1300 Hospital Dr #220
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Effective. Proven. Trusted.
Struggling with ED/Erectile Dysfunction that won't improve?
We aren't guaranteed much as adults, but if there's one thing we can count on, it's that our bodies change as we get older. For men, that's especially true. One day you're lifting heavy weights and nailing your cardio regimen without having to stretch before or after. And then, in what seems like the blink of an eye, you start to slow down a little. You begin to notice aches and pains in places that weren't there before. You can't just go out for a night on the town, imbibe until your heart is content, and expect to wake up refreshed.
And while headaches and achy joints can be treated with ice and anti-inflammatory medicine, other aspects of aging aren't as easy to treat. You've probably guessed at this point what we're talking about: erectile dysfunction, or ED for short. When brought up to most men, those are two words that cause a guttural reaction of fear and trepidation.
While just about every man fears ED, millions suffer from it - almost 10% of the male population between the ages of 40 and 70. So, if you're beginning to have trouble performing in the heat of the moment, you're definitely not alone. You may be experiencing symptoms like:
Trouble Achieving an Erection
Trouble Maintaining an Erection
Lower Libido
Less Sexual Pleasure
Premature Ejaculation
Inability to Achieve Orgasm
However, at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine, we understand that stats won't do anything to address the stress and anxiety you're facing in relation to erectile dysfunction. You need a viable solution - a science-backed treatment that doesn't require strange pills or invasive surgeries. As a fully integrated multidisciplinary clinic in Mount Pleasant, we have what you've been searching for: softwave therapy for ED in Pawley's Island, SC.
To fully grasp the benefits of using soft wave therapy for erectile dysfunction, you must first understand what causes ED to begin with. Put simply, erectile dysfunction is the inability to get an erection and keep it throughout sexual intercourse. You should know that it's not uncommon if you have erection trouble. However, if your inability to "get it up" becomes a common occurrence, you may be suffering from ED.
Erectile dysfunction doesn't just affect your penis - it also affects your wellbeing and relationships. It can lower your confidence, cause a large amount of stress that affects your ability to work, and may even cause contention with your partner.
You hear it all the time - as men get older, they often lose the ability to get erect. But why? As men age, the blood vessels in their penis start to fill up with micro-plaques, causing them to deteriorate. When these blood vessels deteriorate, it's more difficult for them to have steady blood flow. And that's the key to ED - having the constant blood flow to get and keep an erection. That's where the science-backed effectiveness of Softwave therapy swoops in to save the day.
Shockwave technology has been around for decades. It has been used at the highest-level research and medical facilities like the Cleveland Clinic and Memorial Sloan Kettering. However, Softwave therapy is a more refined, effective way to treat erectile dysfunction and also advance tissue healing.
Softwave therapy works by using electrohydraulic spark gap technology at its core. Its innovative design features a parabolic reflector applicator that produces very effective, low-intensity shock waves that are unfocused. Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine's Softwave applicator spreads energy to a large area of both superficial and deep tissue, creating a biological response that kickstarts your body's natural healing process.
For men suffering from ED, it is a revolutionary breakthrough treatment that doesn't require harmful surgeries or side effects from pills. In fact, it has been FDA approved for many uses, including improved blood flow, which is often the root cause of erectile dysfunction.
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Unlike some more traditional treatment options, Softwave therapy gets right to the crux of the ED issue. It uses shock wave technology on a cellular level, helping to naturally heal body parts, like the penis. Some of the most common benefits of Softwave therapy include:
Additionally, Softwave treatments don't require much prep, don't have any sketchy side effects, don't require any numbing agents or anesthesia, and result in little-to-no recovery time. Sound too good to be true? Contact Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine today to learn just how effective Softwave therapy is for our patients!
