Beachgoers sound off on Horry County's wind-driven shading device ban
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — After last week's Horry County Council vote to not allow wind-driven shading devices a trial run on the county's unincorporated beaches, a family visiting Myrtle Beach agrees with the decision.
Traveling to the coast with her four kids and husband, Janiece Hope said if lifeguard companies and first responders believe them to be dangerous, then there shouldn't be any debate on letting them on the county's beaches. She said it would be 'horrible' if an emergency broke out and a lifeguard wasn't able to rescue someone in time because people wanted a wind-driven shading device.
Hope also said although the ends of umbrellas can be dangerous, she said popular wind-driven shading devices — like the Shibumi Shade — could be just as dangerous in different ways.
'Let's be honest, if they're loud and you have a windy day, user error is going to mean that there's going to be situations where they start flying down the beach. I don't want to have to listen to that when I come to the beach and I don't want to have to be hit by some stupid thing flying at me because somebody else was being irresponsible and dropped off,' she said. 'I don't use umbrellas or anything like that in the first place. If you're coming to the beach, it's kind of because it's sunny. It's normal to get sun on you. I think that's sort of a selfish thing anyway.'
Hope said those wanting to fight to have wind-driven shading devices should listen to authorities when it comes to the devices putting other's lives in danger. She said if those in charge of monitoring the beaches for public safety say the devices aren't safe, then the possibility of still using them — even for a trial period — shouldn't be an option.
'I think people take their ideas of personal liberties way too far,' she said. 'They don't have a right to put other people at risk, period. That's just not an American freedom.'
Hope's son, Evan, said he agreed that the public should be listening to the authorities who said wind-driven shading devices have a hindrance on their line of sight and could be too loud to not hear a cry for help in the water. Although, he said restriction modifications could be a solution for Horry County.
'If it's going to be a problem for lifeguards to see over, and it's a little louder, put them behind up for lifeguards,' he said.
Evan said a possible option for Shibumi is also making the product clear for lifeguards to see through them easily. He said if wind-driven shading devices remain an issue for the county, an alternative to umbrellas could be a new invention with similar materials to Shibumi. He said an invention similar to a tent, that's lightweight still without poles and similar shading components.
Shibumi co-founder Dave Barnes said Shibumi's are safer than umbrellas and are used on most beaches across the country. He said roughly 2,000 people from Horry County have purchased a Shibumi and called it a shame they aren't able to use them on some of the beaches near their home.
Barnes said Shibumi will keep fighting for the device to be used in Horry County.
* * *
Gabby Jonas joined the News13 team as a multimedia journalist in April 2024. She is from Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from Kent State University in May 2023. Follow Gabby on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, and read more of her work here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
13 hours ago
- Boston Globe
The government cuts key data used in hurricane forecasting, and experts sound an alarm
NOAA spokesperson Kim Doster, in a statement, called it a 'routine process of data rotation and replacement' and said that the remaining data sources 'are fully capable of providing a complete set of cutting-edge data and models that ensure the gold-standard weather forecasting the American people deserve.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Traditional visible or infrared satellites provide data that becomes images showing the structure, intensity and temperature of a storm, according to NOAA information, along with features such as lightning. But those miss the three-dimensional details of a storm. The microwave data gives critical information that can't be gleaned from the conventional satellites, and helps peer under a regular image of a hurricane or a tropical cyclone to see what is going on inside of it. It is especially helpful at night. Advertisement The news is especially noteworthy during the ongoing hurricane season and as lesser storms have become more frequent, deadly and costly as climate change is worsened by the burning of fossil fuels. Advertisement Microwave imagery allows researchers and forecasters to see the center of the storm. Experts say that can help in detecting the rapid intensification of storms and in more accurately plotting the likely path of dangerous weather. 'If a hurricane, let's say, is approaching the Gulf Coast, it's a day away from making landfall, it's nighttime,' said Union of Concerned Scientists science fellow Marc Alessi. 'We will no longer be able to say, OK, this storm is definitely undergoing rapid intensification, we need to update our forecasts to reflect that.' Other microwave data will be available but only roughly half as much, hurricane specialist Michael Lowry said in a blog post. He said that greatly increases the odds that forecasters will miss rapid intensification, underestimate intensity or misplace the storm. That 'will severely impede and degrade hurricane forecasts for this season and beyond, affecting tens of millions of Americans who live along its hurricane-prone shorelines,' he said. University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy called the loss of data 'alarmingly bad news' in a post on Bluesky. 'Microwave data are already relatively sparse, so any loss — even gradual as satellites or instruments fail — is a big deal; but to abruptly end three active functioning satellites is insanity.' NOAA and its National Weather Service office have been the target of several cuts and changes in President Donald Trump's second term. The Department of Government Efficiency gutted the agency's workforce, local field offices and funding. Already, hurricane forecasts were anticipated to be less accurate this year because weather balloons launches have been curtailed because of the lack of staffing. Advertisement 'What happened this week is another attempt by the Trump administration to sabotage our weather and climate infrastructure,' Alessi said.
