Hurricane Charley cost Grand Strand hotels an estimated $30 million in lost revenue even though the storm caused only about $2.5 million in property damage in the region.
A normally crowded beach is deserted in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Aug. 14.
Lou Krasky, AP
Charley spun ashore near Georgetown on Aug. 14 with 85 mph winds. As the storm approached, Gov. Mark Sanford ordered a mandatory evacuation of areas east of U.S. Highway 17 where most of the Grand Strand‘s hotels are located.
"It‘s a significant impact when we evacuate," said Stephen Greene, communications vice president at the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.
As the storm approached, hotel occupancy dropped to 34%, according to Coastal Carolina University‘s Coastal Federal Center for Economic and Community Development.
