The Island Packet from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina • A1

SATURDAY OCTOBER 8 2016 VOLUME 46, No. 282 STAY CONNECTED ISLANDPACKET.COM FACEBOOK.COM/ISLANDPACKET TWITTER.COM/ISLANDPACKET HILTON HEAD ISLAND BLUFFTON THE ISLAND PACKET Rainy See 2A INSIDE PAPER STAY CONNECTED Opinion 9A Classified 12B Lowcountry Life 5B Local 3A Lottery 2A Obituaries 4A Sports 1B 8-10B Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet. Bob Marley fort County residents hunkered down near rivers or low-lying barrier islands such as Hilton Head Island, Hunting Island and Daufauskie Island. National Weather Service meteorologist Neil Dixon said the surges really be a threat all day Just 3 feet of storm surge would overwhelm the portion of Hilton Head Island south of Broad Creek, according to the National Hurricane storm surge map.

The same goes for Beaufort. Patches of Hunting Island and Island also could be affected, though expected to a lesser degree. High tide, which occurred around 1 a.m., only compound- ed the problem. hurricane coming in at high tide would be a worst case in terms of generating powerful surges, John Quagliariello of the National Weather Service said Friday. The hurricane track on Friday afternoon had the eye of Hurri- cane Matthew hugging Beaufort and barreling on to Charleston.

does look at its closest point to be right along the coast of Hilton National Weather Service Meteorologist Emily Timte said. Officials did not mince words Friday in their warnings about the danger posed by the storm. Gov. Nikki Haley said gravely that Daufuskie Island is to be Forecasters had predicted that Beaufort County could see a storm surge of 8 feet or more, widespread power outages and the potential for massive devas- tation. And with Hurricane Mat- arrival in the Lowcountry overnight, the storm surge is underway.

After hours of driving rain and howling winds, storm surges from Hurricane Matthew re- main a deadly threat for Beau- THIS IS IT JAY KARR A squad of tree service trucks is stationed Friday in the parking lot of the Quality Inn in Beaufort, as Hurricane Matthew approached Beaufort County. Forecasters predict surges of 8 feet or more As the brunt of Hurricane Matthew moved through the area overnight Friday and early Saturday, the deadliest threat might come from storm surges, forecasters say. Surges of up to 8 feet or more are possible along the South Carolina coast Saturday. BY LUCAS HIGH JOSH MITELMAN A gas station in the Coligny Beach area of Hilton Head Island boarded up Thursday, one of many local businesses shuttered for the storm. MORE INSIDE A Beaufort under curfew, preparing for flooding.

3A A Safety personnel and workers from prepare. 3A A Who should you call to report utility outages? 5A ONLINE Visit islandpacket.com and beaufortgazette.com for videos, photos and the latest Beaufort County storm news. SEE SURGES, 10A Daufuskie Island is expected to be flooded by a large surge of seawater from the onslaught of Hurricane Mat- thew and residents are at great risk, Gov. Nikki Haley said in her Friday 11 a.m. news conference.

Haley said about 100 residents had declined to evacuate as of Friday morn- ing. There is not yet a count of how many people are left on the island. In Daufuskie and other areas at the most risk, law enforcement went door- to-door asking people to leave, Haley said. The island has about 400 residents. There is no bridge, so the only way on or off the island is by boat.

In news conference, she had pleaded for people to evacuate and advised that residents should alert authorities if they know someone who stayed on the island. is going to be underwater, so we have to get these people she said. you evacuate now, you will likely be she said. NOAA A map from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows the possible storm surge on Daufuskie Island. Blue areas represent a storm surge 1 foot above ground, yellow is 3 feet above sea ground and orange is 6 feet above ground.

HURRICANE MATTHEW Haley: Daufuskie Island will be under water Gov. Nikki Haley said about 100 residents had declined to evacuate as of Friday morning. BY ERIN HEFFERNAN SEE DAUFUSKIE, 10A.