"Storm of the Century"
Side A
At midnight on September 21, 1989, Hurricane Hugo, a category four storm, blew into Charleston County. Winds in excess of 140 mph, a massive 20 foot storm surge, and extraordinarily high tides ravaged the area. Hugo cut a swath 50 miles wide and 200 miles long across South Carolina, and was one of the strongest storms to hit the East Coast since Hurricane Hazel in 1954.
Side B
The storms 6 foot surge destroyed the town hall/police station located here, and severely damaged nearby Alhambra Hall. After the storm 1,000 truck loads of debris were removed per day at a cost of $4 million for the 2 month cleanup. The debris stockpile stretched almost 1 mile and was 30 feet in height. The depth of the storm surge at this marker was 5 feet.
Erected 2003 by Town of Mount Pleasant.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Disasters. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1828.
Location. 32° 47.114′ N, 79° 52.351′ W. Marker is in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, in Charleston County. It is on Royall Avenue close to Bank Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mount Pleasant
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the Lowcountry. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Old Village (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ronkin's Long Room / Ferry Service (about 300 feet away); Friendship A.M.E. Church (about 400 feet away); Confederate Cemetery / Memorial (about 400 feet away); War of 1812 Encampment (about 400 feet away); Patjens Post Office (about 400 feet away); Darby Building (about 600 feet away); Laing School (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mount Pleasant.
Additional keywords. Hurricane
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2010. This page has been viewed 1,525 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 11, 2010. 4. submitted on January 3, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
