Here’s how Murrells Inlet MarshWalk and Pawleys Island look as Debby begins impacts
Tropical Storm Debby is intermittently bringing heavier rain and stronger wind Wednesday in the Pawleys Island and Murrells Inlet coastal areas, but locals don’t seem overly concerned.
Taylor Weston was among a handful of people walking along the beach on Pawleys Island Wednesday morning around high tide.
Weston, 29, is a lifelong resident of Pawleys Island and said he’s not too worried about Debby compared to other impactful storms including Hurricane Matthew in 2016 or Hurricane Florence in 2018.
Weston was walking with his golden retriever Bella and cocker spaniel Birdie, and said he’d considered going surfing, but probably wouldn’t with waves rising behind him, crashing higher against the Pawleys Island Pier that storm surge from Hurricane Ian destroyed in 2022.
The roadways throughout Pawleys Island appeared clear aside from the occasional puddle, and the causeway onto the island is fully open.
In the Murrells Inlet area, driving rain and closed restaurants are limiting the foot traffic at the MarshWalk.
Phyllis and Brian Stier walked past a sailboat that had briefly come loose Wednesday morning, according to WMBF News, and had since been secured near the end of the Veteran’s Pier.
The Stiers, originally from Michigan, said they just wanted to see how the storm was impacting the area. They’ve lived in Murrells Inlet about three years, but traveled back to Michigan during previous storms, they said.
They had gotten some sandbags and stocked up on food, but felt confident their home would avoid any flooding, Phyllis Stier said.