Softwave therapy works by using efficient, effective shock waves that cause biological regeneration processes that heal your body using its own healing factors. It works like this: Softwaves are created via a high-energy electrical discharge in water. The voltage is discharged between the plus and minus tips of an electrode. The spark gap or arching causes an equalization of voltage between the opposing tips of the electrode, which causes a hot plasma bubble. This bubble explodes and distributes in every direction, compresses the surrounding water, and generates a pressure > 10 MPa within nanoseconds.
To sum up, Softwave therapy uses low-intensity, unfocused energy that is delivered by a reflector in parallel waves. These waves help open up the blood vessels in your penis, allowing more blood to flow. At Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine, our team of expert physicians will develop a personalized Softwave therapy plan based on your body and needs. With the right number of treatments, you should be able to achieve and maintain firm erections as you did in your prime.
A Softwave therapy procedure averages 10-15 minutes but may be longer depending on treatment area and diagnosis. A gel is applied to the surface area to be treated. The applicator produces pulses as the clinician moves around the treatment area. During therapy, communication with your provider is necessary to identify treatment areas and monitor progress.
Once treatment is over, you may resume your normal day-to-day activities. In fact, most patients can have Softwave therapy while on their lunch break. You don't have to worry about recovery time, side effects, or any downtime at all.
More than 50% of men will experience erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives. If you're over the age of 30, have been suffering from ED, and don't want to rely on pills or surgery, Softwave therapy may be for you. That's doubly true if you've tried traditional treatments like Viagra and even surgery but didn't get the results you hoped for. Many academic studies about shockwave therapy for ED state that this revolutionary technology is successful where PDE5 inhibitors fail.
In fact, many urologists consider Softwave therapy the most promising ED treatment on the market. The truth is, even if you're not battling ED, men can use Softwave therapy as a preventative way to keep the magic flowing in the bedroom. Some of the key reasons to choose Softwave therapy over less effective, traditional treatments include:
If you're curious why Softwave treatments are so popular for ED, the answer is simple. Prescription drugs like Cialis and others that "treat" ED often come with less-that-savory side effects. At best, these effects are just something patients have to deal with. At worst, they can disrupt your day-to-day schedule and may prevent you from enjoying a healthy life. Sure, some men swear by the "little blue pill," but most guys aren't aware of the hidden risks with drugs like Viagra. The following side effects can be common in both short and long-term circumstances:
If you're suffering through erectile dysfunction, it's crucial to understand why it's happening. The primary reason for ED is a lack of blood flow to the penis, which makes erections difficult to get and keep. Rather than relying on prescription and gas station pills for a quick fix, more men are using softwave ED treatment in Pawley's Island, SC for an all-natural solution minus the side effects. With Softwave therapy, you don't have to live with ED, and you don't have to suffer from scary side effects from popping too many pills.
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Softwave therapy is often a more effective solution for men with ED than similar but less effective treatments using pressure waves. Softwave therapy from Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine uses acoustic pulses or unfocused shockwaves with fast and steep rise times and high positive pressure. Our unfocused wave design makes it possible to spread energy to a larger area, which affects deep and superficial tissue. By targeting a larger area, a more potent biological response is often achieved, initiating your body's natural healing factors.
By comparison, radial pressure waves use acoustic pneumatic pulses with low steeping effects, slow rise times, and large negative pressures. Radial waves are shallower than the shockwaves used in Softwave technology and focus energy and pressure at the surface of the applicator.
Here's a quick breakdown of the differences between softwave therapy for ED in Pawley's Island, SC, and radial pressure waves:
If you're new to the world of Softwave therapy, chances are you've got some lingering questions you need answered. We'll do our best to answer a few of those questions here for your convenience.
Q. Has the FDA approved softwave therapy for ED in cityname, state?
A. Yes - Softwave therapy is FDA 510(k) approved for:
Q. Is softwave therapy painful?
A. Softwave therapy does not require surgery or any invasive form of treatment. With that said, some patients describe minimal discomfort or pain during our softwave treatments. Should this occur, your medical specialist will make necessary adjustments. Usually, patients do not have to endure any pain at all and only experience a pulse or tapping feeling on their skin.
