Damage and debris on Hilton Head: Scenes from Coligny Beach the morning after Idalia
Thursday morning, Coligny Plaza was dotted with debris: palm fronds, tree branches, large clods of Spanish moss. Small pools of rainwater and runoff filled the corners of parking lots. While most businesses and buildings went undamaged, some sidewalks were blocked by toppled chairs and umbrellas.
Tropical Storm Idalia largely spared Beaufort County, instead taking a more inland path through northern Florida and Georgia. Still, curtains of rain and car-shaking gusts up to 66 mph left a trail of downed trees and power lines in Beaufort and Jasper Counties throughout Wednesday afternoon and evening.
Locals and tourists alike made an early start Thursday morning on Hilton Head. Workers with leaf blowers and business owners were clearing sidewalks and parking lots as early as 7 a.m., piling storm spillage into truck beds and trailers.
On Coligny Beach, tourists seemed eager to make the most of the storm’s cool, sunny aftermath, taking early morning walks and bicycle rides along the water.
Christie and Matt Harrigan, first-time visitors to Hilton Head, hadn’t been anxious about their vacation coinciding with Idalia. They had consulted with locals prior to making the trip down from Urbana Ohio, they said.
“We’re just thankful it wasn’t worse,” Christie told The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. Even with a hotel room right on the coast of Coligny Beach, they said the storm hadn’t disrupted their trip.
Despite an outsized number of downed trees for the relatively modest winds Wednesday, Beaufort County at large emerged from Idalia without any reported injuries or significant damages. Emergency crews will continue to respond to storm-related calls throughout Thursday.
This story was originally published August 31, 2023 at 10:35 AM.
