News Release

Town of Hilton Head Island Updates on Tropical Storm Debby

August 5, 2024

With heavy winds and rains expected from Tropical Storm Debby, the Town of Hilton Head Island is prepared to respond and continues to advise the public to be ready for several days of solid weather. Due to the expected impacts, the Town’s administrative offices and park facilities will be closed on Tuesday, August 6, and Wednesday, August 7, 2024. Town emergency services will remain available.

Mayor Alan Perry and Town Emergency Manager Tom Dunn addressed the public today about the proactive steps the Town has taken to prepare for Tropical Storm Debby, the importance of community safety, especially neighbors checking on each other, and personal preparation. Watch the Video of the Address

Here are the latest storm and operational updates in Hilton Head Island:

Significant Rainfall and Flooding: According to the National Weather Service, Tropical Storm Debby is forecasted to move very slowly near/over the area this week, potentially causing historic rainfall, major flooding in some places, and storm surges. A significant amount of rain, between 10 to 20 inches, is expected. If you live in or maintain a business in low-lying areas, you should be prepared for potential flooding. If you are uncertain, please refer to the Town’s map of the low-lying regions. Take necessary precautions, including moving valuable items to higher places in your home. Residents and visitors should avoid driving or walking in flooded areas or through standing water and are strongly urged to stay off the roads during the storm.

Reporting non-emergency issues: Please use our citizen reporting app, MyHHI, to report all non-emergency matters to the town, such as blocked roadways, drainage, damage, and other items. This app allows you to upload photos with each service request, providing a visual reference to help our staff address needs more effectively.

Park Facilities: Facilities, including restrooms, and parking lots at all Town beach parks and community parks will be inaccessible, beginning at 7 p.m. today though Wednesday, August 7.

Sandbags: The Town of Hilton Head Island does not furnish sandbags, and taking sand from the beach is prohibited.

Shelters: The Jasper County Emergency Services has opened an emergency shelter at Ridgeland School at 250 Jaguar Trail in Ridgeland, S.C., for families and individuals, beginning at 4 p.m. today. Persons using the shelter should bring personal hygiene products, blankets/pillows, identification documents, three-day supply of food for those with restrictive diets, and seven-day supply of medication. View more details on the shelter.

Utilities: Palmetto Electric crews and employees stand ready to respond over the next few days should outages occur. You can report outages by calling PowerTouch at 1-866-445-5551 or at MyEnergy Online or the MyEnergy mobile app. Please do not report outages on social media; follow the utility’s social media platforms for updates.

Beaufort County Public Schools: Beaufort County School District buildings and facilities will be closed on Tuesday, August 6 and Wednesday, August 7. District officials will reassess their facilities on Wednesday and make a decision about school operations for Thursday, August 8.

Beaufort County Convenience Center: All County convenience centers will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday. A determination for Thursday will be made later, pending weather conditions.

Palmetto Breeze/Trolley: Palmetto Breeze will suspend all transit services at 8 p.m. this evening, Monday, August 5. Breeze Trolley service will run today (Monday, August 5) through 8 p.m. There will be no Palmetto Breeze or Trolley service on Tuesday, August 6. Palmetto Breeze will announce its service plan for Wednesday, August 7, on Tuesday.

Your Plans: Develop and review your emergency plans and prepare an emergency supply kit of essential items such as water, food, medications and important documents. The Town’s latest emergency guides in English and Spanish include a list of emergency kit items.

Storm Updates: For updates on Town operations as the storm progresses, visit hiltonheadislandsc.gov or follow us on Facebook. Sign up for the Town’s e-subscription service to receive real-time updates about the storm. In addition to the Town, we encourage you to follow local media and other official sources of information, including the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service.