This archive report was first published on 6 September 2019.
Published on September 6, 2019, Hurricane Dorian was making its presence felt in the Carolinas, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to the region.
For many residents and business owners, the storm was a reminder of the devastating power of hurricanes in the area. In South Carolina, the 1989 storm, Hurricane Hugo, still lingers as a life-defining trauma for many coastal residents.
The storm caused roughly $7 billion in damage, knocking down or badly damaging numerous buildings in the city of Charleston. However, the damage also presented an opportunity for thoughtful urban revitalization, spearheaded by Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. at the time, which led to Charleston's modern-day renaissance as a tourist-saturated coastal jewel.
For oysterman Mr. Kornack, who came to the Carolinas in 1994, the storm was a concern for his family's safety. His wife's relatives, whose roots in McClellanville date to the 19th century, carry the trauma of Hugo. On Thursday, they had their valuables off of the first floor, the storm shutters closed, and the windows boarded.
"We're right on the creek, and when the surge hits you, you won't know it until the water starts rising," Mr. Kornack said. "It might go from no water to 'The water's at your front door.'"
