The eye of the storm passed 20 miles to the east of the city, and at least one gust of 87 mph was recorded. In Virginia Beach, Va., more than 100 wedding guests were stranded at Cavalier Golf & Yacht Club overnight due to flooding, while Ponte Vedra Inn & Club and Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., saw minimal damage from the storm.
Hilton Head Island, S.C., took a serious blow Saturday as the eye of Hurricane Matthew passed 20 miles to the east, with at least one gust of 87 mph recorded, CBS News reported.
The two roads onto the island of 40,000 people were blocked by fallen pine trees, and many roads were under water. Signs were blown over, and power was out across the island, CBS reported.
Chandler Brunson and was among those trying to go back to her home after evacuating, but found her path blocked. “I think we’re going to have a pine tree splitting our house,” she said. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
About 10 sailboats were tossed together and washed ashore at the Palmetto Bay Marina on Hilton Head Island by the hurricane. The docks at the marina appeared to have broken loose sometime early Saturday as Matthew’s surge ran up the Harbor River, CBS reported.
Residents on the island also said that docks may have come loose at Harbour Town Golf Links, damaging boats. But that part of the island was inaccessible by vehicle Saturday afternoon, CBS reported.
In Virginia Beach, Va., flooding trapped a wedding party about more than 100 guests at the Cavalier Golf & Yacht Club, the Norfolk, Va., Virginian-Pilot reported.
Guests tried to leave the wedding reception of Andy Recker and Ashley Forfa around 9:30 p.m., but most found it impossible to pass through about 4 feet of water flooding the grounds of the club, said guest Mary Vinson. At least one SUV got stuck and a shuttle bus to transport guests was trapped on Cardinal Road leading to the club until the early morning, the Virginian-Pilot reported.
Staff at the club did their best to make the impromptu overnight guests comfortable. The power was out and tablecloths were pillows and blankets and guests slept on restaurant booths, chairs and the floor, Vinson said. Club staff worked Sunday morning to clear the golf course path of downed trees so guests could leave. Most were headed home by 9:30 a.m., the Virginian-Pilot reported.
“The thing is the bride, you wanted to support her,” Vinson said. “So we came, and so did almost everyone else.”
According to separate reports in the Jacksonville, Fla., News4Jax, clubs like Ponte Vedra Inn & Club and Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., weathered the storm with minimal damage, thanks to proper drainage and a sea wall.
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