Like pins in a bowling alley, the Grand Strand is in the direct line of Atlantic hurricanes. So naturally, we’ve had our fair share of rain, wind, and damage from these storms. The worst in recent years was Hurricane Florence, which caused nearly a foot of rainfall in Horry County and over 400,000 evacuations in our state. 

So, What’s in Store?

Thankfully, in 2022 Hurricane Ian only hit South Carolina as a Category 1. More fortunately, AccuWeather predicts that the 2023 season will be smack dab in the middle of the 11-15-storm historical average.

The good news is that 2023 might be a return to regular hurricane activity compared to the above-average 2016 – 2021 seasons.

The bad news is that experts expect 4 – 8 of 2023’s named storms to be hurricane-strength. 1-3 of them could be major hurricanes with maximum sustained winds of 111 mph or greater. This is more than enough to cause widespread outages and property damage.

Who’s at Risk?

Experts say the entire Florida coast will be this year’s main punching bag yet again. Alongside the Sunshine State are Louisiana and all of the coastal Carolinas.

Prepare Now

Last year’s Hurricane Ian wasn’t particularly destructive for South Carolina. Nonetheless, as of September 23, 2022, 180,000 South Carolinians were without power afterward.

So, what will you do when it happens to you?

Investing in a standby generator is an excellent answer to this question. This alternate power source will get you back to your everyday life in no time. But don’t wait—as reliable as these units are, permitting and installation can take 4-6 weeks. 

Call Cooper today to find the best generator for you and prepare for the 2023 hurricane season!