Hurricane Matthew 5 Year Anniversary
Locals Remember HurricanE Matthew
Five years ago, many of us woke up (or quite possibly never went to sleep) in the early morning hours of Oct. 8, 2016 to whipping wind, flooding and destruction caused by Hurricane Matthew. If you evacuated the island, nervously returning days later to see if your property survived was just as scary.
In Hurricane Matthew’s Direct Path
Hurricane Matthew brought winds of up to 88 mph and 14 inches of rain. Palmetto Bay Marina was unfortunately in it's direct path. Officials initially estimated $51.6 million in damage in Beaufort County and was considered the deadliest Atlantic hurricane since Hurricane Stan in 2005. "The water rose high enough to go above the piles and so the entire marina lifted off of its anchor and then floated away," said Jim Givens, owner, Sea Tow.
Waking up that Morning
The two roads onto the island were blocked by fallen pine trees, and many roads were under water. Signs were blown over, and power was out across the island. Boats were tossed together and washed ashore at the Palmetto Bay Marina on Hilton Head Island by the hurricane. The docks appeared to have broken loose sometime early Saturday as Matthew’s surge ran up the Broad Creek near the Cross Island parkway. Many of us would see patches of newly opened sky on the island resulting from the massive fallen trees.
Next Steps to Recovery
Removal of over two million tons of debris began and continued for six months. The destruction was overwhelming, but the spirit of the islanders was strong, as crews worked to get the island back in shape, welcoming back both wildlife and tourists.
There are still many uprooted trees; left to decompose and maintain habitat for wildlife. But, summer 2017 was as busy as ever, occupancy is high, an aggressive beach restoration project widened the luscious white sandy beaches, birds are nesting and, flora and fauna bloom. While the loss of trees was devastating, the rich, dense forest left enough vegetation behind to be unnoticeable to a new vacationer. The natural, serene beauty of Hilton Head Island is still the major attraction.
The Bounce Back
“With everything Palmetto Bay Marina has been through, people basically said, ‘I’ll believe it when I see it,’” said Kuy Scott, Managing Partner for Palmetto Bay Marina (referring to the proposed rebuild following the Hurricane). The first phase of rebuilding consisted of the new commercial docks, top-of-the-line electrical and sewage pumps, as well as dual 10,000-gallon fuel tanks. Even the docks themselves have been upgraded, with aluminum supports against special dense wood for durability and style.
Another improvement will add an entirely new dynamic to the attractions at Palmetto Bay Marina, with a greater selection of slips. “There’s a big demand for dock and dine,” said Scott. “So that people will have another venue where you can bring your boat right to the restaurant, our far exterior pier will have 400 feet of transient dockage at minimum.”
Palmetto Bay Marina 2021
Moving forward, the next phase will incorporate a larger residential side to the marina on the western flank, which will not only be restored but enlarged by nearly 25 percent. Scott says, “When that’s done, we’ll have a very large number of daily and weekly transients. We think there’s a demand for that. We really look at our dock space as another parking lot.” It might have taken a little bit longer than expected, but with the right people on the job, Palmetto Bay Marina is ready for its return to glory.
Come Spend a Day at Palmetto Bay
The second phase of our marina renovation is underway now to complete our operation including all new docks and marina amenities. Visitors will have their choice from a variety of watersports activities, boat rentals, and nature tours. If you love great food and drinks, you’re in luck! Pull up a seat at one of our two bars or three waterside restaurants serving all of your Lowcountry favorites.