Q. How long is a Softwave treatment session?
A. An individual session only takes five to fifteen minutes. It's typically recommended that patients have treatment once a week for three to five weeks. The length and frequency of your Softwave therapy sessions will be determined after you visit our medical clinic for a comprehensive evaluation.
Q. How long does it take for Softwave therapy to work?
A. Every patient we treat is different, and as such, will have different treatment recommendations. Often, patients notice the results of Softwave therapy after the first session. However, for the longest-lasting effects, most patients need between three and four treatments, with a week of non-treatment after every session.
Q. Can I combine Softwave therapy with other treatments from Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine?
A. It's hard to give a definitive answer to this question since every patient is different. It's important for you to have a full evaluation to determine the scope of your needs and the appropriate therapies. However, Softwave therapy often works very well with other treatments. In fact, other therapies offered at our medical clinic like massage therapy and chiropractic care can make Softwave treatment even more effective.
Remember - our team at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine is always happy to answer any questions you may have about ED or our ED treatments. Give us a call today - it would be our pleasure to get to know you better!
Unlike some wellness clinics, our experienced providers work together to optimize treatment for men suffering from ED. We always strive to make sexual wellbeing an accessible part of your everyday lifestyle.
That's why, at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine, our mission is simple: to correct the root cause of your erectile dysfunction by taking a comprehensive, total body approach to healing and treatment. We want to address your ED problem without having to resort to chemical-based medications or unnecessary surgeries. Instead, we focus on all-natural, effective solutions like shockwave therapy for ED in Pawley's Island, SC.
By discovering what's best for each person's individual body and needs, we can help create a healthier future for those in our community through our holistic physical medicine practices. Contact our office to learn more about Softwave therapy and how we can solve the underlying causes of your unique ED situation.
Book AppointmentPAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. (WPDE/CNN) - The owner of dog lost three years ago in the Myrtle Beach area will finally be reunited with his pet thanks to a Pawleys Island rescue group and social media.Roscoe was brought in to the All4Paws Animal Rescue on Pawley’s Island after someone found him near Highway 17 with an injured leg.Rescue spokesperson Peyton Kennedy says they typically do not take in strays, but she felt like something was different about Roscoe.“He had a chip, so I immediately called the chip company 2...
PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. (WPDE/CNN) - The owner of dog lost three years ago in the Myrtle Beach area will finally be reunited with his pet thanks to a Pawleys Island rescue group and social media.
Roscoe was brought in to the All4Paws Animal Rescue on Pawley’s Island after someone found him near Highway 17 with an injured leg.
Rescue spokesperson Peyton Kennedy says they typically do not take in strays, but she felt like something was different about Roscoe.
“He had a chip, so I immediately called the chip company 24 Hour Pet Watch and they gave me all the info I needed,” Kennedy says. “And I called the phone number and the phone number was disconnected. So I was like oh no it’s a lost cause.”
On top of that, the address registered was in West Virginia.
As a last resort, Peyton went on social media to help find Roscoe’s home.
“In my heart, I was like, ‘You know what? I’m just going to post it to Facebook. I’m not going to put the name of the dog, the gender, nothing.’ And two hours later, someone commented, Oh my gosh, that’s Roscoe. That’s my dog missing from West Virginia.’ I was like, ‘What?’ And they were like, ‘He’s been missing for three years.’”
Rachel Day, the one who commented on the post, says Roscoe belongs to her brother, Calvin, but got lost when they were in Myrtle Beach in September of 2020.
“They were inseparable. Everywhere they went together,” Day says. “It was heartbreaking. And he just continued to continuously try and find the dog. He would call me and say can you look on this page on Facebook, can you do this, can you look for him. And I helped, but I could never find anything.”
When Kennedy contacted the chip company, it emailed Calvin to let him know his dog had been found.
In disbelief, he asked his sister to check social media to see if anyone posted about him.
“I was surprised, pleasantly surprised, to find out that he was still around,” she said. “We had talked about it and I said, ‘I’m surprised he’s alive.’”
