Early Summer Hurricane Preparedness Checklist 2026

Hurricane season began on June 1 and runs through November 30. Now is the time to prepare, before we even receive warnings that a hurricane is imminent.

Prepare your home and yard:

  • Clean out the ground floor of your home. For suggestions, click here.
  • Inspect and secure your property. Click here for details.
  • Obtain sandbags. Click here for locations.
  • Fill the propane tank and have it inspected for hurricane readiness. Click here for details. 
  • Gather and protect important documents. Click here for ideas.
  • Buy storm supplies. Click here for suggestions.
  • Make sure your pets’ shots are current and microchip data is up to date.

Protect your treasures:

  • Pack up stored items into plastic containers with secure lids.
  • Consider digitizing photos and family videotapes.
  • Move documents and rarely worn jewelry to a safe deposit box.
  • Back up computer photos and files to the cloud or an external hard drive. 

Prepare for a possible insurance claim:

  • Take a video of your home’s contents with your cell phone.
  • Check coverage levels concerning any renovations or new acquisitions.
  • Gather receipts and model and serial numbers of high-priced items. 

Our Hurricane Hints can be accessed at any time on the Tidelines website. Use the Hurricane Hints dropdown menu.

Remember, be prepared, stay safe.

–Tidelines Editors

What is Seabrook Island Village?

Seabrook Island Village (SIV) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping neighbors on Seabrook Island and Kiawah River Estates remain independent and continue living safely and comfortably in their own homes. Since 2019, SIV has been part of a growing national movement that empowers adults to lead active, engaged lives, while aging in place. We are working hard to increase the awareness of our services and ultimately help our neighbors remain safely in their own homes.

Seabrook Island Village provides a wide range of services, using trained and vetted neighborhood volunteers. We are Neighbors Helping Neighbors.  

Continue reading “What is Seabrook Island Village?”

King Tides in the Charleston Area June 14-16

King Tide is a commonly used term describing high tides that are higher than normal. They usually occur during a full or new moon or during specific seasons throughout the year. Charleston’s average high tide range is about 5.5 ft., but during a King Tide event, it can reach 7 ft. or higher. 

King Tides can cause flooding in low-lying areas, resulting in road closures on Seabrook Island, as well as the Johns Island and Charleston areas. This is particularly true when a king tide coincides with significant rain and/or wind.

The next dates of the predicted King Tides are June 14-16.

Continue reading “King Tides in the Charleston Area June 14-16”

Do You Know About… Beach Etiquette?


Do you know… the Town of Seabrook Island (TOSI) is responsible for the beach below the high tide line and Seabrook Island Property Owners Association (SIPOA) takes care of the beach above?

SIPOA and TOSI work together to ensure that we keep our beach pristine and safe. It is up to each of us to do our part to support their efforts. The following rules reflect the requirements set forth and supported by both SIPOA and TOSI.

  • Stay off the sand dunes. No people or dogs may walk on sand dunes. Also, vegetation, such as sea oats, may not be removed from the sand dunes. The dunes are protected because that is where the loggerhead turtles may lay their eggs and where endangered/threatened bird species may make their nests. Do not harm, harass, or disturb any loggerhead turtle or bird species, including their eggs and nests.
  • No littering. All trash, paper, bottles, cans, dog excrement, and other litter must be removed from the beach. If you see trash on the beach, please take a few minutes to pick it up. Trash is dangerous for wildlife and can pollute our waters. Balloons on strings and plastic bags are especially dangerous for the turtles. There are trash receptacles at the end of each boardwalk and several places on the beach. Glass containers are prohibited on the beach.
  • Do not leave personal property on the beach. Unless the Town has granted special permission in writing, all personal property (tents, tent frames, chairs, umbrellas, clothing, coolers, toys or other beach equipment) left unattended on the beach after sunset is considered abandoned and will be removed at the owner’s risk and expense.
  • No playing loud music on the beach.
  • Restore the beach after digging or constructing. For the safety of all beach users and wildlife (such as turtles), fill in any holes you or your pet dig.  In addition, level any sandcastles or sand art as people may trip on it, especially as the tide starts to cover it.

  • No fires. No grills, cookers, or any heating devices using fire are allowed on the beach. Building or maintaining a fire or open flame is permitted only above the high water mark and when advance permission has been granted in writing by the Seabrook Island Property Owners Association. (Permits may be obtained by submitting an application. Click here or visit sipoa.org for Beach Fire Permit Application.)
  • No chumming.  No chopped or ground fish bait is permitted on or within 600 feet of the beach.  This does not affect or prohibit the baiting of crab traps or the placement of nature bait upon a hook and line. Code enforcement officers have the authority to require persons engaged in fishing from the beach to cease fishing if, in their judgment, circumstances indicate that cessation of fishing is in the interest of public safety.
  • No motorized watercraft or vehicles. Launching or landing of motorized watercraft on our beaches is prohibited. Negligent operation of any vessel or watercraft on or near our beaches, including while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, is also prohibited. Motorized vehicles may not be operated on the beach except as authorized by the Town.
  • Restricted swimming in Captain Sams Inlet. No swimming is allowed in Captain Sams Inlet during the period two hours before to two hours after low tide, or any time dolphins are present in the inlet.
  • No crossing over or onto private property.  To get to the beach by way of private property is not permitted. Access to the beach is by way of SIPOA boardwalks or areas designated for that purpose. SIPOA boardwalks can be identified by their numbers 1 through 9.  Click here to see the location of the boardwalks labeled 1 through 9.
  • Beach towels, bathing suits, and other clothing.  These should not be hung on or draped over exterior railings of homes or villas.
  • Restrain pets when and where required by ordinance. Click here to review requirements for pets on the beach. Pick up and dispose of animal waste.

