South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said that the coastal state is “not out of the woods yet” after Hurricane Ian made landfall Friday, leaving behind flooded streets and heavy winds as the now post-tropical cyclone moves north through the state.
Several videos posted Friday have highlighted destruction left behind by the tropical storm, including one posted by WeatherNation field reporter Josh Morgerman, who shared a video of him standing in flooded waters in Georgetown, South Carolina, around 3:11 p.m. Hurricane Ian first made landfall just south of Georgetown midday Friday.
Myrtle Beach Fire Dept.
In the video, Morgermans pans over the street he’s standing on commenting that the “historic district” is “totally under water.”
“The whole thing,” Morgerman adds. “As far as the eye can see.”
Another video, posted earlier in the day by Live5News Reporter Rey Llerena, shows heavy rainfall mixed with strong winds hitting the Georgetown streets.
Some videos taken of Myrtle Beach, located just 35 miles north of Georgetown, have also been posted showing structural damages to the popular vacation destination. One video posted by WYFF News 4 shows high waves washing out parts of the Cherry Grove Pier near North Myrtle Beach.
The Myrtle Beach Police Department also shared a video around 1:30 p.m. Friday showing cars driving down a very flooded 3rd Avenue South and Ocean Boulevard.
“Don’t drive through flooded roadways,” Myrtle Beach Police wrote along with the video. “There is no reason to take this risk.”
Don’t drive through flooded roadways. Take another route and stay safe. This is 3rd Ave S and Ocean Blvd. There is no reason to take this risk. pic.twitter.com/LEWK74YFMX
— Myrtle Beach Police (@MBPDSC) September 30, 2022
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that Hurricane Ian hit South Carolina as a Category 1 Hurricane, with winds speeds reaching up to 85 mph. The NHC also warned in its 5 p.m. update that even post-tropical, Ian poses a dangerous chance of storm surges, flash flooding and high winds as it passes through the state, and can still reach wind speeds up to 70 mph.
Governor McMaster urged residents in a Friday press release to stay informed of the tropical storm’s movement and to stay inside from the ongoing storm surges.
“A lot of prayers have been answered,” McMaster said in the release. “This storm is not as bad as it could have been, but don’t let your guard down yet.”
Unlike in Florida, where Hurricane Ian made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane, no South Carolina residents were ordered to evacuate ahead of the storm.
The heaviest parts of the storm appear to have passed parts of Myrtle Beach by Friday evening as Ian heads more inland towards North Carolina. One photo shared by Photojournalist Van Applegate depicts a rainbow peeking out behind clouds overtop of calm waters in South Myrtle Beach around 4:23 p.m.
Newsweek has reached out to Myrtle Beach Police for updates on damages and search and rescue efforts.
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