The two are now waiting to be reunited.
“He said, ‘I never thought I was going to see him again,’” Day says.
All4Paws also treated Roscoe for his leg injury at no charge.
Copyright 2023 WPDE/CNN. All rights reserved.
PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. (WPDE) — The workshop where Thomas Williams spends countless hours sculpting one-of-a-kind pieces of art has pieces of wood laying dormant in a pile.“I let the wood speak to me and every stick I touch I’m telling you it’s prayed for. Now I ain't gonna tell you it’ll open the red sea but I can tell you all of my sticks are blessed," explained Mr. Williams.In Pawleys Island, he’s known as the ‘Stick Man’ well, because he sells sticks. Not just any sticks th...
PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. (WPDE) — The workshop where Thomas Williams spends countless hours sculpting one-of-a-kind pieces of art has pieces of wood laying dormant in a pile.
“I let the wood speak to me and every stick I touch I’m telling you it’s prayed for. Now I ain't gonna tell you it’ll open the red sea but I can tell you all of my sticks are blessed," explained Mr. Williams.
In Pawleys Island, he’s known as the ‘Stick Man’ well, because he sells sticks. Not just any sticks though, they're custom hand-carved walking sticks made from quality wood he finds in the forest.
“You’re just like, 'oh my gosh this man is a special man' and his carvings are just so unique. It’s an old tradition the way he carves them and he hand selects each stick, there's not much of that anymore where people are making things by hand," said Michelle Volk, Owner of Carolina Nature Nook.
For the past 30 years, those driving Ocean Highway would see Mr. Williams selling his sticks on the side of the road to provide for his family of 14, so you could imagine the concern residents had when they didn’t see him for days.
“When he went missing at his stand, I went, 'gosh I have to check on him' and it turns out he was still at MUSC. I called his personal phone and he was in the burn center the day that I called," said Tom Bishop, a friend of Thomas Williams.
Williams was burning debris in his yard to keep mosquitos away, and as he added more lighter fluid to the pile, he tripped and fell sending flames up the entire right side of his body.
“I thought it wasn’t gonna go boom boom and it went boom and boom and burnt me all the way from here to down here," said Williams.
His injuries were so severe, he spent weeks in the hospital and had multiple surgeries.
All of which kept him from doing what he does best, making sticks.
“It’s killing me because I’m an active person and doing something," said Williams.
When Tom Bishop learned of the accident, he knew he had to help.
“I’m not that good with technology but my wife told me about a website called neighborhood and that’s how all of this got started. I started a GoFundMe for him," explained Bishop.
The fundraiser quickly met its goal of $6,000 but the community didn’t stop there.
Michelle Volk is the owner of the Carolina Nature Nook in the Hammock Shops Village.
When she saw the GoFundMe, she remembered an offer she made Williams years ago.
“If you ever want to leave them in our shop and people like them, we’ll sell them for you. We don’t want commission or anything, he’s a great guy and I’d be honored to have his products in my shop honestly because people know him and it helps us too," explained Volk.
Williams agreed, giving the shop 10 sticks that would quickly sell out.
“I didn’t know that much people loved me and I’m thanking god every day because let me tell you," said Williams.
It will be months before Williams can go back to work so he’s grateful for everything the Pawleys Island community has done to support him and his family.
“That’s Mr. Williams, he’s just a quality guy and I love checking up on him and I love seeing him out there. He’s part of the community, it’s part of what makes this area what it is," said Bishop.
If you'd like to purchase any of Mr. Williams' work, you can visit the Carolina Nature Nook at 10880 Ocean Hwy, Pawleys Island, SC 29585.
GEORGETOWN — Residents of a traditionally African American community near Pawleys Island are taking Georgetown County to court for the second time in three months over the county council’s approval of housing on the site of a never-developed technology park.The lawsuit surrounds approval of a development in Parkersville, west of U.S. 17 between Litchfield Beach and Pawleys Island, that includes a commercial and residential mix with 90 housing units, 27 of them to be rented below market rate.In addition to the mixed ...
