CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – September 21, 1989… Powerful category four Hurricane Hugo began lashing the South Carolina coast.
The storm made landfall just north of Charleston around midnight the following morning. With 140 mph sustained winds, the storm produced significant wind and storm surge damage along the coast and caused roughly $7 billion in damage between the United States and Puerto Rico.
Adjusted for inflation, that number today is more than $17 billion.
It was downgraded to a Category 4 before striking the Charleston area. It has been the last major hurricane to make landfall in the state.
Nearly 80,000 homes were damaged or destroyed because of the hurricane, and the estimated loss of timber surpassed $1 billion.
Since 1851, 25 hurricanes have made landfall in South Carolina, and only two other Category 4 hurricanes hit the state. Hurricane Hazel struck near the North Carolina/South Carolina line in August 1954, and Hurricane Gracie hit St. Helena Sound in September 1959.