Disaster Recovery After Hurricane Hugo In South Carolina

In late September 1989, South Carolina was rocked by the colossal force of Hurricane Hugo. A category four hurricane, Hugo devastated the coast and other regions of the state, claiming dozens of lives and causing billions of dollars in damage. Hugo was the Palmetto State's most destructive natural disaster in recent memory, but the story of that storm is only part of the larger history of hurricanes in South Carolina. A History of Hurricane Destruction in South Carolina: Hell and High Water examines more than thirty major hurricanes that have struck the state since the 1800s, offering a revealing look at the destruction and loss that results from these violent manifestations of nature's power. Author Tom Rubillo brings to bear a breadth of research and incorporates first-person accounts of the storms and the struggle of survivors forced to rebuild in the wake of tremendous losses. Hell and High Water is at once a history of the damage wrought by the fury of hurricanes and a reminder that the next great storm could be no more than a season away.

Flirting with Disaster is the first thorough examination of government successes and failures in responding to natural disaster situations. The author contrasts the bureaucratic principles that dominate governmental activity with the disruptive effects of disaster and the forms of human behavior that emerge during disaster situations. By comparing case studies of Hurricane Hugo, Hurricane Andrew, the Loma Prieta earthquake, and the 1990 floods in South Carolina, the author is able to identify the factors that contribute to effective response to disasters and the conditions under which relatively minor crises may lead to system breakdown. The book looks at an extremely important but previously unexamined area of public administration and public policy; presents a general theory of governmental performance in natural disaster situations; identifies factors contributing to government success or failure in coping with disasters; offers fresh insights into how the government can improve its response in disaster situations; and integrates insights from emergency management studies, agenda-building research, and the study of collective behavior.

This volume provides an account of the 1989 Hurricane Hugo for historical purposes, evaluates the physical phenomena involved and the performance of structures and systems, and identifies and recommends cases where an in-depth study would improve our ability to analyze and forecast such failures.