GEORGETOWN — Residents of a traditionally African American community near Pawleys Island are taking Georgetown County to court for the second time in three months over the county council’s approval of housing on the site of a never-developed technology park.
The lawsuit surrounds approval of a development in Parkersville, west of U.S. 17 between Litchfield Beach and Pawleys Island, that includes a commercial and residential mix with 90 housing units, 27 of them to be rented below market rate.
In addition to the mixed land use, the council voted Nov. 8 to reclassify the Petigru Drive parcel as high-density residential instead of commercial.
The lawsuit alleges the zoning change approved by the council violates state law because it does not comply with the county’s comprehensive plan. It further alleges conflicts of interest by three county councilmembers who voted in the project’s favor.
Seven Parkersville-area residents and the Parkersville Planning and Development Alliance, Keep It Green and Preserve Murrells Inlet filed the lawsuit against Georgetown County and the Alliance for Economic Development for Georgetown County.
A small, heavily tree-lined neighborhood of about two square miles, Parkersville has become the recipient of “undesirable county land use decisions, commercial encroachment, predatory development of heirs’ property, and gentrification” as the Waccamaw Neck has developed, the lawsuit argues.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to declare that planned development districts in the county, like the one preceding the Parkersville development, should revert to their original zoning if construction does not start within two years. The technology park was originally zoned for forest agriculture, according to the lawsuit.
“The common denominator is that the comprehensive plan is just that, it’s the plan that’s supposed to be followed,” said Cynthia Ranck Person, executive director and chief legal counsel of Keep It Green, a nonprofit law firm based out of Pawleys Island. “And the zoning and land use decisions are supposed to be in compliance with the comprehensive plan. And they simply aren’t.”
Georgetown County spokeswoman Jackie Broach said the county does not comment on ongoing litigation.
Maya Morant, the county’s marketing director for economic development, did not respond to a request for comment.
The Alliance for Economic Development for Georgetown County has been a nonprofit separate from the county since about 2016, Broach said, though Council Chairman Louis Morant and Councilman Raymond Newton serve on both the county council and the Alliance’s board.
The development’s parcel was purchased by the Alliance in 2016. Morant and Newton each voted in favor of the project on Nov. 8, though both denied the transaction could benefit them economically.
The lawsuit also states that now-former Councilman Steve Goggans had a conflict of interest in voting on the project, as he was the architect for the technology park that never came to fruition.
Like Morant and Newton, Goggans voted in favor of the project Nov. 8.
The lawsuit is the third filed against the county by Keep It Green since January 2022. Person and members of her firm’s advisory council have made frequent appearances in recent county meetings at which housing in Parkersville has been on the agenda.
Another of Keep It Green’s two suits also involves a housing development in Parkersville. That lawsuit, filed in October, seeks to nullify the council’s approval of site plans for two townhouse developments.
The plaintiffs in that case, seven of them Parkersville residents, seek a mandate for county zoning ordinances to conform to the county’s comprehensive plan.
The county is also facing a lawsuit in U.S. District Court over a failed 2021 rezoning request for affordable housing near Wedgefield Plantation. The plaintiffs in that case, which include the South Carolina and Georgetown County chapters of the NAACP, allege that “racism and classism” played a role in the request’s denial.
Was your New Year resolution this year to prioritize your health, promote healthier habits or include certain fitness aspects into your current lifestyle?Although the state of South Carolina has a vast variety of health-focused smoothie spots and eateries, some stood out to a certain publication.Whether you are actively pursuing a healthier lifestyle or are a fruit fanatic looking for the next best smoothie, Best Things South Carolina ranked the e...
Was your New Year resolution this year to prioritize your health, promote healthier habits or include certain fitness aspects into your current lifestyle?
Although the state of South Carolina has a vast variety of health-focused smoothie spots and eateries, some stood out to a certain publication.
