Personal Injury Attorney in Beaufort, SC

READ MORE

Expected to reach Florida’s Big Bend region late Thursday, the predicted incoming impacts for Hurricane Helene triggered a tropical storm watch for the Lowcountry.

Expand All

During a statewide Helene update at 2 p.m. Friday, Gov. Henry McMaster said there were possibly more power outages from Helene than any other storm in recent history. He urged residents to exercise patience with getting power restored.

From the early morning, when about 1.3 million electric customers in South Carolina were without power over 50,000 lacked electricity in Beaufort County, nearly 38,000 Dominion Energy and Palmetto Electric customers were without power.

More than 10,000 Palmetto Electric customers were still without power, according to Hunter. The majority of powerless customers, around 6,300, live in Jasper County.

About 1,600 of their Beaufort County customers are dealing with outages. Additional crews from Alabama are coming to assist the energy cooperative to restore power, Hunter said.

About 30,000 Dominion Energy customers in Beaufort County and 5,000 customers in Jasper County were still without power, according to Fischer.

Crews are continuing to make good process restoring power as the day goes on, Fischer said.

A surge of customers had restored power, dropping the percentage without from 47% to 36%. About 38,200 Beaufort County Dominion Energy customers didn’t have electricity at 11 a.m., and over 3,450 Palmetto Electric customers hadn’t had power restored.

Cars were seen lining up for gas around at the Parker’s convenience store on S.C 170 near Callawassie Drive, which was open for business while widespread power outages shut down most gas stations north of the Broad River.

The line inside stretched to the back of the building. Many patrons were emergency service workers who had come for their fix of morning coffee.

About 43,000 Dominion Energy customers in Beaufort County and 7,000 in Jasper County were without power according to Paul Fischer, the energy company’s spokesperson.

Fischer said the outages were a result of widespread damage from downed trees and severe winds overnight. The energy company worked throughout the night to restore power in areas where crews could work safely, and they will continue to work around the clock to get power restored, he said.

There was not a precise timeline for when power would be restored for customers, Fischer said, but that with declining wind speeds and the benefit of daylight Friday morning, crews would be able to work more safely to address outages.

Tray Hunter, Palmetto Electric’s vice president of marketing and public relations, said at 7 a.m. Friday that the vast majority of outages were tied to fallen trees on transmission lines.

Once transmission is back up, Hunter said the 21,000 outages would drop down to 5,000 or 6,000 customers without power. Those remaining customers are located in rural areas.

Widespread outages began at about 1 a.m. Friday and escalated up until 5 a.m. due to high winds.

While crews were out, Hunter said they were cutting down trees in roads just to get through to affected areas. Between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m., crews from Palmetto Electric and other electric teams had to stop responding to outages because of dangerous high winds.

At about 7:10 a.m., Hunter said crews were packing up to go out again.

“Once it’s light, we can see what we’re actually dealing with,” Hunter said.

He was hesitant to say when power would be restored, because once transmission comes back up, there can still be trees on lines that feed between homes and substations. It could be 30 minutes, once the crews get out. In some areas it could be the afternoon.

Hunter said he is hopeful everyone’s electricity is back on Friday. However, power restoration could come late Friday or Saturday.

Hilton Head Island fared well, with only three customer outages as of 7:15 a.m., Hunter said, adding that it’s due to the island’s underground power lines.

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office alerted that they had received dozens of reports of downed trees and power lines in the county.

Weather forecasters said that by sunrise in South Carolina, Helene’s effects would slow, including a reduction in strong winds and scattered rain. While thousands are without power in the county, residents will have to brave an 84-degree high temperature. Beaufort County does not have shelters for those without electricity.

To report outages, call the following numbers:

For downed trees and power lines call the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office’s non-emergency dispatch line at 843-524-2777.

The Town of Port Royal was without power as Helene battered the Lowcountry with high winds, leaving streets and neighborhoods in the dark.

Between Dominion Energy and Palmetto Electric Cooperative, 116,091 customers are tracked in Beaufort County. Dominion Energy was reported nearly 37,000 customers were without power and Palmetto Electric had 20,000 in need of electricity, according to PowerOutage.us.

Residents in some portions of the town, along Ribaut Road, the main north-south road through the area, were without power.

