Hilton Head reopens amid some objections

Hilton Head Island reopened Tuesday afternoon, and thousands returned home — despite objections from some Hilton Head neighborhood leaders who said they were not yet ready for residents to return so soon after Hurricane Matthew.

While there was about an hour wait to get across the bridge at the start of the 3 p.m. re-entry process, traffic soon began to flow with no backups reported on any of the island’s major arteries, according to Bob Bromage, spokesman for the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.

Some residents reached the island only to find their homes inaccessible and many secondary roads impassable because of fallen trees and standing water.

Christine Wilkins returned to her Folly Field home to find a large tree lying on her car. It was the first time she had been home since last Wednesday’s mandatory evacuation order issued by Gov. Nikki Haley.

“How are we going to get that off?” she said, shaking her head and she stared up at the large tree.

“I have no idea,” said her neighbor Gina Hunt, who returned to her home with tears in her eyes and three shaken cats in her car.

The lower level of Hunt’s home was flooded with about two feet of water. Prior to her return, a neighbor sent her pictures of her house partially submerged.

“It looks bad,” she said, on the edge of tears. “But better than the pictures.”

In Hilton Head’s gated communities, many residents were advised to stay away until Wednesday or later. Leaders at Sea Pines, Palmetto Hall and Hilton Head Plantation advised town leaders that they were not ready for residents because of fallen trees blocking roads, flooding and limited utilities. In Sea Pines, for example, 57 secondary roads were blocked from traffic during the day and many homes had no power.

“Re-entry means we have to deal with all the residents that are coming onto the property and inhibit the work that we are doing to get things clear,” said Peter Kristian, general manager of Hilton Head Plantation. “Many of them are going to be without services. Many are not going to be able to get back to their homes. And then they’re going to have to find somewhere to go.”

Still, some returning residents fared better than anyone expected.

Jack Daly, a South Forest Beach resident and owner of the Frozen Moo ice cream store in Coligny Plaza, knew his house sustained no major damage thanks to an update from a neighbor. But Daly was worried about the ice cream left at his store.

“The power went out, so I was scared,” Daly said. “But I went and checked, and most of the ice cream was still frozen somehow. We’re opening tomorrow! Hopefully some other businesses open soon. People want some sense of normalcy and to get an idea that their home is still there.”

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This story was originally published October 12, 2016 at 9:08 AM with the headline "Hilton Head reopens amid some objections."