This week in history reminds us of the devastating power of nature with the 30th anniversary of Hurricane Hugo. Hurricane Hugo started as a Cape Verde hurricane that grew to a Category 5 storm, raking the Caribbean before heading to the Lowcountry. Hugo made landfall just north of Charleston, SC at Sullivan's Island around midnight September 22, 1989 as a Category 4 storm with estimated maximum sustained winds of 135-140 mph. Over 3000 tornadoes were also reported. Additionally, there were reports of substantial storm surge including an observation of 20.2 feet at the Seewee Bay near McClellanville. The resulting damage to the State of South Carolina was estimated at approximately $4.2 billion and is still being repaired today. Most buildings in downtown Charleston sustained significant damage, but the worst destruction occurred closer to the landfall in beach towns north of Charleston such as Sullivan's Island and the Isle of Palms where many homes were rendered uninhabitable. Many old trees were toppled by Hugo's winds, including those at Drayton Hall in West Ashley. Major logging operations in the Francis Marion National Forest were permanently ended due to the storm felling more than 1 billion board-feet of lumber (approximately 70% of lumber-quality trees).