These are taken from SIPOA Rules and Regulations, Section V. A.

To see the Town of Seabrook Island Beach Rules, click here.

If you have an emergency on the beach, call 911, not the Gatehouse. Non-emergency situations can be reported directly to Beach Patrol (843-718-6083) or to Town Offices at 843-768-9121.

Property owners should share this information with visitors and rental guests.

To review the entire series, go to tidelinesblog.com and click “Do You Know” at the top of the page.

–Tidelines Editors

(Updated June, 2026)

WineLines: The Wrath of Grapes

Hey, you’d be upset, too, if you were sunning yourself on a nice California vine when off in the distance you saw a big black cloud of smoke, or worse – a wildfire — heading your way.

With increases in both frequency and severity of wildfires, California winemakers have at least three very big challenges to contend with.

First, they must figure out ways to mitigate the risk of fire and smoke damage to their grapes. It’s now becoming commonplace for wineries to install sprinklers, fire hydrants, and water storage areas on their property. Some have gone so far as buying sheep to eat the underbrush that contributes to fire spread; sheep manure also helps, as it turns out, to produce a more resilient soil.

Second, as a result of these – and other – added costs, winemaking has become more expensive. One Paso Robles winemaker reported that his property insurance costs have increased by more than 40% in the last five years, while the amount of coverage has declined by almost 80%. There are reasons why we pay $20 for a glass of good wine these days.

And third, winemakers have had to contend with the effects of smoke on their grapes. It turns out that smoke from wildfires contains lots of phenol compounds that can penetrate a grape’s skin and result in the wine having a “smoky” or even “ashtray” flavor.

In 2020, the worst year so far for fires in California vineyards, some winemakers simply gave up and threw out most or all of that year’s vintage. Others found other uses for their grapes – turned them into vinegar, for example, or distilled them into brandy, which was aged in oak barrels. And still other winemakers expanded their wine tasting efforts and learned, to their great surprise, that some customers really liked that ashtray taste.

Thankfully, there are efforts underway to better understand how smoke affects grapes and how to mitigate those effects. For starters, red wine is much more prone to developing that smoky taste because the skins of the grapes used for red wine are left on during the winemaking process. And there are new devices that can detect the presence of, and even remove, the phenol compounds most likely to disturb the wine’s natural flavors. 

For  now, however, perhaps the best we can do is come up with a better adjective for smoke-tainted wine than “ashtray.” 

Cheers!

-Submitted by Bill Good

(Image credit: Pixabay.com and Vinepair.com)

Charleston Literary Festival Announces List of Authors

Are you looking for an immersive literary experience? This November, the Charleston Literary Festival celebrates its milestone 10th anniversary with a constellation of extraordinary authors, unscripted conversations, and deep connection that will take place at Dock Street Theatre from November 6-15, 2026. 

With an emphasis on world-class literary programming, this festival is unparalleled in the US as a center of literary innovation and celebration. The first 21 authors appearing at the Charleston Literary Festival 2026 have just been announced and the listing can be found here. 

There are several ways to consider attending the festival. Festival Insider Passes that give access to every world-class literary event over the 10 extraordinary days of the festival are on sale now, and information about the VIP Weekend Experience is now available. The full 2026 Speaker Schedule will drop and all individual tickets will go on sale on September 10. If you would like to attend with your book club, take advantage of the Book Club Concierge to help you organize your trip.

Mark your calendar!

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: charlestonliteraryfestival.com)

Displaying the American Flag Properly

As you begin preparations for Flag Day, June 14, and our nation’s 250th anniversary, July 4, it is a great time to review how to display the United States of America flag.  

When displaying the American flag vertically or horizontally, place the union (blue section) at the top LEFT corner.

When displaying the American flag on a flagpole or staff from your porch, the union should be at the peak of the staff.

When an American flag is worn out or otherwise no longer fit for display, it should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning. Several national organizations hold flag ceremonies for retired flags throughout the year: American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Girl Scouts, and Scouts BSA. You can call the local chapter of any of these organizations to find out when and where to take your worn-out flag. Additionally, you can take your worn-out flag to one of the locations below that will dispose of it properly:

  • Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 445 at 1639 Camp Road, James Island, has a container outside by their front door.
  • American Legion Post 147 at 968 Folly Road has a container in its parking lot.

–Tidelines Editors 

(Image credit: Adobe Stock  and Wikihow.com)

Statewide Primary Election Results, June 9 – Seabrook Island

The Lake House polling location closed promptly at 7:00 pm tonight. There were 693 people who voted in person today at the Lake House.

