Tropical Storm Debby

The worst of Tropical Storm Debby has moving past us. There will continue to be some bands of wind and rain passing through until Friday morning with the worst behind us.

Portions of some streets will continue to have water pockets for a couple of days but should remain passable. On the west end and inside the gates of Holden West, there is a section starting at about 1300 OBW and continuing to 1326 OBW that is not passable except possibly in a 4-wheel drive vehicle. Town crews are working to pump water levels down; however, the road may remain unpassable until mid-day on Friday.

For current guests that did not vacate the property during the storm, we will be assessing any rain infiltration at properties on Friday August 9, 2024 once the storm has completely left the area. If you are checking out Thursday or Friday, please let our office know. For those who are still staying with us, make sure to check road passageways for your journey home. There are a number of rivers and creeks that are flooding to the west and north of Holden Beach currently impacting and may impact travel plans for Friday and Saturday in the directions toward I-95, I-40, and HWY 74. Some of these rivers and creeks most likely will be worse Friday thru Sunday and not expected to crest until Sunday.

This will be our last post for Tropical Storm Debby. It has been a long week soggy week. Fortunately, there have been few damages to properties and most of all everyone has stayed safe. These type of weather events are never predictable and as we have seen this week, situations change to worsen or improve daily. We do empathize that plans did not turn out as intended when you booked your vacation. Still, we hope in spite of the uncooperative beach weather that you have a good opportunity to connect with family.

Safe travels as you head back to your respective destinations.

Weather conditions related to Tropical Storm Debby are expected to continue through Friday. However, there is some relief on the horizon: the storm is anticipated to move out of our area by mid-afternoon on Friday, sooner than originally expected. Despite this, flooding remains a significant concern, particularly in low-lying areas and along the canals. In light of the ongoing weather conditions, it is important to remember that Holden Beach and all of Brunswick County are currently under a state of emergency and voluntary evacuation order. At this time, we are only able to respond to emergency situations, and only when it is safe to do so. We urge everyone to prioritize their safety and take all necessary precautions. Stay informed, stay safe, and follow any additional guidance from local authorities.

The Town of Holden Beach has issued a State of Emergency with the still developing Tropical Storm Debby which includes a Voluntary evacuation of the Town of Holden Beach to be in effect August 6, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. The State of Emergency will remain in effect until such time as the State of Emergency has been lifted and may include additional directives. A copy of the State of Emergency can be read here.

Update from PROACTIVE Vacations:
Earlier this morning there were several tornado warnings. Actual damages have been reported from either a small tornado or microburst here on Holden Beach with resulting damage to property. Stay tuned to weather channels for emergency alerts. Based on current ICW and canal water levels observed, with increasing winds expected later this afternoon and evening, it is anticipated that roadways and underneath houses may be flooded. Please take caution with vehicles and items stored in these areas on the ground level.

Holden Beach is now under a Tropical Storm Warning through Friday. Risk of loss of utility service is highly possible.

At this moment, all is calm and the rain has let up. This pattern is typical in a tropical storm, however the next round of squaws coming through are unpredictable in particular with the magnitude thereof. If you are planning to leave the island, today is the day, as conditions will worsen through the next 24 hours with the worst to come on Wednesday evening and Thursday all day.

The local forecast for Tropical Strom Debby has continued to deteriorate during the past 18 hours. This update is not intended to provide any type of weather forecast, that is for the meteorologists. Our main message here is to be cautious and plan accordingly.

Inundation of up to 20 inches of rain over the next 4 days with soil already saturated will cause flooding on the Brunswick County beach roads including roads providing access and egress from the beach. At Holden Beach, expect the 300, 700, 1300 blocks and the canal roadways to have periods of flooding in particular in and around high tide. Other impacts from the flooding include possible flooding underneath houses in and along the canal streets. Flooding may impact the Town of Holden Beach sewer system not functionality which in turn may create a situation where the town has to shut the municipal water and sewer down due to flooding. This is not a definite, but with the current forecast there is a strong possibility.

Winds will continue to build over the next 12 hours with anticipation of 30-40 mph sustained winds and 50-60 mph gusts for Wednesday and Thursday before starting to subside on Friday. Our houses are constructed to withstand these high winds; however, shingles and siding may blow off along with tree limbs. During these high winds, you may feel the house physically moving which is normal in high winds. The point is, don’t panic about this phenomenon. Already tornado warnings are being issues in our area, take heed when these warnings sound and pay attention to local forecasts. Note: If sustained winds reach 45 mph, the Holden Beach bridge will be closed until such time that the winds diminish.

Rip Current warnings are already in effect, please stay out of the water. Storm surges are predicted through Friday morning in and around the periods of high tide – two hours prior to high tide and two hours past high tide. The storm surge brings a high possibility of flooding in and along the canals up to 24 inches in depth. Note: Flooding at Holden Beach comes from the ICW and marshes or the back side of our island, not from the oceanside.

Leave or Not Leave: Today through Friday are not going to be good days to be at the beach. There are no mandatory evacuation orders at this time. If the storm creates anxiety for a guest, then leaving should be considered. Some in social media are making light of the weather conditions. Here at PROACTIVe Vacations, we are not making light of the forecasts. Forecasts and conditions are subject to deteriorate further just as they have in the most recent updates. This is a time to heed caution. Once the rain and wind subside here on Friday/Saturday, road conditions west and north of here may be unpassable due to inland flooding from swollen creeks and rivers which are also in areas of high rainfall. These areas tend to reach peak flood stage a few days after these types of storms. Please plan accordingly. If you choose to vacate your vacation property early, please take a moment to notify us. In your decision making on whether to leave or not leave, leave sooner rather than later. After today (Tuesday), conditions will make packing and getting out of here more problematic.

If you are staying, please stay safe and tuned in to weather forecasts. Weather conditions are going to be miserable at best here for the next 4 days and are subject to become worse than anticipated. During this time, our team members will only be responding to emergencies and then only as our team is able to do so safely. We will update you as we have more information.

We never know when we might have foul weather in our forecast here at the beach.  Since Monday this past week we have been watching a particular storm now named as Tropical Depression Four.  It has now intensified its development and anticipated to become a Tropical Storm on Sunday this week in the Gulf of Mexico and then come ashore in the Florida panhandle.  From there it is expected to move across southern Georgia and then back to the Atlantic ocean by Tuesday and then brush our coastline in the later part of the week.

Forecasts will most likely continue to change; please stay tuned to weather information channels.  We have found this website to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information: spaghettimodels.com.   Based on the current forecasts, we will have rain starting Monday with winds beginning to build on Tuesday with the storm moving past us late on Thursday.  There are rip current and high surf warnings already in place and continuing thru the week.

We do not anticipate any significant damage from this storm.  Some low lying areas may flood, proceed with caution when crossing standing water.  Please bring in in towels, cushions, and etc. that might be blown away as well as leaving windows and doors shut.  Let us know if any issues come up related to the wind and rain that may occur at your vacation home.  New updates will be provided as we learn more.

Please stay safe.