Photos: Hurricane Hugo slammed into S.C. 30 years ago
Hurricane Hugo slammed into the South Carolina coast as a Category 4 hurricane overnight on Sept. 21, 1989.
Images of the devastation wrought on Folly Beach by Hurricane Hugo: Ashley Avenue (left), Fifth Street on east Folly (center) and the site of what had been the Atlantic House restaurant. After the Atlantic House's destruction, the state would not allow the owners to rebuild because the foundation was in the surf.
Hurricane Hugo devastated the South Carolina coastline and inland communities on September 21st and 22nd 1989. Residents spent months cleaning up after the storm. Gov. Carroll Campbell, left, Arthur Ravenel, center, greet President George Bush during his visit to inspect the damage.
Dick Bennett of Mount Pleasant shows the frustration of waiting in vain for ice that was supposed to be distributed at Moultrie Shopping Plaza on September 23, 1989. Bennett and several hundred other people left empty handed after waiting for hours. (FILE/Tom Spain/Staff
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Sullivan's Island on Sunday, September 24, 1989, a few days after Hurricane Hugo roared into the Lowcountry. Wade Spees
Shrimp boats sit on high ground in McClellanville S.C. photo by Brad Nettles 9/27/89
Marie Smith walks up a muddy East Bay Street in Charleston the morning after Hurricane Hugo. photo/Wade Spees/The Post and Courier. 9/23/1989
A woman takes a look at the sailboat Guppy on Lockwood Boulevard which was washed up on the road by Hurricane Hugo. ( Brad Nettles/staff 9/22/89 )
The morning after Hurricane Hugo, rescue workers work to extricate a man whose house had collapsed on him in downtown Charleston. He was alive when he was brought out but died later in the day. photo/Wade Spees/The Post and Courier. 9/22/89
Dick Davenport gets a hug from Martha Derrick as he shoveled out his King Street optical shop September, 1989. Wade Spees
Meeting Street September 1989. Photo by Brad Nettles
Images of the devastation wrought on Folly Beach by Hurricane Hugo: Ashley Avenue (left), Fifth Street on east Folly (center) and the site of what had been the Atlantic House restaurant. After the Atlantic House's destruction, the state would not allow the owners to rebuild because the foundation was in the surf.
Desolation of homes on Sullivan's Island. 9/27/1989 Photo by Bill Jordan
South end of Pawleys Island September 1989. Photo by Chris Sosnowski
Robert Varn of Atlantic Street, Sullivans Island, shows where his window air conditioner was in his bedroom. The room lost ceiling and walls during the storm. Sept. 26, 1989 Tom Spain.
National Guard on King Street
Gwylene Gallimard walks her bike by a shattered building on Hayne St. (Wade Spees/Staff) 9/22/89
Ria Scott dry stack marina on Shem Creek in Mt. Pleasant, 9/27/1989 Tom Spain
One of the many mobile home parks, this one in Myrtle Beach, which suffered major damage. Sept. 24, 1989. File/Staff
Hurricane Hugo devastated the South Carolina coastline and inland communities on September 21st and 22nd 1989. Boats were tossed like toys in marinas by the storm.
Hurricane Hugo devastated the South Carolina coastline and inland communities on September 21st and 22nd 1989. Residents spent months cleaning up after the storm.
Peachtree Street in NW downtown Charleston, Sept. 22, 1989 Wade Spees
Hurricane Hugo devastated the South Carolina coastline and inland communities on September 21st and 22nd 1989. Residents spent months cleaning up after the storm. Gov. Carroll Campbell, left, Arthur Ravenel, center, greet President George Bush during his visit to inspect the damage.
Hurricane Hugo devastated the South Carolina coastline and inland communities on September 21st and 22nd 1989. Residents spent months cleaning up after the storm. Mildred Lyons looked over the rubble of what was once her mother's house on Sullivans Island.
90 Murray Blvd
Lined up for water at an artesian well on Calhoun Street. 9/23/1989 Wade Spees
Boats from Wild Dunes marina photo by Wade Spees 9/27/89 ..KEYW:METRO
Fishing boats in McClellanville pushed ashore by hurricane Hugo. (Wade Spees /staff 9/27/89 )
Dick Bennett of Mount Pleasant shows the frustration of waiting in vain for ice that was supposed to be distributed at Moultrie Shopping Plaza on September 23, 1989. Bennett and several hundred other people left empty handed after waiting for hours. (FILE/Tom Spain/Staff
Cars stacked on street at Lincoln High School.
Meeting Street
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In the 30 years since the deadly storm slammed into South Carolina, the population of the state's eight coastal counties has grown 76 percent, and the number of housing units has roughly doubled.
Thirty years ago today, no one was truly prepared for what was about to unfold in the darkness. Slamming ashore north of Charleston just before midnight on Sept. 21, Hurricane Hugo gave everyone a brutal education in the power of storm surge, flooding and wind speeds. And afterward, the greater power of community and small kindnesses.