 urricanes and other natural disasters are a fact of life in the Lowcountry. The Great Earthquake of 1886,
the epicenter of which was about 10 miles south of Summerville, and Hurricane Hugo in 1989 are only two of
many reminders of this fact.
A hurricane is a very large tropical storm system with winds over 73 mph, creating a twisting, spiral formation.
The storm can be as much as 600 miles across with winds as high as 200 mph. Generally, because of the low pressure
area associated with such a storm, there is an accompanying tidal surge that can add between 10 and 25 feet to the
normal depth of the tides.
Local residents learned after Hurricane Hugo that homeowners who had taken standard precautions -- from having
essential tools to updating their insurance policies -- were better equipped to undertake repairs than those who
had not. Taking the right precautions will help minimize damage to your house and facilitate repairs and recovery.
In the days following Hurricane Hugo, Historic Charleston Foundation established an emergency recovery assistance
office to offer technical assistance to owners of historic houses. In the event of another disaster, HCF will again
provide technical assistance and answer questions about repairs to historic properties. Based on circumstances, the
HCF emergency recovery office will either be at its Missroon House headquarters, 40 East Bay St., 843-723-1623, or at the
Frances R. Edmunds Center for Preservation and Museum Shop, 108 Meeting St., 843-724-8484. Please contact the Foundation
if we can offer advice regarding the protection and repair of your property.
Information Packets
For more information on hurricanes and earthquakes, download the information packets below.
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