted by moonpie on September 6, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
People running out to but genrators, water, ice, come on for a tropical storm? I slept thru this "monster" and it was a damn good sleep! Thanks Hanna for the much needed rain and great nights sleep. Come again soon. PLEASE!
Yeah Jeff61 I went in there after Katrina. What a difference between Hugo survivors and Katrina survivors! Well someone has to take care of them they sure can't take care of themselves. We'll have that here if we have a major again. The welfare state can't take care of themselves at all and are totally dependent on the Gov.
Moonpie, voting Republican because everyone can't be on welfare!
Posted by iceman1978 on September 6, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
moonpie, You slept well too? Let me tell you, I have never slept this good since we were on the cruise ship. I felt so rested when I woke up this morning. As soon as the yard dries up a little I'm going to do some yard work and detail the car this weekend. This is a beautiful day we're having.
Posted by jeff61 on September 6, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Right Moon.. Nagan could not save his welfare state and was too stupid to do correct things prior to that storm and then had the nerve to blame Bush for his mistakes. This time Bush took charge and saved Nagan's welfare city. Nagan should be gratful because it looks as if Ike (Eat the cake Anna Mae) Turner is headed that way.
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on September 6, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
showlaces-No make up day for DD2 schools.Thats why they kept them a 1/2 day.Now I'm glad they did.We didn't lose power or our Directv signal even once during the storm.
Posted by KidYendor on September 6, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I had a hurricane party but the hurricane never showed. Just kidding about the party. They had us scared in the morning: "Hannah has moved to the left and will make for a more direct hit!" Then all of a sudden around 4/5 p.m.:"It has moved to the right and will make landfall further north." The USAF flew out 11 C-17s to Ohio and Missouri. Are there closer bases to evacuate C-17s to use up less gas if AF personnel are worried about rain and 20 mph gusts on a flightline? Your taxpayer dollars at work.
Posted by dathoove on September 6, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was surprised by the overreaction to this storm. I couldn't believe the College of Charleston canceled classes all day Friday. I was just glad The Citadel held classes Friday morning (but then canceled afternoon classes to let cadets have general leave) so I didn't lose the entire day. What is going on here? I know the media overhypes these things, that's their job. I don't understand why so many people buy into the hype.
Posted by KnowAllSeeAll on September 6, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ah well, it's all a part of Lowcountry living. Just when it looks like we're going to take it right up the gut, the storm shifts toward Georgetown/Horry County. At least we were prepared. If the big one does come, however, I have a strange suspicion that we might get caught with our pants down.
I've been watching the "close call" scenario for over 10 years. I worked in a grocery store all through school and would always laugh at the people that went to the store to "stock up" on perishables (sp?) to include fresh beef and milk when a hurricane looked like it would be coming our way. Always knocks me out when I see that.
Posted by KnowAllSeeAll on September 6, 2008 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anyone else remember Q107 scheduling a hurricane party the night that Hugo struck? When they found out the storm was not going to pass us by and that it had strengthened into a killer Cat 4, they cancelled it, around 7pm if I remember correctly.
Posted by walleyedwoman1215 on September 6, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In Summerville, Rita Miranda, 80, was one of a handful of people at a shelter in Fort Dorchester High School. Miranda moved from Belize four years ago, doesn't have a car or a phone, uses a walker, and was scared.
"If I was young, I wouldn't be so fearful, but since I'm 80 and halfway disabled, then I thought I better seek some help," she said.
P&C, please contact me re: this woman. Since so many reporters contributed, I don't know who actually talked to her. I can't sleep tonight knowing she's 80 YO & doesn't have a car or phone. I can't swing a car, but a phone is do-able...
Posted by jeff61 on September 6, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A car is the last thing a 80 yr women needs. I am sure she is here with family and not entirly phoneless, you can e-mail the writer directly.
Posted by walleyedwoman1215 on September 6, 2008 at 4:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The story was compiled from staff reports. Ten reporters are credited. I'll try the news desk.
Posted by UrGatorbait on September 6, 2008 at 7:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The first time a storm hits and nothing has been done according tot he resident experts on here, they will the first malcontents calling for someone's heads.
Safety first.
And Kid Dunder, if that storm turned wasn't a 20 mph winds and destroyed those jets you would be the first lowcountry blowhard to complain about them not being ready to move. Logistics isn't your thing. Stick to complaining.
Posted by KidYendor on September 7, 2008 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gatorbrain, if you can read and your daughter did not type that for you you will be able to find lots of USAF taxpayer dollar waste information on the internet. We worry about bridges to nowhere, the USAF loves to fly to nowhere for the sake of using fuel and justifying budgets. Tie those planes down with steel cable and they will be just fine and save us lots of money. A twenty mph wind gust rainfall is no reason to waste taxpayer money.