Myrtle Beach for Families

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Hurricane Preparedness 101 – What to do before and after a hurricane

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hurricane preparedness

Are You Ready for a Hurricane?

Official Atlantic Hurricane Season runs June 1 through November 30, peaking in late August and September. September is National Preparedness Month, and as such, it’s probably a good idea to think about hurricane preparedness and what to do in the event of a major storm.

Myrtle Beach has seen some strong hurricane and tropical storms in recent years, most notably Hurricane Matthew in October 2016 which took out power, ripped off the Springmaid and Surfside piers and caused millions in damage to homes across the Grand Strand.

Create an Emergency Plan and Be Ready to Go

Thanks to advanced storm tracking technology, we typically get a decent sized head start on a storm coming our way. Here are some of the things you should do to prepare before the hurricane arrives:

  • Create a small kit of emergency supplies including first aid, drinking water, medicine, non-perishable food, flashlights and batteries
  • Trim trees and shrubs, if you have time
  • Gather vital documents (birth certificates, deeds, etc)
  • Protect vulnerable areas of home (board/shutter windows and bring in lawn furniture)
  • Secure evacuation housing (stay with friends, book a hotel, find a shelter, etc)
  • Fuel up your vehicles
  • Know the evacuation route for your zone and pay attention to road closings

For more information, The South Carolina Emergency Management Division website has additional resources to boost hurricane preparedness.

Plan for Long-Term Power Outages

One thing we’ve learned from Myrtle Beach storms is that the power often stays long after the storm has left and the sunshine returns. One of the first items to disappear from big box home improvement store shelves are the portable, gas-powered generators.

For those looking for a more permanent and comfortable solution, consider a permanently installed standby generator. These residential generators tie directly to fuel lines underground and automatically restore whole house power within seconds of a utility outage.

At the very least, consider life without power for a couple weeks. Stock up on non-perishable, easy to prepare meals, and consider alternative ways to stay cool without an HVAC system running.

Post-Storm Cleanup and Repair

Assessing damage, filing insurance claims, and repairing your home is stressful. It is especially challenging if your house has damage that makes living in it impossible.

If your home has seen flooding or water damage and has standing water inside, it’s critical that you do not enter without clearance from an electrical inspector or public safety official. If your power has not been disconnected fully, you may be wading in to a fatal situation. There are a number of licensed, professional services in Myrtle Beach that can help with water damage restoration and mold removal.

Structural damage to your home from flooding or high winds can be overwhelming, and it’s worthwhile to meet with a few Myrtle Beach custom builders who specialize in repair and remodeling to compare estimates.

As you rebuild, consider “storm-proof” upgrades to your home to protect against future hurricanes.

Guest post submitted by Dean Blumberg

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UPDATED 2018-2019 Horry County Schools Calendar

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The UPDATED 2018-2019 Horry County Schools Calendar is available! Bookmark it now for easy access!

The hurricane wiped out the make-up days plus some. Below is the updated 2018 – 2019 Horry County Schools calendar.


Original source: Horry County Schools

 

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2017-2018 Horry County Schools Calendar

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The 2017-2018 Horry County Schools calendar is available and it looks like school will begin on Wednesday, August 23, 2017. Fun fact, our start date is no coincidence, as the 21st is the date of a major solar eclipse! It’s set to take place near the time of elementary school dismissal. What a nightmare it would be trying to usher little ones out to waiting cars and buses without looking up at the sky!

I love that we start on a Wednesday and that we break for and return from Christmas break on Wednesdays. Those short weeks make life so much easier!

Spring Break is the week after Easter and the last day is Tuesday, June 5, 2018. The whole thing looks pretty similar to last year.

Now it’s time to call your travel agent and book your trips throughout the year! Raise your hand if you’re planning a Disney World or Disney Cruise vacation this year. They are our favorites!

2017-2018 Horry County Schools Calendar

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Movies, games, and a dance party! December events at Chapin Memorial Library

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Chapin Memorial Library, Chapin Memorial Library December 2016

December Events at Chapin Memorial Library

Storytimes

Baby Storytime – Mondays at 5:30 p.m., Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. for ages 4-20 months. Enjoy rhymes, fingerplays, music, bubbles and playtime with age appropriate toys.

Toddler Storytime – Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. for ages 20 – 35 months. Join us for stories, flannelboards, fingerplays, songs, and an age appropriate craft. Early learning toys are available for parent/child use after storytime.

Preschool Storytime – Thursdays at 1:00 p.m. for ages 3-5 years old. Children enjoy stories, songs, fingerplays, and a craft. Literacy toys are available for parent/child use after storytime.

Family Storytime – Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. for children of all ages. Enjoy stories, song, fingerplays, flannelboards and a craft. Literacy toys are available for parent/child use after storytime.

Special Family Events

Family Dance Party – Friday, December 9th at 11:00 a.m. Family dance party is a mix of movement songs, fingerplays, contemporary music and a story. Especially fun for babies through preschool age children but all families are welcome!