A tropical storm warning was in effect until 7 p.m. Friday, the National Weather Service said. A tornado watch remained in effect until 8 a.m., and a high surf advisory will remain in place until 8 p.m.

On Thursday evening, the National Weather Service placed Beaufort County under a tornado watch until 8 a.m. Friday, shortly before a tornado warning expired at 9:15 p.m. Thursday. A tornado watch means twisters are possible in and near the watch area, which typically covers multiple counties or states.

Helene made landfall at 11:10 p.m. Thursday about 10 miles west-southwest of Perry, Florida, as Category 4 hurricane 140-mph winds and continued to track north.

This story was originally published September 27, 2024, 6:41 AM.

Follow more of our reporting on Stories shared from The Island Packet’s Instagram account

South Carolina

October 31, 2024 1:29 PM

See all stories

READ MORE

Expected to reach Florida’s Big Bend region late Thursday, the predicted incoming impacts for Hurricane Helene triggered a tropical storm watch for the Lowcountry.

Expand All

Local schools, government services and businesses rapidly announced closures and delays Thursday before Hurricane Helene was posed to batter Florida’s Big Bend region, residual bringing the threat of high winds and tornadoes to the Hilton Head Island area. Meteorologists predict the worst of the storm will hit Beaufort County beginning Thursday evening and overnight Friday.

This list of closures and delays will be constantly updated as the week progresses.

Beaufort County School District: All Beaufort County public school facilities will be closed Friday and classes will be held online, the district announced just before noon on Thursday. After-school activities Thursday were canceled, but activities set for Friday afternoon would continue as scheduled.

Technical College of the Lowcountry: In-person classes canceled after 5 p.m. Thursday and all day Friday; normal operations resuming 8 a.m. Monday

University of South Carolina Beaufort: Classes after 5 p.m. Thursday moved to e-learning; all classes and university offices will “operate normally” Friday.

Mathnasium of Bluffton: Closed Thursday.

May River Montessori School: Closed Friday.

Lowcountry Day Preschool: Closing at 2 p.m. Thursday; closed Friday.

Ivybrook Academy: Closed Friday.

Kids College: Closing at 2:30 p.m. Thursday; closed Friday.

The Children’s Center: Closed Friday.

Limitless Pediatric Solutions: Closed Friday.

SliderBar Bluffton: Closing at 3 p.m. Thursday.

Beaufort County Auditor’s Bluffton office: Closed Friday.

Beaufort County offices: Closed Friday.

Beaufort County Convenience Centers: Closed Friday; normal operations expected Saturday.

Beaufort Magistrate Court: Facilities open Friday; all Friday preliminary hearings rescheduled for Oct. 11.

Bluffton Waste Management: Lowcountry Hauling and WM Brunswick Hauling services working Thursday and Friday; route delays expected Friday.

Palmetto Breeze Transit: Friday routes delayed by three hours; all other services “will operate as scheduled.”

City of Hardeeville offices: Closed Friday.

Low Country Shrimp and Knits: Closing at 5 p.m. Thursday

To add your own business or other closure information to this list, email us at newsroom@islandpacket.com.

This story was originally published September 26, 2024, 2:35 PM.

The Island News

According to Hargray, the “widescale internet and phone outage” experienced Monday, Sept. 23, by customers of Sparklight, formerly Hargray Communications, has been resolved

An update on Hargray’s Faecbook page at 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 24, reads, “All customer services have been restored. Customers experiencing technical issues are asked to first reboot prior to contacting Tech Support. Impacted residential customers will receive a credit on an upcoming statement – there is no need to call in to receive this credit.

“We want to again thank you for your patience and understanding yesterday. In a rare circumstance, fiber damage was sustained in four locations, which disrupted service on both our primary and redundant lines. While technicians continue repairing fiber on one of the lines this morning, the redundancy has allowed us to restore service. We appreciate you bearing with us.”

The City of Beaufort and Beaufort County, along with countless businesses and private customers were without internet services and landline phones beginning sometime around 10:20 a.m., Monday, according to Hargray’s website.

According to Hargray, the outage was brought on by fiber damage caused by third-party digging in Hardeeville. In addition to the Lowcountry of South Carolina, there were Sparklight/Hargray outages across Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and other areas of South Carolina, according to DownDetector.com.

Verizon and T-Mobile cellular customers in the same areas dealt with service issues as well, according to internet reports.

