Hurricane Irma is making her way through the Caribbean, heading straight towards the U.S., and many Charlotteans are remembering a similar hurricane that struck the Carolinas back in 1989. Hurricane Hugo hit the South Carolina coast hard in September 1989, and while many did not think it would be able to travel as far inland as Charlotte… it did.

Although Irma’s path has not yet been clearly defined as to which parts of the country she will most strongly impact, some storm forecasters have expressed concerns that Irma’s path may lead her into the Western Carolinas. Hugo must serve as a reminder that it is possible for hurricanes of this strength to travel as far inland as the Queen City – even though we are more than 150 miles away from the coast.

As we prepare ourselves for the potential threat of Irma, we feel that it is important to look back on Hugo as a reminder that such storms are to be taken very seriously, no matter how safe we feel in our inland city. Above all else, we wish everyone in the pathway of this massive incoming storm to stay safe and prepared, should another Hugo-like situation come to pass. We urge you to use the devastating event in 1989 as an experience to learn from, to better plan and prepare for Irma, should she make landfall and continue inland toward Charlotte.

Hurricane Hugo formed in the Atlantic and gained strength as it traveled along its path towards the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, and the U.S.
NOAA/Wikipedia
Teetering between Category 4 and Category 5, Hurricane Hugo made landfall just north of Charleston, South Carolina on September 22, with 140 m.p.h. winds recorded after it had already demolished areas in Guadeloupe, Montserrat, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Florida, and Georgia.
The devastation in Charleston was unimaginable. In addition to 120 m.p.h. winds, there was a record-breaking storm surge and flooding that caused structure collapses and chaos.
Infogalactic Planetory Knowledge Core
Costs incurred to South Carolina as a result of Hurricane Hugo totaled nearly $6 billion, and the hurricane still is considered the most devastating in the history of the state.
From Charleston, Hugo tore through the Western part of North Carolina and hit Charlotte in the early morning hours of September 22, while many residents slept in their homes.
CityData

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Although downgraded to a tropical storm shortly before it struck Charlotte, Hugo was still packing gusts of winds ranging from 63 m.p.h. to 100 m.p.h., with heavy rain that carried the threat of flash flooding.
National Weather Service
Many Charlotte residents woke up on the morning of September 22 to devastation and damage.
State Climate Office of North Carolina
Harsh winds in Charlotte tore down 80,000 trees, toppling them over homes, businesses, and power lines. More than 700,000 residents were without power for weeks, and many schools and businesses were closed for much longer. Two deaths were reported near Charlotte; one, a child who perished when a tree fell on his home, and the other, a motorcyclist trying to reach safety who couldn't quite get out of the city in time.
Although destructive - like any disaster - the Charlotte community rallied together during this time and we saw neighbors helping neighbors for months after the storm had hit.
CityData
Today, as Irma approaches, we must come together again as a community to prepare and help our neighbors and fellow Charlotteans.
This image of Hurricane Irma, taken September 5th, shows how similar this storm looks to Hurricane Hugo.
NOAA/Wikipedia
Charlotte residents are reminded to pay attention this weekend and keep a close eye on this storm so that we can ensure that we are prepared in case Irma were to follow in Hugo's footsteps.

Please watch and listen to your local news stations, and take any warnings made by local leaders very seriously when directions are issued about the storm. If you are advised to evacuate - GO! Nothing is more valuable than the lives of you and your loved ones, and it is always better to be safe than sorry when a natural disaster is at your doorstep.

As of early Thursday morning, Hurricane Irma remains a Category 5 storm, and both North and South Carolina have declared a state of emergency as the hurricane barrels towards shore. Keep up-to-date on the status of this storm through credible news organizations, like the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center, the Weather Channel’s Irma forecasts, and the continuously-updated NWS Twitter page for the Carolinas region. The N.C. Department of Public Safety and North Carolina Emergency Management have even developed a special ReadyNC app that can be downloaded here.

Above all, be safe!

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