Storm surge likely along SC coast. Can Grand Strand beaches handle potential erosion?

As Hurricane Ian makes its way toward South Carolina, state and local officials warn residents of several potential impacts, including storm surge along the coast.

Residents located in low-lying areas near the ocean in Myrtle Beach and surrounding cities are particularly vulnerable to this impact, though steps have been taken in recent years to limit the potential destruction of lives and infrastructure.

Storm surge, which is an abnormal rise in seawater level above the predicted ocean tides, can occur when a hurricane’s winds blow along the ocean’s surface and cause water to pile up as it approaches the shoreline, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.

Meteorologists have most recently estimated storm surge as high as 2-4 feet beginning late Thursday through Saturday along the Grand Strand, depending on Hurricane Ian’s path.

Storm surge at those levels is likely to cause flash flooding in areas including Cherry Grove in North Myrtle Beach, and the continued erosion of sand can leave nearby properties more vulnerable to the water’s impact.

A primary protector of that infrastructure is the sand dunes that federal, state and local officials have prioritized reinforcing after major storms through a process called beach renourishment.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers most recently completed a major renourishment along the Grand Strand in 2019, building up the dunes across about 26 miles of beaches in cities including Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach and Garden City Beach.

That $45 million project added 3 million cubic yards of sand — equivalent to about 300,000 dump trucks, according to Wes Wilson, the Corps’ project manager. That entire project was federally funded through emergency response due to impacts from hurricanes Matthew, Irma and Florence, he added.

Those reinforced dunes were tested in 2020 when Hurricane Isaias hit, but Wilson told The Sun News that annual surveys and communication with city and Horry County officials show the dunes are structurally sound ahead of Hurricane Ian.

Once the storm passes, Wilson said that communication will continue, and if any significant damages are witnessed, the Corps is prepared to move quickly to rebuild those dunes again.