Tropical Storm ‘Debby Downer’ dumps 11 inches on Beaufort. ‘Everybody lost business’

Normally bustling Bay Street in downtown Beaufort — the historic heart of the city’s business economy — was as dead as a doornail Tuesday morning.

“We can’t find anyone!” said Pam Drafts of Beaufort, who was hoping to find a toy store open where she could bring her grandchildren, Mason, 4, and Brady, 6.

Instead, the trio walked away disappointed, with umbrellas and raincoats shielding them from the unrelenting rain.

Most of the city’s eclectic mix of businesses such as Barefoot Bubba’s, Lowcountry Stitch, Thibault Gallery, the Chocolate Tree were closed. Signs were stuck to some of the doors blaming Tropical Storm Debby for leaving the busy business hub eerily quiet.

“Due to ‘Debby Downer,’ we will be closed Tuesday, 8/6 and plan to reopen on Wed,’” read the hand-written message posed on the front door of Lowcountry Stitch.”

As the clock struck 11 a.m. on the Peoples Bank clock overlooking Bay Street, the biggest sound was rain spewing from rain gutters onto concrete below. Sand bags leaned against the front doors of many of the businesses. Palmetto tree fronds littered the brick sidewalks between Bay Street and the Beaufort River.

Beaufort has been in the bullseye of the slow-moving storm.

As of Tuesday, 11.2 inches of rain had fallen on “The Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands,” founded in 1711, which today is key cog in the region’s $140 million tourism economy. That’s the highest rainfall total of any Lowcountry community.

Scott Lee, who owns the Beaufort Candy Shop, Barefoot Bubba’s, Carolina Me Crazy and Low Country Cider and Superior Coffee, said he closed his businesses early Monday night in anticipation of the impacts from the storm.

But when Lee was driving around on Tuesday, he said, “there’s not that much water” and the high winds that are predicted did not seem too severe. As a result, Lee said, he planned to reopen for business on Wednesday. He’s hopes that the Greater Beaufort-Port Royal Convention and Visitors Bureau quickly begins advertising in larger markets like Atlanta and Charleston that the “coast is clear” to visit Beaufort and Port Royal again.

“Everybody lost business this week with all the tourists leaving,” Lee said.

The National Weather Service said Tuesday morning that Lowcountry communities could receive an additional 6 to 12 inches through Friday. A flood watch is in effect until 9 a.m. Friday for the area.

No major flooding had been reported in the city or neighboring Port Royal as of midday Tuesday although there was standing water on some streets.

“We’re confident we’ve prepared as best we can,” City Manager Scott Marshall said .

Water was creeping across some roads, particularly in historic areas prone to flooding, such as “The Point” neighborhood.

In neighboring Port Royal, on Old Shell Point Road, a laurel oak snapped, nearly missed the home, instead falling onto a covered golf cart parked in front of it.

In a message delivered on Facebook, Mayor Kevin Phillips said “the potential for flooding is very real,” adding that wind gusts of up to 38 mph could turn objects not tied down into projectiles. “Look out for yourself,” Philips said. “Look out for your neighbors.”

People rushed to area grocery stores to stock up on supplies. “We’re going back home,” said Betrice Scott, as she pushed a shopping cart filled with food along Ribaut Road in the pounding rain after shopping at Dollar General.

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