GARDEN CITY, S.C. (WPDE) — As tropical storm Imelda’s track continues to show the storm staying offshore, residents along the Carolina coast are breathing a sigh of relief.
Garden City residents said they’re grateful the storm shouldn’t hit as hard as earlier tracks suggested.
Garden City Beach in Horry County has a history of flooding during major storms and king tides.
In fact, one of the worst recent flood events there came with Hurricane Ian, a category 1 storm that damaged piers and submerged low-lying areas.
With Imelda anticipated to bring far less impact than anticipated, many said they’re feeling grateful.
“Oh, very grateful, I hate to see anyone impacted by a storm, and I’ve seen plenty of it here, lots of flooding,” Perry Galloway, Garden City vendor, said. “Flooding is the most painful, I think, for everyone, and so like I said, we’ve had some pretty strong storms, and I’ve seen a lot of wind damage and things like that, but flooding is by far the one that I think should worry people the most.”
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Others echo that relief, including longtime local business owners who remember well what flood damage can do.
“Always glad that we don’t get hit by the storm, the rain puts a damper on our outside venue, but we would rather have that than, you know, get flooded out again,” John Thomas, a local bar manager, said.
On Sunday afternoon, Garden City Beach saw dry skies, and local vendors were set up near Highway 17 and Atlantic Avenue, including a foster-based animal rescue organization.
South Paw Rescue brought out puppies looking for future homes, but even they know the weather can change quickly.
“Keep your dogs inside. If they are outside, make it safe for them to be out there,” Betty Budd, co-director of South Paw Rescue, said. “If they aren’t, bring them into a garage, make it so they are not impacted by the storm, get them a roof over their head, just make it safe.”
Those looking to enjoy the beach within the next few days should use extreme caution, as the National Weather Service said dangerous surf conditions are expected over the next few days.
And remember, you can always get the most current information about storm impacts, including school closures or delays, with your ABC15 News app. You can find it in your app store.
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