Whether you are actively pursuing a healthier lifestyle or are a fruit fanatic looking for the next best smoothie, Best Things South Carolina ranked the eight ‘best spots for smoothies in South Carolina.’
Here are the eight best smoothie locations in South Carolina, according to bestthingssc.com.
Health in Hand is located in Spartanburg at 201-A Wall Street with a second location recently opened last year in the Tyger River area. Open every day of the week, this smoothie spot is locally owned and operated in the downtown Spartanburg area since 2015 and “is Spartanburg’s go-to wellness cafe, serving organic acai bowls, smoothies, healthy food, green juice and more,” according to Health in Hand’s website.
The website even offers to create juice cleanses for your chosen amount of time for anyone new to beginning a cleanse or a juice cleanse professional. There are three options for you to choose from. As for their overall menu, “the first and only plant based restaurant in town” also serves a variety of juices, smoothies, bowls and food.
TReats Smoothie & Juice Bar, now called Sunset Slush of Travelers Rest with TReats Smoothies, can be found in Travelers Rest at 305 S Main Street. This location offers a variety of healthy, fruity smoothie options for you to choose from. If smoothies aren’t your thing, Italian ice options are also available. This smoothie spot is Travelers Rest’s first and only Smoothie & Juice Bar, according to the company’s Facebook page.
Fusion Smoothie & Juice Bar was founded in Summerville. This smoothie spot offered smoothies, juices, smoothie bowls, juice shots and a limited food menu. It is now reported to have closed and there was no response for comment, but Summerville has several smoothie locations such as Planet Smoothie and Tropical smoothie, which are chain locations, for smoothie lovers to choose from as well as several locations for health teas and shakes.
For those into health teas and shakes, locations such as 843 Nutrition, Holy City Nutrition, Recharge Nutrition and Pure Nutrition are all located in Summerville.
Kuka Juice can be found in Greenville at 580 Perry Avenue. This smoothie spot is “South Carolina’s finest cold-pressed juicery,” according to their website. Kuka Juice offers cold-pressed juices and plant-based food to help support your body and maximize your health. The name “Kuka” (Kuka Juice) comes from “Kukamama,” who is the Incan goddess of health and joy.
The smoothie company uses its name to promote its stance on healthy living and that “good nutrition fuels good health, and good health fuels joy.” Kuka Juice offers several juice cleanse options, juice shots, individual juices, smoothie bowls, smoothies, food options as well as a small market within their location.
Smooth can be found on Hilton Head Island at 11 Palmetto Bay Road in Suite 107A. This smoothie spot, which is on the south end of the island, offers a variety of smoothie options to choose from, such as acai bowls, bottles, smoothies, juices and juice shots.
“Fans flock to Smooth for three reasons: First, they feature the best-tasting smoothies on the island. Second, their prices are low enough to fit every budget. And most importantly, the staff here knows all things juices and can help you get the most benefits out of every drop. No matter what your ailments, you’ll find a juice that can make you feel good,” according to bestthingssc.com.
Anything Froz can be found in Pawleys Island at 13088 Ocean Highway Unit 2. This smoothie spot has an assortment of brightly colored and healthy acai bowls, smoothies, espresso, cold brew coffee, fresh organic juice and frozen yogurt. Anything Froz is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Diners of the smoothie spot can stay up-to-date on anything related to Anything Froz on their Facebook or Instagram pages.
Johnny’s Garden can be found in Sumter at 504 Miller Road. This smoothie location has a variety of juice options, juice shots and fresh smoothies and claims to specialize in energy foods. They are open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. every day other than Saturdays when they close at 4 p.m.
“This boutique juice bar was inspired by a family illness that was cured by the powers of juicing. The family now shares the benefits of juices and smoothies with others, offering them all the best ingredients that will have them banishing bad foods for good,” described bestthingssc.com about Johnny’s Garden.
