Tropical Storm Isaias: Murrells Inlet Goat Island evacuated ahead of hurricane threat

As Tropical Storm Isaias makes its way toward the Myrtle Beach area, some have begun seeking safer land — some goats, that is.

Crews brought eight goats from Goat Island in Murrells Inlet near the Marshwalk onshore and carted them off to Jack and Kim Patrick’s farm about a mile inland, Drunken Jack’s owner Al Hitchcock said. Isaias is forecast to strengthen to a hurricane as it approaches the Grand Strand and tropical storm-force winds are expected as early as Monday afternoon, prompting the decision.

“The storm’s coming right at us at high tide and a full moon,” Hitchcock said.

Goat Island is a small piece of land right behind Bubba’s Love Shak and Drunken Jack’s restaurants along the MarshWalk. Six people helped with the rescue mission, driving a pontoon boat to the island and back to shore.

“We just help out anywhere we can,” said JJ Freier, who works at Express Watersports nearby.

Hitchcock said they try not to evacuate the goats too often, only once a year if possible. But if the situation requires it, he doesn’t hesitate to bring them off the island.

“We were hoping the storm was gonna turn one way or another and miss us, but that didn’t happen,” Hitchcock said.

The goats will be returned to the island sometime Tuesday, depending on the extent of the storm’s impacts, according to Hitchcock.

This story was originally published August 3, 2020 at 10:05 AM.