Posts Tagged ‘south carolina’
Tuesday, November 30th, 2010
Myrtle Beach is located mostly on a barrier island between the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway on the west and the Atlantic Ocean on the East. To the east of the waterway, the land is on a sandbar or dune area. West of the waterway, the land is mostly pine forest with a normal high water table, where developers create elevated areas to build on.
Myrtle Beach has a subtropical climate. This means that the city has mild winters and a hot, humid summer with much rainfall. Storms usually leave quickly, unless it is a hurricane or tropical storm. Myrtle Beach is touched or hit about every 3 years by a hurricane.
Hurricanes are large storms that develop over the ocean, spinning in a circle and moving across the water. Some hurricanes stay out over the ocean, but others come onto the land, and when it makes landfall, it has very strong winds, rain, and flooding. It can also bring tornadoes with it in its outer bands, and even places far inland can feel the impact of the storm. There are things that you can do, however, that will protect both you and your home from the storm.
Keep hurricane supplies at the ready. Non-perishable food, batteries, flashlights, and a radio are good basic things to keep in your storm kit.
Listen to the radio and keep abreast of the weather. If you are told to evacuate, do so immediately.
If you are unable to leave before the hurricane comes, stay inside your home.
When you are in the house, stay away from windows and glass doors. Cover your windows and doors in some way; preparing your home before a storm hits is very important, and hurricane shutters are recommended. This will keep the glass from breaking, or will protect you if the glass does break from the wind.
Some common kinds of hurricane shutters:
Bahama Shutters – louvered shutters that let in light and air, and close easily and quickly.
Colonial Shutters – Southern style shutters that come in two parts and go very well with the type of home found often in the South.
Accordion Shutters – shutters that unfold accordion style and are stored folded beside the window casing when not in use.
Roll-down or Rolling Shutters – convenient shutters that roll down with a touch of a button, and also have a manual option. Very unobtrusive and can match any home.
Hurricanes are very much a danger in Myrtle Beach, but with a few basic preparations, your home can be made much safer. Keep hurricane supplies ready, stay informed about the weather, evacuate when warned to, and cover your windows with hurricane shutters. This hurricane readiness can keep you, your family, and your home safe from the storm.
Tags: Accordion shutters, Bahama shutters, Colonial shutters, Hurricane Shutters, rolldown shutters, Rolling Shutters, south carolina, Storm Shutters
Posted in Hurricane Season, Hurricane Shutters | View Comments
Monday, November 29th, 2010
Charleston is the oldest city in the state of South Carolina and the second largest city in the state. It’s known as The Holy City because of the amount of churches and church steeples seen on the skyline, and also because it was one of the few cities in the founding thirteen colonies to supply and tout religious tolerance. The city is on a peninsula, and Charleston residents say, tongue in cheek, that the Ashley and Cooper Rivers come together there to form the Atlantic Ocean. The area is low and floods easily during heavy or prolonged rain and from storm surge.
Hurricanes are a major threat to the Charleston area, with several severe hurricanes hitting the area in recent years. Hurricane Hugo did major damage to the Charleston area, as it was a Category 4 storm. Tornadoes in the outer edges of the hurricanes are also a problem; Charleston has a history with them, as well. The city was once hit by a large tornado that, unbelievably, emptied the Ashley River, and then sank five ships anchored off the shore.
If you have a Charleston home, hurricane shutters are essential for your home; hurricane shutters can withstand high winds and help prevent the flying debris that makes your home susceptible to storm damage and elements. They keep out rain and wind, and give you one more barrier against the storm. Bahama shutters are a good choice if you are installing hurricane shutters. They are economical, and have other advantages as well:
Appearance and beauty – They’re available in a wide array of color choices, and can be made to match any color home, blending effortlessly and beautifully with the style and architecture.
Security and protection – The louvers of Bahama shutters let soft, indirect light air into your home while protecting your valuable furnishings from the sun’s damaging rays. The arms and locking pins on Bahama shutters also let you close them quickly and securely closing when a hurricane or a storm is on the way. You can use them to close the shutters at night to increase the security of your home or business, as well.
Strength and durability – The aluminum slats are strong and durable, and the coatings and stainless steel hardware of Bahama shutters are made to stand up to the tough environmental conditions of the coastal area. Bahama shutters are made to meet the standards of impact missile resistance and wind resistance needed during hurricanes and tropical storms.
No matter what kind of hurricane shutter you choose, if you live in Charleston, you should install them. They increase the chances of riding out a storm safely, and they help keep damage to a minimum.
Tags: Bahama shutters, Hurricane Shutters, south carolina, Storm Shutters
Posted in Bahama shutters, Hurricane Season, Hurricane Shutters | View Comments
Wednesday, November 24th, 2010
Hilton Head Island or Hilton Head is a resort town located on an island of the same name in South Carolina. The year-round population is about 34,000 year round, but can top out around 275,000 during the summer months, when tourists flood the island city to take advantage of the 12 miles of beaches and other attractions. The island is a popular vacation destination. Each year, tourists spend tons of money in the area: In 2004, an estimated 2.25 million visitors spent more than one and a half billion dollars in the area, which makes tourism the largest business of the local economy.
Hilton Head is brushed or hit about once every three years by a hurricane. Just a few of the hurricanes that have hit the area:
In 1893, the island sustained very heavy damage from a major hurricane.
In 1947, a hurricane hit just south of the island, but still caused damage with 85 mph winds.
In 1959, Hurricane Gracie hit the island with 125 mph winds, causing heavy property and crop damage. Gracie spawned eleven tornadoes, dumped eleven inches of rain on the island, and killed 12 people.
In 1979, Hurricane David hit the island as a Category 1. The 75 mph winds caused damage, and there was some flooding.
Hurricane Hugo brushed the area to the north in 1989 with 140mph winds. Hugo was a huge storm, and the island once again sustained wind damage and flooding.
Many of the homes on Hilton Head are built on stilts, because of frequent flooding and storm surge from hurricanes and tropical storms. But even a stilt house can sustain damage during a hurricane, and you should also take further precautions.
Hurricane shutters are a good start, and are one of the most important things that you can do to protect your home from the storm. Storm shutters that stay up year-round are practical, convenient, and provide you with the most protection. You don’t have to worry about putting them up in a hurry when a storm is imminent, and you don’t have to take them down after a storm is over. They keep pressure changes that happen during a storm from ripping off your roof or tearing hunks of walls off, and they protect you from debris tossed by the storm, which often is flung at horrifying speeds. These missiles can break through windows, and cause further damage inside the home. Even wind can break your windows, and hurricane shutters are tested to certain standards for wind resistance.
Hurricane shutters, especially if you live on an island like Hilton Head, are crucial for those who live in hurricane prone areas. Protect your home or business today, and install storm shutters.
Tags: Hurricane Shutters, south carolina, Storm Shutters
Posted in Hurricane Season, Hurricane Shutters | View Comments
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