Eater
2 days ago
- Eater
How to Enjoy Dining When It's Hot AF Outside
A few weeks ago, I found myself standing outside of Birdie's, helmed by Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel and newly minted Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service James Beard Award-winner Arjav Ezekiel. The wine bar and restaurant is known for its pre-hours line of eagerly awaiting patrons, and I, like most Texas-born folks, braced myself for the late afternoon sun's punishing rays. My sister and I scurried under a countable number of cedar elm leaves, sweat beads slowly building on both of our foreheads. And then it came: the pitcher. Of water, importantly, but it was that familiar plastic pitcher (this one was a sort of magenta hue, making me feel like I'd been zapped back to the '90s), that signaled to me that cold, liquid relief inside the container was coming. A server brought it out to those waiting in line, serving generous pours of cool water that got us through. Cooled off and cared for, I walked into Birdie's ready to order my patio-friendly bottle of wine, and to enjoy what was a lovely early summer dinner of beet tartare (yes, beet, and it was wonderful), penne alla vodka, and divinely luscious sweet corn soft serve. As gentle gusts of air cooled the restaurant, and my sister and I sparred over the last bite of dessert, I was reminded that great summer dining doesn't have to be interrupted by the heat. Dining in the heat, whether you're doing so indoors or outdoors, takes its share of strategy. No matter where you find yourself, here's how I would tackle it: I get that the milkshake is part of American summer lore, and I'm not going to yuck anyone's generationally enduring yum. But when the temperatures extend beyond 90°F (which they often do, and increasingly, earlier in the summer), I'm searching for the lightest possible sugar hit I can find. Enter, the sno-ball. Or Icee. Or snow cone! Or water ice! Or Chilly Bears! Whatever you call them (which is likely depending on wherever in the United States you're from), the ingredients from these icy summer treats are largely consistent: crushed, softened ice, and sugary syrup, the dye of which defies all scientific and parental guidance for food intake. It's sweet, unhealthy, and indulgent — everything the summertime should be. Among the many things America adopted from Europe during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was its advanced approach to outdoor dining. And while some cities have passed laws infringing on their ability to exist, many restaurants have patio spaces that are perfect for large summer gatherings, or a late-night read with a glass of wine. Bonus: Many restaurants have outdoor fans or a cooling system in their outdoor spaces, ensuring comfort is accessible across the restaurants. The sun is typically at its hottest point around 3 p.m., but it's safe to say that once breakfast is finished, it's often a scorcher outside. Avoid al fresco seating dining the hours of 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., and aim to do restaurant group hangs around happy hour during the evening hours. If dining during the day, try to pick a seat in a cooler part of the restaurant. Look at where the sunlight shining in from windows falls in the room, and avoid that area so as not to get overheated. Be mindful that sitting near a window will likely also make you susceptible to warmth from the sun. If the host seats you somewhere that's too directly in the path of the sun, feel free to ask them, politely, to seat you elsewhere. As much as I love a meal that sticks to your bones, summertime isn't the time to order it. Climate change has spread in such a way that no longer is it just places like Texas seeing temps of 100°F or above, but also cities like Paris, Philadelphia, Boston, and Bareclona, Thankfully, all of these locations, and others, have plenty of regional salads, pastas, and cuisine that feels a bit better on the system when needing to walk down a hot street. Cold, flavorful gazpachos, raw bar bars filled with a host of bivalves, and cold noodle soups are the menu move here. Embrace the bounties of summer produce — peaches, watermelon, plums, tomatoes, cucumber, oh my! — and let the light energy of the season find its way to the table. Hotter temps mean critters that are more closely associated with the tropics are out in abundance. If you're dining outside or in a restaurant with open walls during the months of May to September, you