The outage, however, did not affect 9-1-1 services, according to Master Sgt. Danny Allen, spokesperson for the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.

Around 2 p.m., a Sparklight/Hargray official responded to email inquiries from The Island News with a message similar to what had been posted on its Facebook pages earlier in the day.

“A portion of our Hargray customers are currently experiencing slow internet or internet outages due to fiber damage caused by a third-party,” the post read. “Technicians are working diligently to get services restored as quickly and safely as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate the patience of our customers while we perform the work to repair damaged fiber. We are providing updates on our Hargray Facebook page as information becomes available.”

A customer service representative contacted by phone could not give any estimate when the outage might be resolved. Her suggestion was to “call back in 24 hours.”

A portion of customers began to see their services restored Monday night.

In an 8:15 p.m., update, Hargray posted the following on its Facebook page: “Our teams continue working diligently to restore services. As technicians continue working to splice and repair fiber, customers are beginning to see services come back online. We will provide another update once all services are restored. We again thank you for your ongoing patience.”

Mike McCombs is the editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.

The late Pat Conroy, a long-time Beaufort resident, once said, “A recipe is a story that ends with a good meal.” Situated between Charleston and Savannah in the heart of the Lowcountry, Conroy’s beloved Beaufort seemingly has the recipe for a more manageable version of both tasty and tasteful cities. That’s true with the restaurant scene as well, in that the choices are fewer — but equally as interesting and creative.

Read More

Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

This hip and trendy spot has recently morphed into a new lunch and wine shop concept, including a new name. With a tagline of “Wine always. Food Sometimes,” the reinvention features a small wine shop with an even smaller menu of creative starters like toasts (think smoked trout or sardines), thoughtful salads (grilled octopus and fava beans), and chips with dips, as well as cold cuts and vegetarian ciabatta sandwiches.

Located in Anchorage 1770, a premier boutique inn on Bay Street, the Ribaut Social Club is a fine dining destination that pays homage to the incorrigible spirit and convivial atmosphere of the original Ribaut Club, established at the Anchorage in 1891. The short menu offers creative takes on meats, seafood, and fresh vegetables all served on the massive front porch of the pre-Revolutionary (though, the timeline is often disputed) mansion.

Lowcountry Produce is a market and cafe that locals love to head to for breakfast, lunch, and interesting gourmet finds. With a focus on fresh, local, and high-quality ingredients, Lowcountry Produce favorites include popular fresh soups, shrimp and grits, varied sandwiches, and a killer tomato pie. The glazed yeast donuts are a delight anytime of day. It also has locations in Seabrook (12 miles north of Beaufort, on the way from Charleston) and Hilton Head Island.

Created by John Marshall of Charleston’s Al Di La fame, Old Bull Tavern, or OBT — as locals call it — is Beaufort’s high-energy, eclectic neighborhood gastropub featuring lots of creative takes on Lowcountry favorites (like pork chops with collard greens and Lowcountry Captain), popular wood-fired pizzas, former Al Di La specialties, like the gnocchi with fresh local shrimp, tomatoes, and basil, and, according to some, the area’s best burger.

Breakwater is a long-time Beaufort favorite for good reason. It focuses on seafood from the Carolinas coast, with she-crab soup, a loaded tuna nicoise, and local blue crab-centric crab cakes all making regular appearances on the menu. The silky butter bean hummus is a great starter for the table.

With an outdoor patio overlooking the Beaufort River, the vibe at Plums is casually coastal and so is the menu, with classic fried shrimp or oyster po’ boys, burgers, and other standards. But, locals know to dig more deeply into the offerings, including shrimp and grits, the signature Lowcountry gumbo, and delectable crab cakes.

Situated on busy Bay Street, rustic-styled Hearth Wood Fired Pizza is where unique and classic pizzas reign supreme. With its stunning red domed Marra Forni brick oven taking center stage, pizza faves include the margherita and the ‘Shroomage. There are also interesting starters (like the meat and cheese board), salads, sandwiches (the Italian Hero is seriously stuffed) and pastas, like the wood-fired lasagna. Hearth’s impressive beer and wine offerings make for easy pairings.

Set on a Waterfront Park overlooking the Beaufort River, Saltus River Grill is where locals and visitors head for a fine dining experience. It focuses on fresh catch and seafood specialties, with raw bar selections and creative sushi as well. The atmosphere is sophisticated but casual, and there’s a bustling bar and a popular patio with a fire pit.

