October 28th – Post Hurricane Update

We want to update you on our efforts to repair our dune system protection. In addition we all have extensive debris removal concerns on the roadsides, as well as on the beach.

The Hurricane Emergency Process was:

  1. Noon Thursday October 6, Governors Evacuation Notice
  2. Thursday noon until Friday evening October 7, Friday 7AM Pawleys Police Department goes on 12 hours on and 12 hours off, and is individually contacting owners and renters to evacuate. 5 addresses choose to remain. People evacuated and nobody was allowed back on the Island after 5PM to avoid possible personal danger and looting. All critical items files computers etc. in Town Hall were placed in a U Haul and moved to Georgetown.
  3. Friday evening until Saturday morning October 8, At the Towns request the South Carolina National Guard was assigned to the island and joined our officers on the Causeways until the Winds increased when they all evacuated to safety.
  4. Saturday Afternoon October 8, After Matthew passed, our Officers and the National Guard returned to the causeways, Chief Fanning and Chief Eggiman of Midway Fire and Rescue toured the island at 5:30PM, after the tidal surge subsided, and they determined that it was unsafe for re-entry for other than first responders and officials. The SCDOT informed the Town that no one other than necessary personnel would be allowed over the bridges on either causeway until they were inspected and deemed safe for the public. Midway Fire begins a door to door assessment of damages, which lasted until Sunday morning.
  5. Sunday October 9, Midway Fire and the National Guard mitigate damages, clear Myrtle Avenue and Atlantic Avenue of downed lines, power poles, trees, destroyed creek docks, and one house roof. Midway completes the door to door assessment. The south end beach was walked, and it was determined that all Spring Street structures remained intact. SCDOT inspected the bridges and declares them safe.
  6. Monday October 10, The Governor lifts the evacuation order, Town Council meets and opens the island only to owners and their designated agents or contractors at 11AM through a North Causeway checkpoint. A checkpoint is moved to Springs Street and it is closed as it remains impassible and unsafe. The National Guard Engineering group arrives on Springs Street with heavy equipment and begins to clear Springs Street of debris and up to 31/2 feet of sand.
  7. Tuesday October 11, It was decided in consultation with the National Guard that the Town should augment their work with heavy equipment brought in under a Town agreement with Goodson Construction Company in order to provide quicker access to property owners. Goodson also needed to stage equipment at the South Parking Lot to begin Dune rebuilding when permits are received.
  8. Wednesday October 12, King tides begin, Springs Street is flooded by overwash near Pritchard Street, and Myrtle Avenue is flooded in many places on each high tide, Crews from Santee Cooper and the Lakeland Florida Power Company arrive. By late afternoon power is restored to parts of the island (underground sections earliest). 24 hour clearing of Springs Street continues.
  9. Thursday October 13, Springs Street road clearing is complete enough to allow homeowner and their agent or contractors access to their houses. Sand clearing continues, Causeway check points are removed and both causeways opened to the public.
  10. Friday October 14, Springs Street clearing continues. At the Towns request the Corps of Engineers visits the island to observe the extent of beach and dune damage and the continuing over wash of the south end on high tides. By 4:15PM the Town was issued an emergency scraping and dune building infrastructure protection permit, a NEW RECORD FOR PEMITTING FOR PAWLEYS, AND MUCH APPRECIATED by the Town and its property owners! Beach scraping and dune rebuilding begins, to protect the south end structures and infrastructure from the King Tides, which are getting higher!
  11. Saturday and Sunday October 15 and 16, The National Guard Engineering Group departs, with heartfelt thanks from the Town and its property owners! Goodsons equipment continues with road clearing and dune building, King Tides continue, over washing again in the Pritchard Street Springs Street area,
  12. Monday morning October 17, Pritchard Street Checkpoint removed for public access to Springs Street. Cleanup continues. Pawleys Island Police Department 12 hours shifts terminated.

THANKS TO EACH OF OUR FULL TIME AND PART TIME POLICE OFFICERS, CHIEF FANNING, TOWN CLERK DIANE ALLEN AND OUR ADMINISTRATOR RYAN FABBRI, FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO OUR TOWN, AND THEIR CONTINUING COMMITTED EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF PAWLEYS ISLAND AND OUR PROPERTY OWNERS!!

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