Chess Club – 1st Saturday of the month at 10:00 a.m. Open to all age youth of all abilities. Play chess and learn new tactics and strategies. If you have never played chess before, come learn the game! This program is organized and run by volunteers and promoted by the library. More information contact kshartford@gmail.com

Tree and Ornament Decorating – Saturday, December 3rd from 10:00-12:00 p.m. Make an ornament to help decorate the tree in youth services!

Family Movies – Monday, December 19th at 3:30 p.m. – The Secret Life of Pets PG 1 hr 30 min
and Thursday, December 22nd at 10:30 a.m. – The Santa Clause PG 1 hr 39 min
Lemonade and popcorn will be provided.

Lego Build – Saturday, December 10th from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. build with Legos at your library! Keep your engineering and problem-solving skills sharp, strengthen your STEM muscles, and spark your imagination with an abundance of Lego bricks. We will give an inspiration topic and then it’s free build time!

Teens Events

Art class (pre-registration required) – 2nd Thursday of the month at 3:30 p.m. for ages 10-14 years old. Arielle Fatuova, Education Coordinator from the Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum, inspires and guides us as we create our own works of art. December project: hand print clay bowls

Ugly Christmas Sweater – Tuesday, December 6th at 5:00 p.m. We will be making ugly Christmas sweaters for all of those festive parties this season. Bring any plain sweater and we will have the supplies to make it into a hideously beautiful creation with cotton balls, buttons, beads, sequence, pipe cleaners, and glitter glue.

Avengers Assemble – Saturday, December 17th at 1:00 p.m. Chapin Memorial Library needs your help! Pick your team: The Hulk, Captain America, Thor, or Iron Man. Use your knowledge and skills to compete with others in trivia, puzzles and games to prove your greatness.

Teen Movies – Tuesday, December 20th at 11:30 a.m. – Maximum Ride PG-13 1 hr 27 min
and Wednesday, December 21st at 3:00 p.m. – Ghostbusters PG-13 2 hrs 14 min
Lemonade and popcorn will be provided.

Visit www.chapinlibrary.org to see event calendar and holiday schedule

Photo: Chapin Memorial Library on Facebook

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Hurricane Matthew aftermath and serious warnings

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Well, Myrtle Beach. We made it through. The storm is far away from here and we’re dealing with Hurricane Matthew aftermath. That word “aftermath” means something different for all of us.

Our family was lucky. While we didn’t lose power other than a few flickers, we did lose trees. One in front of our house and another in the back. The one in front fell parallel to the house and the very top landed on the roof of the garage. Our daughter saw it fall and said it was slow and gentle. Fingers crossed that when we have it removed, there’s minimal or no damage to that roof.

Hurricane Matthew, tree on roof, Hurricane Matthew aftermath

The tree in the back had been a source of stress in previous storms and finally gave up. I was terrified that one would hit our bedroom or the screened porch, but somehow it managed to fall to a mere rest on the playground without damaging it. What are the odds of that? Overall, I feel very fortunate.

Others weren’t so lucky and I know you’ve seen those videos of burned homes in Cherry Grove and missing piers in Surfside and Myrtle Beaches. So incredibly sad.

I’m writing to give you a few words of warning on how to proceed from here.

Hurricane Matthew aftermath safety tips

  1. Stay at home as much as possible. Roads are flooded, power lines are down, trees that are uprooted but still standing can fall with even the slightest gust, and traffic lights are down – like literally no longer exist. So if you’re driving in an unfamiliar area, you may not even realize you’re approaching an intersection that had one. If you MUST go out, use EXTREME caution.
  2. Be patient. Even those who are grinding away to restore power are dealing with their own property damage. Just know they’re working incredibly hard to make things better for you. Be nice.
  3. Realize that there are folks in worse situations than you. I guarantee my trees won’t be removed for days, maybe even a week. The tree companies will be working to take away trees who are through people’s roofs before they get to mine. I understand that.
  4. Check on your neighbors. See if they need anything, especially the elderly.
  5. Use common sense. We are in a state of emergency. I know you’re going stir-crazy AND it’s always interesting to get out to sight-see, but don’t. You’re in the way of those trying to keep us safe and might end up in pickle yourself.

And the most important words or wisdom I have…

STAY OUT OF FLOOD WATERS!

I can’t say this enough. Don’t wade in it to see how deep it is. Don’t let your pets in it or drink from it. It’s filled with bacteria that can make you very, very sick. Last year Horry County schools were riddled with Shigellosis that just wouldn’t go away. It’s highly contagious, causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, and is quite serious. Waterbourne illness is no joke. 

The bubbling in this photo is a manhole cover that’s overflowing. The area smells horribly of sewage.

Hurricane Matthew flooding, Hurricane Matthew aftermath

Be safe, my friends. Everyone dealing with Hurricane Matthew aftermath is in my thoughts and prayers.

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