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The glory and beauty that is summer on Hilton Head Island has returned to our community. As you enjoy the many opportunities the season brings, I ask you to pause a moment to remember that hurricane season started June 1, and to consider whether you have made appropriate plans to safeguard yourself, your family and your home or business.
The Town of Hilton Head Island has prepared for the possibility of severe weather for many years. We have drawn on our own past experiences and those of other communities to develop plans that will allow us to effectively respond to a hurricane. We have also worked closely with Beaufort County and the state of South Carolina to develop comprehensive plans to ease the evacuation and re-entry processes.
The ability to rapidly begin the process of restoring both our quality of life and economic health has been addressed by establishing an emergency reserve account, which will allow our recovery efforts to start without waiting for outside funds. We recently amended our Land Management Ordinance to allow easier repair and reconstruction of damaged structures, and continue reviewing our policies and procedures to ensure they effectively address the needs of our individual and corporate citizens.
I assure you that we in town government will continue doing our part, and ask for your help in doing the one thing we cannot do: developing specific plans for your family or business. This partnership is key, as the best resource in any disaster situation is always an informed and prepared public.
There are several resources which can assist you in developing a hurricane plan. Local and general disaster information can be found in the Citizen’s Guide to Emergency Preparedness, which is available at Town Hall, any of our fire stations, or on the town Web site at www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov.
As-built registration procedures for existing structures are in our Land Management Ordinance online at www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=14271&sid=40. Hurricane plan development tips are provided on the South Carolina Emergency Management Division Web site at www.scemd.org. Evacuation route maps are located on the Beaufort County Web site at www.bcgov.net under “Emergency Information.” Emergency weather information is available via WNKT 107.5-FM (Charleston), WEZL 103.5-FM (Charleston), and WJWJ 89.9-FM (Beaufort/Hilton Head Island) or from the National Weather Service at www.nws.noaa.gov.
Hopefully we will not face a difficult hurricane season. If we do, our community will persevere by working together.
Enjoy your summer!