Fresh Vibes Juice Bar & Cafe can be found in Rock Hill at 1675 Ebenezer Road. This location is open on weekdays and offers cold-pressed juices, hot and iced drinks, pure juices, smoothie blends, meatless sandwich wraps and salads. They offer several vegan options including burgers, cheeses and more as well as healthy smoothies and drinks to choose from.
After hours of standing in the breaking surf, the end of Pawleys Pier settled with a shrug into the waves. Like a tired swimmer, it floated away. It was just after 1 p.m.The tattered American flag still snapped above the gazebo that had shaded generations of anglers.Howard Bond captured the scene on video. He was standing in the stairwell outside a friend’s condo at Pawleys Pier Village as Hurricane Ian struck last week.“I just happened to look up,” he said. “The waves were cresting against the bo...
After hours of standing in the breaking surf, the end of Pawleys Pier settled with a shrug into the waves. Like a tired swimmer, it floated away. It was just after 1 p.m.
The tattered American flag still snapped above the gazebo that had shaded generations of anglers.
Howard Bond captured the scene on video. He was standing in the stairwell outside a friend’s condo at Pawleys Pier Village as Hurricane Ian struck last week.
“I just happened to look up,” he said. “The waves were cresting against the bottom of the pier. It was getting hammered.”
Free of its pilings, the deck followed the contour of the ocean, “almost like a Mexican wave,” Bond said.
The 820-foot pier is now half its original length, said Ted Levering, the president of the homeowners association at Pawleys Pier Village.
“We’re all terribly sad,” he said. “To look out and see half a pier, it’s very depressing.”
As property owners clean up after the Category 1 storm that made landfall over North Island at the southern tip of the Waccamaw Neck, the pier will stand as a reminder of the storm surge that not only battered the beachfront, but filled the creeks and flooded homes from DeBordieu to Garden City.
The Pawleys Pier Village property owners are now at work on plans to rebuild. The structure was insured for $5.5 million. An insurance adjuster was scheduled to inspect it today.
The damaged pier provided the backdrop for a visit by Gov. Henry McMaster the day after the storm.
The pier was the third to jut from the beach at the north end of Pawleys Island. The first was opened in July 1954. It was destroyed by Hurricane Hazel three months later. The second pier was destroyed by Hurricane Hugo in September 1989.
Fran Oxner, whose family has owned a house south of the pier for generations, looked over the wreckage from Ian on Friday afternoon with a sense of déja vu.
The broken pilings, once 60 feet long, had taken out nearby walkways. After Hugo, they had destroyed houses, she recalled.
Eddie Wilder had watched the surf pound the pier through the midday high tide. He estimated the waves were over 20 feet high. They broke over the end of the pier, he said.
When his wife, Renee, told him that a dock was floating past their house, Wilder realized it was actually the pier.
Bond watched until the portion with the gazebo and flag pole capsized. He has a house on the southern tip of the island.
“There were big sections floating in front of our house Sunday,” he said.
Pilings washed up south of the public parking lot. Other sections remain in the surf zone. The town of Pawleys Island will have to remove the storm debris the beach, said Mayor Brian Henry. It’s unclear who is responsible from removing debris from the ocean, he said.
“That’s navigable water,” he said.
The Pawleys Pier Village association will have the remaining structure evaluated for safety, Levering said. It may remove some damaged wood from the end to prevent further damage from winter storms.
The evaluation will determine if the entire pier needs to be rebuilt, he added.
Since the pier was rebuilt in 1990, pilings and timbers have been replaced periodically. Cape Romain Contractors, which built the pier, has already been out to talk with the association about their options.
“We want the pier back. That’s the main thing,” Levering said.
Georgetown County Board of Education: First and third Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m., Beck Education Center. For details, go to gcsd.k12.sc.us. Georgetown County Council: Second and fourth Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers, 129 Screven St., Georgetown. For details, go to georgetowncountysc.org. Pawleys Island Town Council: Second Mondays, 5 p.m. Town Hall, 323 Myrtle Ave. For details, go to townofpawleysisland.com. , .
(843) 936-6238