Here’s the latest on how it looks around the Grand Strand as Hurricane Dorian bears down
The Grand Strand started to feel the impacts of Hurricane Dorian early Thursday morning as conditions rapidly deteriorated.
Wind and rain whipped the coast and inland as multiple tornado warning alerts went off. Power outages were reported as roadways saw impacts, including some downed power lines and traffic light issues.
Here’s a quick rundown of what communities are experiencing as the storm sweeps the area with wind and rain.
Carolina Shores, NC
Tornadoes tore through a Brunswick County, NC neighborhood ripping roofs off homes ahead of Hurricane Dorian’s arrival.
North Myrtle Beach and Little River
Tornadoes touched down in these areas early Thursday morning as warnings stemming from Hurricane Dorian sounded from the National Weather Service. Homes in the Retreat community in Little River suffered damage, and a small tornado impacted 901 Westport in the Carolina Keyes community in North Myrtle Beach. No injuries were reported.
Myrtle Beach
Wind and rain lashed the coast and minor roadway flooding in some spots was reported early Thursday morning. Some ventured out to check out the downtown area near the Boardwalk and Skywheel.
Conway
Power lines were reported in the roadway at Cox Ferry Road and Destiny Lane in the Conway area early Thursday morning. There were also multiple traffic light defects reported and some small debris from trees in roadways.
Evacuees at Conway High School were hunkered down and riding out the storm. They were grateful for the shelter and thankful to the American Red Cross.
Georgetown
A family in Georgetown County escaped a house fire that started from a generator. However, their home suffered extensive damage.
Wednesday
North Myrtle Beach
Most folks out doing storm prep in the North Myrtle Beach area Wednesday ahead of Hurricane Dorian were optimistic as they braced for the storm. High tide rolled in around noon, but didn’t bring in anything out of the ordinary.
As Hurricane Dorian threatened Horry County, evacuees started trickling into the North Myrtle Beach High shelter. Families and vacationers offered their thoughts on the storm and why they came to the shelter.
Myrtle Beach
Surfers took to the water around 65th Avenue North Tuesday and ventured back out on Wednesday and caught waves under gloomy skies. Ocean Boulevard was quiet midday Wednesday as people prepared for Hurricane Dorian’s arrival. Most hotels were closed, but few businesses had boarded up for the storm.
Bucksport
Boaters sought shelter and hunkered down at Bucksport Marina and helped one another as they prepared to ride out the storm. The marina is known as a safe place to be because the docks are floating and the islands provide some protection.
Conway area
A makeshift memorial sprang up where a 48-year-old man suffered a fatal fall during storm prep. He was helping a friend prepare for Hurricane Dorian on Tuesday by cutting large limbs off a tree in the front yard when he fell from a ladder.
Garden City Beach
Beachgoers in Garden City played in the ocean, walked the shore, surfed and watched the waves come in near the pier before the storm, and most seemed unworried about Hurricane Dorian’s approach.