can be assured that at some point, a bunch of gross, germ-carrying flies are going to be hopping from table to table, searching for their next meal, hoping that it's yours. The error folks make is thinking flies only coalesce around the remnants of a meal and leftovers waiting to be bussed. But take a few extra minutes to take another bite of a perfect dish, or try to enjoy a drink that begs for a slower sip, and they'll find you — and your meal. Ask the server for a fly fan. The contraptions will look like ridiculous Back to the Future paraphernalia, and they'll also protect your $40+ meal from becoming fly food. Every AC unit or outdoor fan imaginable can't counter an unnecessary layer of clothing or a jacket that simply doesn't belong in summer. Dress comfortably, and utilize materials like linen, sandals, and open-toed shoes. Enjoy your meal in the comforts of your air-conditioned home. And if possible, order via the restaurant's website. A recent Eater profile on DoorDash's efforts to impede policies that support delivery drivers is a timely reminder that supporting restaurants directly is always best.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
New study warns that one type of US home foreclosures could surge by staggering 380%: 'Hidden risks'
Weather-related foreclosures across the United States could jump 380% over the next 10 years, reported CBS MoneyWatch. By 2035, weather-driven events could account for up to 30% of all foreclosures, compared with roughly 7% today. The research from First Street, a climate impact analysis firm, shows how rising repair costs and insurance premiums are creating a perfect storm for American homeowners. Weather-driven foreclosures happen when extreme conditions damage homes so badly that owners can't afford the repairs or insurance costs. Unlike traditional foreclosures caused by job loss or financial hardship, these stem directly from floods, hurricanes, wildfires, and other weather disasters. The problem hits families with low and moderate incomes the hardest since most of their wealth is tied up in their homes. When a storm destroys your house and insurance doesn't cover the full cost, foreclosure often becomes the only option. These foreclosures are a concealed financial risk that most lenders don't consider when approving mortgages, per the report. Banks typically look at your income, debt, and credit score but not whether your future home sits in a flood zone or wildfire path. First Street projects lenders will lose $1.2 billion this year alone, with losses climbing to $5.4 billion annually by 2035. For every 1% increase in insurance costs, it estimates foreclosure rates jump by roughly 1% nationwide. "Such losses represent the 'hidden risks' of climate change that lenders often fail to account for in their underwriting practices," CBS MoneyWatch wrote while paraphrasing Jeremy Porter, head of climate implications at First Street. This oversight leaves both homeowners and banks vulnerable when disaster strikes. Florida faces the biggest risk, with eight of the top 10 counties for the highest projected credit losses. Duval County alone could experience $60 million in losses from 900 foreclosures in a severe weather year. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. However, the impact goes beyond coastal areas. Heavy rainfall and river flooding threaten inland communities too, especially where flood insurance coverage remains spotty. The real problem lies in insurance gaps. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's flood maps cover just under 8 million properties, but First Street estimates nearly 18 million homes face flood risk. That leaves millions of homeowners without proper coverage. "About half the people with significant flood risk aren't mapped into [FEMA's] Special Flood Hazard Area," Porter explained. "So it leads to a state where we have a lot of underinsurance across the country." Properties outside official flood zones saw foreclosure rates 52% higher than those inside protected areas when flooding occurred from 2002 to 2019. "If you don't protect yourselves, then when the event does occur it's completely on you. You end up having to pay out of pocket and you may go into foreclosure," Porter said. When buying a home, ask about flood risk even if you're not in an official flood zone. Consider flood insurance regardless of requirements, and factor potential weather-related costs into your budget. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
