Yeah, that fishing shack turned out to not be such a great idea, but back then, no one really thought that hurricanes kept going inland. The conventional wisdom is that it would hit Charleston and return to sea. Instead, of course, it went straight through SC, NC, and kept going. The storm literally covered all of SC as it passed. Once the eye went over us, the winds changed directions and all the trees that didn't fall on the shack in the first half of the storm were breaking off and flying around.
Sullivans and Isle of Palms were very hard hit. Very close-knit communities and it was heartbreaking to see the homes of our friends just destroyed. Our drawbridge (the only access at that time to both islands) was torn from its pilings and it took months for the repairs to be made and for anyone to return to live on the island. Until Andrew came along, Hugo was the most expensive hurricane ever, in terms of property damage. Now it has dropped to 11 on the list, because of the incredibly damaging storms that have occurred in the 2000s.
Nords, that sounds about right--I would like the massive airsickness bags the best!