Beaufort’s newest addition, Locals, features fresh oysters, sashimi, nigiri, and creative rolls. You’ll also find dishes like pork belly buns, chicken dashi dumpling soup, okonomiyaki, and shellfish fried rice. Lunch has the addition of poke bowls and sandwiches (smash burger, short rib melt, and lobster grilled cheese). The drink menu is impressive, including well-paired sakes and creative cocktails.

Ideally situated on the way to (or from) Hunting Island State Park and Fripp Island, those in the know stop by in the morning for a breakfast sandwich (like the very popular Brekkie Sando with eggs, sausage or bacon, cheese and caramelized onions wrapped up in chipotle aioli) or grits bowl and come again in the afternoon for a burger, fried bologna, or pimento cheese sandwich. The namesake Beedo burger is a tasty smash burger with griddled onions and the perfect ratio of bun to burger.

Every town needs a special occasion spot — the one with white tablecloths and a fancy menu. Chef Frank’s does that and more for the Beaufort area with its creative and seasonal menu. Starters include a portobello burrata plate, steak egg rolls, and crab spanakopita. Entrees go big with a rack of lamb, duck breast, and filet mignon. But what really takes this spot over the top is its commitment to personalized service and red-carpet experience.

Overlooking the Beaufort River and shrimp boats in nearby Port Royal, Fishcamp on 11th Street — part of the CRAB restaurant group from Hilton Head Island — offers up views and sunsets that are matched by a seafood-focused menu, including “chill-bar” oysters and shrimp, seafood towers, lobster bisque, Lowcountry boils, blackened and fried seafood, and entrees like risotto with lobster tail and Daufuskie Island blue crab cakes.

This hip and trendy spot has recently morphed into a new lunch and wine shop concept, including a new name. With a tagline of “Wine always. Food Sometimes,” the reinvention features a small wine shop with an even smaller menu of creative starters like toasts (think smoked trout or sardines), thoughtful salads (grilled octopus and fava beans), and chips with dips, as well as cold cuts and vegetarian ciabatta sandwiches.

Located in Anchorage 1770, a premier boutique inn on Bay Street, the Ribaut Social Club is a fine dining destination that pays homage to the incorrigible spirit and convivial atmosphere of the original Ribaut Club, established at the Anchorage in 1891. The short menu offers creative takes on meats, seafood, and fresh vegetables all served on the massive front porch of the pre-Revolutionary (though, the timeline is often disputed) mansion.

Lowcountry Produce is a market and cafe that locals love to head to for breakfast, lunch, and interesting gourmet finds. With a focus on fresh, local, and high-quality ingredients, Lowcountry Produce favorites include popular fresh soups, shrimp and grits, varied sandwiches, and a killer tomato pie. The glazed yeast donuts are a delight anytime of day. It also has locations in Seabrook (12 miles north of Beaufort, on the way from Charleston) and Hilton Head Island.

Created by John Marshall of Charleston’s Al Di La fame, Old Bull Tavern, or OBT — as locals call it — is Beaufort’s high-energy, eclectic neighborhood gastropub featuring lots of creative takes on Lowcountry favorites (like pork chops with collard greens and Lowcountry Captain), popular wood-fired pizzas, former Al Di La specialties, like the gnocchi with fresh local shrimp, tomatoes, and basil, and, according to some, the area’s best burger.

Breakwater is a long-time Beaufort favorite for good reason. It focuses on seafood from the Carolinas coast, with she-crab soup, a loaded tuna nicoise, and local blue crab-centric crab cakes all making regular appearances on the menu. The silky butter bean hummus is a great starter for the table.

With an outdoor patio overlooking the Beaufort River, the vibe at Plums is casually coastal and so is the menu, with classic fried shrimp or oyster po’ boys, burgers, and other standards. But, locals know to dig more deeply into the offerings, including shrimp and grits, the signature Lowcountry gumbo, and delectable crab cakes.

Situated on busy Bay Street, rustic-styled Hearth Wood Fired Pizza is where unique and classic pizzas reign supreme. With its stunning red domed Marra Forni brick oven taking center stage, pizza faves include the margherita and the ‘Shroomage. There are also interesting starters (like the meat and cheese board), salads, sandwiches (the Italian Hero is seriously stuffed) and pastas, like the wood-fired lasagna. Hearth’s impressive beer and wine offerings make for easy pairings.

