09/22/2026
Thirty-seven years ago today, a furious Hurricane Hugo slammed into the Carolinas, coming ashore just north of Charleston.
Its winds roared through the darkness with the sound of a freight train, hammering rains lashing at windows and walls, floodwaters rushing through streets and homes.
We huddled together and hit our knees, praying for the storm to end and wondering what would still be standing when it did.
When morning came, Charleston was unrecognizable.
Great live oaks that had stood for generations were gone, splintered across yards and homes. Boats sat in roads and lodged in the remnants of trees, bridges were twisted and broken sideways. Power lines lay tangled in nests along streets buried beneath a blanket of debris. The familiar landmarks of our beautiful city had disappeared behind a landscape of destruction.
And then there was the quiet—an eerie, almost unnatural silence.
There was no electricity. No water. No traffic. No way in or out. For weeks, life was about survival—what could be found, fixed, salvaged or shared.
If you ask a Charlestonian about Hugo, they’ll probably tell you about the sound of the wind. They’ll tell you where they were and what they saw when the sun rose. They’ll remember the uncertainty of those first days and weeks, the sounds of chainsaws, the smell of wet earth, splintered wood, and the smoky grills that became common kitchens.
They may tell you about martial law and Ruben Greenberg’s famous “you loot, we shoot” decree. But most pointedly, they’ll reminisce about the extraordinary feeling of watching a wounded city begin to put itself back together again.
Hugo left scars on Charleston that can still be seen today. But it also left something less visible: a shared memory, a deep understanding of the power of weather, and a reminder of what happens when a community rises up and refuses to leave its neighbors behind.
Hugo was the day Charleston changed. It is remembered for what it took, but even more for what it revealed: the strength, compassion, and resilience of the Lowcountry people.
If you are new to Charleston, too young to remember, or just want to revisit memories from this historic day, the links below offer a remarkable glimpse into what Charleston experienced—and are definitely worth taking the time to explore.
https://www.weather.gov/chs/Hurricanehugo-Sep1989
https://youtu.be/4gp6C6ltheo?feature=shared
A look at the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo and the devastation wroug...
