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68th Anniversary | Historic Hurricane Hazel slams Myrtle Beach and NC coast October 15, 1954

Hurricane Hazel struck the coast of the state line between North and South Carolina as a Category four storm with wind speeds of 140 mph.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Editor's Note: The video above is from a previous story about the 65th anniversary of Hurricane Hazel. 

Oct.15 marks the 68th anniversary of Hurricane Hazel.

Hazel struck the coast of the state line between North and South Carolina in 1954 as a Category four storm, making it the only category four hurricane of the twentieth century to strike North Carolina.

The destruction of the Grand Strand was catastrophic. Hurricane Hazel brought 140 mph winds to large portions of the eastern United States. After landfall, it tracked inland, and battering winds cut a wide swath northward toward Raleigh. High winds toppled trees, ripped roofs, and tore down signs and power lines across the state. 

Myrtle Beach reported a peak wind gust of 106 mph with winds reaching up to 150 mph along the coast between Myrtle Beach and Cape Fear, North Carolina.  

Hazel was responsible for 95 deaths in the U.S., including 19 in North Carolina.

Roughly 80 percent of waterfront dwellings in Myrtle Beach were destroyed by Hurricane Hazel, which led to the rebuilding of Myrtle Beach as the vacation destination it is today.  

Just a reminder that hurricane season continues through Nov  30.  

 

Flooding in Morehead City caused by Hurricane Hazel

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