Set on a Waterfront Park overlooking the Beaufort River, Saltus River Grill is where locals and visitors head for a fine dining experience. It focuses on fresh catch and seafood specialties, with raw bar selections and creative sushi as well. The atmosphere is sophisticated but casual, and there’s a bustling bar and a popular patio with a fire pit.

Beaufort’s newest addition, Locals, features fresh oysters, sashimi, nigiri, and creative rolls. You’ll also find dishes like pork belly buns, chicken dashi dumpling soup, okonomiyaki, and shellfish fried rice. Lunch has the addition of poke bowls and sandwiches (smash burger, short rib melt, and lobster grilled cheese). The drink menu is impressive, including well-paired sakes and creative cocktails.

Ideally situated on the way to (or from) Hunting Island State Park and Fripp Island, those in the know stop by in the morning for a breakfast sandwich (like the very popular Brekkie Sando with eggs, sausage or bacon, cheese and caramelized onions wrapped up in chipotle aioli) or grits bowl and come again in the afternoon for a burger, fried bologna, or pimento cheese sandwich. The namesake Beedo burger is a tasty smash burger with griddled onions and the perfect ratio of bun to burger.

Every town needs a special occasion spot — the one with white tablecloths and a fancy menu. Chef Frank’s does that and more for the Beaufort area with its creative and seasonal menu. Starters include a portobello burrata plate, steak egg rolls, and crab spanakopita. Entrees go big with a rack of lamb, duck breast, and filet mignon. But what really takes this spot over the top is its commitment to personalized service and red-carpet experience.

Overlooking the Beaufort River and shrimp boats in nearby Port Royal, Fishcamp on 11th Street — part of the CRAB restaurant group from Hilton Head Island — offers up views and sunsets that are matched by a seafood-focused menu, including “chill-bar” oysters and shrimp, seafood towers, lobster bisque, Lowcountry boils, blackened and fried seafood, and entrees like risotto with lobster tail and Daufuskie Island blue crab cakes.

Oyster lovers can mark their calendars as the 2024-2025 season for the recreational harvest of shellfish, including clams and oysters, opens in South Carolina waters on Tuesday, October 1st, beginning a half-hour before sunrise.

The season will remain open through May 15th, 2025, unless unforeseen conditions prompt an early closure or extension.

As always, environmental factors like hurricanes, major rain events, or pollution spills could lead to temporary closures of shellfish beds.

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) will monitor the water quality, issuing updates to harvesters via its hotline at 1-800-285-1618 and on its website’s interactive map . Any closures will also be announced through local newspapers and other media outlets.

Recreational harvesting is permitted on all Public and State Shellfish Grounds in approved water quality areas.

South Carolina has 20 Public Shellfish Grounds and 7 State Shellfish Grounds designated exclusively for recreational harvest.

An additional 58 State Shellfish Grounds are open to both recreational and commercial harvesting.

To find your harvest location, recreational harvesters should consult updated maps of shellfish grounds, as designated areas change annually. Maps for the 2024-2025 season will be available on the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) website prior to the season’s opening.

A Saltwater Recreational Fishing License is required to harvest oysters and clams. These licenses can be purchased online or at many fishing supply stores.

Harvesters are limited to two U.S. bushels of oysters and one-half bushel of clams per day, with a maximum of two harvest days within a seven-day period. Clams must be at least one inch thick, and each boat or vehicle is limited to three personal harvest limits.

SCDNR also encourages harvesters to “cull in place,” meaning you should break off dead shells and smaller oysters on the shoreline and leave them behind. This practice helps maintain the habitat for future generations of oysters.

Additionally, SCDNR urges everyone to recycle their oyster shells. Collected shells are used to restore shellfish grounds throughout the coastal region.

Locally, there is a drop off location at The Sands Beach in Port Royal. For drop-off locations near you, visit the SCDNR website or call (843) 953-9397.

For commercial harvesting, a commercial saltwater license, mandatory training, and additional permits are required for those interested in commercial harvesting.

With the oyster season just around the corner, now’s the time to prepare for a bountiful harvest while also ensuring that oysters will be plentiful for future generations to enjoy.