News Release

Town of Hilton Head Island Updates on Tropical Storm Debby

August 6, 2024

The Town of Hilton Head Island continues to monitor and respond to weather-related impacts of Tropical Storm Debby. Watch an update from Mayor Alan Perry and Town Emergency Manager Tom Dunn

Here are the latest storm and operational updates:

Town Assessments: Tropical Storm Debby impacted Hilton Head Island overnight and early this morning. Assessments revealed 15 downed trees, localized flooding, and general debris across the Island. Town first responders, facilities, and stormwater teams have spent the day evaluating the affected areas.

Storm Forecast: Tropical Storm Debby is projected to turn north late Wednesday, making a second landfall along the South Carolina coast on Thursday. The forecast predicts significant rainfall across the area, with South Carolina expected to receive 6 to 12 inches of rain and local amounts of up to 15 inches possible through Friday morning. Widespread flooding is still expected. 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.

State of Emergency
Town of Hilton Head Island leaders have declared a State of Emergency. According to Town code, during a State of Emergency:

1. There is a temporary moratorium on the construction or reconstruction of any building or other structure. This means the Town of Hilton Head Island will not accept or process permit applications or schedule or complete permit inspections during the temporary moratorium, which will remain in effect until the State of Emergency ends.
    
2. Property owners are allowed to take actions necessary to temporarily protect the health and safety of their family or prevent further loss of their property's value.

We will notify the public when this temporary moratorium has been lifted.

Traffic Signals: The Town’s traffic signal system will be continuously monitored to address any issues safely. Division staff will conduct assessments both in the field and remotely throughout the event. During the storm, the adaptive feature of our signal system was disabled and will remain off; it will be reactivated following the storm. An on-call traffic signal contractor is on standby. It is important to remember that a signal in flash mode is an acceptable traffic control measure. In case of a power loss, the signal will go dark and, upon power restoration, will default to flash mode. A member of the Transportation Department will manually restore the signal to its regular green/yellow/red operation.

Town Offices and Facilities: Town administrative offices and park facilities remain closed today, Tuesday, August 6, and Wednesday, August 7, 2024. Town emergency services remain available.

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. You can upload photos with each service request, providing a visual reference to help our staff address issues.

Park Facilities: Restrooms and parking lots at all Town beach parks and community parks are closed through Wednesday, August 7. The parks are expected to reopen on Thursday, August 8.

Waste Collection Service Companies: Many waste service companies in the Town of Hilton Head Island are reporting a one-day delay in collection. Please contact your waste service company for additional information.

Shelters: The following emergency shelters are open and will remain open to the public pending updates throughout Tropical Storm Debby:

• Battery Creek High School,1 Blue Dolphin Drive, Burton
• Bluffton Middle School, 30 New Mustang Drive, Bluffton

Pets are not allowed. You must bring your food, water and other supplies.

• Ridgeland School (Pet-Friendly Shelter), 250 Jaguar Trail, Ridgeland

Bring personal hygiene products, blankets/pillows, identification documents, food for those with restrictive diets, and medication. Click here for more details on the shelter.

Utilities: You can report outages to Palmetto Electric by calling PowerTouch at 1-866-445-5551, 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.

Hargray Communications is currently experiencing widespread landline outages and is working on correcting the problem.

Palmetto Breeze/Trolley: All Palmetto Breeze services will continue to be suspended through Wednesday, August 7. This includes all commuter routes, weekday routes serving the Beaufort and Port Royal areas, the Bluffton Breeze weekday service in Bluffton, and the seasonal Breeze Trolley service on Hilton Head Island. A decision for Thursday’s services will be announced on Wednesday.

United Way HELPLINE: United Way of the Lowcountry’s 2-1-1 HELPLINE provides information and referrals for non-emergency assistance. You can reach 2-1-1 by calling 2-1-1, texting 2-1-1-2-1-1, or visiting www.SC211.org. 2-1-1 will be operational throughout the storm. For emergencies, always call 911.

Storm Updates: Residents and visitors are urged to stay informed through local media and follow the Town of Hilton Head Island’s official channels for the latest updates on the storm and its impact:

• Town Website
• Town Facebook
• Sign up for News and Emergency Alerts
• National Hurricane Center
• National Weather Service