by Robert Borges on October 18, 2024
The entire state of South Carolina is subject to hurricanes, but the coast is the most vulnerable. Because Summerville is about forty minutes inland, the town is more protected than areas like Charleston, which sits along the shoreline.
However, hurricanes can bring storm surges, flooding, strong winds, tornadoes, and rip currents. If a hurricane comes to South Carolina, Summerville will most likely be impacted by strong winds, whereas Charleston is likely to experience all five potential impacts.
It’s perfectly reasonable to ask about hurricanes when considering a move to a fifty-five-plus community in Summerville, South Carolina. Determining a storm’s path and if it will head toward South Carolina depends on where it originates, the time of the year, and a variety of other weather conditions.
The good news is that if you visit the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) website and locate Summerville on its map, you will discover that the town is outside the evacuation zones established by SCEMD. You can even plug in your exact address to get more specific information about the risk of storms in your neighborhood.
Understanding Windstorms
A risk assessment issued by First Street Technology stated there is only a 1% chance of a severe windstorm with gusts up to 124 miles per hour occurring in Summerville in the next thirty years.
Wind speeds associated with each category of hurricane and storm are:
- Tropical storm: Thirty-nine to seventy-four MPH
- Category 1: Seventy-four to ninety-five MPH
- Category 2: Ninety-six to 110 MPH
- Category 3: 111 to 129 MPH
- Category 4: 130 to 156 MPH
- Category 5: 157 MPH or higher
Summerville is known for many things, but not as a place that has hurricanes. Rather, it is a place to see vibrant flowers in the spring, visit Mason (the largest sweet tea container in the world), and enjoy a walk through its well-preserved, historic downtown.
In fact, the last time a Category 5 hurricane hit Summerville was nearly a century ago in 1928.
Protecting Against the Impact of Hurricanes
Strong winds can knock down trees and blow around debris. However, new planned adult communities such as Horizons at Summers Corner are built according to the latest construction codes, often including building specifications that reduce the chance of damage from storms.
If a storm is heading your way, do your part to stay safe. Bring trash cans and lawn furniture inside and secure gas grills and other items that are unsafe to bring indoors. If your area is prone to flooding, move to higher ground before the storm arrives.
During a hurricane or strong storm, stay inside and stay away from windows, glass doors, and skylights. Household items can become dangerous projectiles during high winds, so it's better to stay in the center of your home with as many walls as possible between you and Mother Nature. If you have a generator, make sure it is grounded and only operate it outside (not in a garage or basement).
Discover Summerville
Hurricane season in South Carolina runs from June 1st to November 30th, with September being the most active month. However, the number of hurricanes that impact the Palmetto State is far less than Florida, Texas, and Louisiana.
In addition to the cost of living in Summerville being far more reasonable than in other parts of the country, the weather is warm most of the year–making it a wonderful place to live and enjoy outdoor activities. It can get chilly in the winter (hovering around forty degrees) and inch up near ninety degrees in the summer, but there are plenty of days of wonderful weather.
Private Communities Registry (PCR) has amenity-rich, master-planned lifestyle communities in Summerville, including K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Lakes of Cane Bay, and Horizons at Summers Corner and Summers Corner, both by Lennar. Both builders are large, nationally recognized construction companies with years of experience delivering quality homes.
PCR makes researching for a new home as easy as pie with in-depth profiles of single-family and active adult living communities. Our intuitive platform allows you to search according to price range, location, style of home, and the amenities that mean most to you!
