Should you cancel your vacation? Here’s how tourists can stay safe during Hurricane Ian

Mechelle Casciotta has lived through a hurricane or two.

A longtime resident of Wesley Chapel, a Florida suburb about 20 miles north of Tampa, she’s grown accustomed to the horrors of hurricane season: the flooding, the battering rain, the shrill evacuation alarms.

But still, she stays cautious. As Hurricane Ian crept closer to Florida’s Gulf Coast, she watched the trackers like a hawk. Even before her county enacted its mandatory evacuation order on Monday, she was gone — and on the road to Hilton Head Island.

“I chose to evacuate,” Casciotta said. “It was just too borderline, and every hour it looks like it’s getting more dangerous there.”

For Casciotta, her Hilton Head villa is a safe haven from the uncertainty of the storm.

But with Beaufort County at risk of a “pretty significant impact” from the storm later this week, many soon-to-be vacationers are facing a difficult question: Is it safe to make the trip to Hilton Head?

For now, tourists are able to come to a decision themselves. There has been no evacuation order issued by Gov. Henry McMaster.

The Lowcountry’s last mandatory evacuation order was sparked by Hurricane Dorian, lasting from Sept. 1 to Sept. 5, 2019. But because Hurricane Ian is expected to deescalate to a tropical storm before hitting Beaufort County, an evacuation is unlikely.

The Town of Hilton Head has not released official guidance for potential tourists, but Deputy Town Manager Josh Gruber says that, like anyone else, visitors should stay vigilant and monitor the status of the storm.

The largest potential threat for Beaufort County is heavy rainfall, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasts call for 4-8 inches of rain, with most areas of Beaufort County expected to see 6 inches.

The downpour is expected to begin Thursday evening and likely will reach a peak on Friday evening. Motorists should avoid flooded roads but should drive slowly if travel is necessary.

Drivers should be especially wary of driving within low-elevation areas, including Palmetto Bay Road, Sea Pines and the south half of the island. Before you set off for your hotel or short-term rental, check your destination’s location on a topographic map to gauge its risk for flooding.

Although travel off the island might be heavier than usual this weekend, Gruber says the island has not had major issues with traffic during hurricanes. Even in the midst of 2019’s evacuation order, the flow of traffic on U.S. 278 through Bluffton remained steady.

SCDOT is continually monitoring traffic and is prepared to step in when needed, Gruber said.

In case of electricity outages and water shortages, tourists should pack more than a swimsuit and sunscreen. Experts recommend purchasing enough bottled water and nonperishable food per person for a three-day period. Pets’ food and water should also be accounted for.

The storm’s high intensity winds are likely to lead to extended power outages. In those cases, a generator may be used as a temporary source of electricity, but users should be aware of how to operate the machines safely.

More than anything, Gruber is asking potential tourists the same thing he’s asking locals: Stay vigilant, and stay watchful, especially as the week progresses.

“[Hurricane Ian] may be impactful, but we’re still a few days from figuring out how much impact there will be,” he said.