A special thanks to all the poll workers for their vital role in assuring a safe and secure election. In addition to participating in training before the election, on Election Day, they arrived at the Lake House at 6:00 am to set up and stayed past 7:00 pm to put everything away. Thank you for your service!

Below is a summary of the races.  The numbers reflect only those who voted in person today at the Lake House. Absentee ballots and in-person ballots are not included in this summary.

The results are also posted on the Lake House window as you walk in the front door.

Democratic Races

Governor
Jermaine Johnson ( Democratic ) 76
Mullins McLeod ( Democratic ) 33
Billy Webster ( Democratic ) 147

Secretary of State
Jason Belton ( Democratic ) 67
Edwina Winter ( Democratic ) 159

State Treasurer
Vincent Coe ( Democratic ) 131
Trav Robertson Jr ( Democratic ) 91

Comptroller General
Tiffany Boozer ( Democratic ) 142
Bruce K Cole ( Democratic ) 79

State Superintendent of Education
Lisa Ellis ( Democratic ) 132
Sylvia Wright ( Democratic ) 99

U.S. Senate
Annie Andrews ( Democratic ) 236
Brandon P Brown ( Democratic ) 11
Kyle Freeman ( Democratic ) 12

U.S. House of Representatives, District 1
Francina Dantzler ( Democratic ) 1
Mac Deford ( Democratic ) 117
Max Diaz ( Democratic ) 2
Ben Frasier ( Democratic ) 5
Matthew Fulmer ( Democratic ) 3
Nancy Lacore ( Democratic ) 125
Mayra Rivera-Vazquez ( Democratic ) 8

Republican Races

Governor
Jacqueline DuBose 2
Pamela Evette ( Republican ) 106
Joshua Kimbrell ( Republican ) 6
Nancy Mace ( Republican ) 53
Ralph W Norman ( Republican ) 73
Rom Reddy ( Republican ) 84
Alan Wilson ( Republican ) 98

Attorney General
Stephen Goldfinch ( Republican ) 138
David M Pascoe ( Republican ) 123
David Stumbo ( Republican ) 112

Commissioner of Agriculture
Jeremy B Cannon ( Republican ) 53
Danny Ford ( Republican ) 79
Cody Simpson ( Republican ) 125
Fred West ( Republican ) 68

U.S. Senate
Calvin Cowen ( Republican ) 18
Thomas Keith Dismukes ( Republican ) 12
Lindsey Graham ( Republican ) 263
Pat Herrmann ( Republican ) 19
Mark Lynch ( Republican ) 86
Darius L Mitchell ( Republican ) 11

U.S. House of Representatives, District 1
Dan Brown ( Republican ) 25
Jay Byars ( Republican ) 15
Jenny Costa Honeycutt ( Republican ) 147
Logan Cunningham ( Republican ) 10
Tyler Dykes ( Republican ) 6
Kendal Ludden ( Republican ) 1
Sam McCown ( Republican ) 54
Alex Pelbath ( Republican ) 37
Cindy Wagers Riley ( Republican ) 5
Mark Sanford ( Republican ) 50
Mark Smith ( Republican ) 41

State House of Representatives, District 115
Johnnie Garmon ( Republican ) 220
Carlton Walker ( Republican ) 142

County Council, District 9
Adam Friend ( Republican ) 155
Caroline Parker ( Republican ) 179

Advisory Questions
Should people have the right to register with the political party of their choice when they register to vote?
Yes 330
No 74
Should candidates for local school boards be able to run as a candidate of the political party of their choice, just like candidates
for other elected offices?
Yes 285
No 129

–Tidelines Editors

Keep Up with the Lake House June 10

4th of July Activities

  • Walk/Run – Friday, July 3 at 8:00 am, starting and finishing at the Lake House. For details and registration, click here.
  • Fireworks – Friday, July 3 at 9:00 pm. Fireworks will be launched from the Seabrook Island Club Driving Range. Click here for more information.
  • Parade – Saturday, July 4 at 9:30 am. Lineup begins at 9:00 am. Once again this year, there will be a dry section and a wet section. For details and registration, click here.
  • After Parade Fun – Saturday, July 4, from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm at the Lake House. Enjoy a jump castle, water slide, giant bubbles, and face painting.

Fitness Classes

June Group Exercise Schedule

Click here for a description of the above classes.

Semi-Private Series
Sign up now for the following semi-private classes. For more information about the series and detailed descriptions of the individual classes, click here.

  • New Class – Stretch, Strengthen & Socialize – Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:15 pm from May 26 – June 25.
  • Yin Yoga – Tuesdays at 5:15 pm. The June series meets from June 2 – 30. No class on June 9. The July series meets from July 7 – 28.
  • Chair Yoga – Wednesdays at 2:30 pm. The June series meets from June 3 to 24. The July series meets from July 1 – 29.
  • Classic Mat Pilates – Mondays and Wednesdays, 8:30 am from June 1 to June 24 at Oyster Catcher Community Center. Please bring your own mat, as they are not available at Oyster Catcher.
  • Vinyasa Yoga – Starting Thursday, June 4, this 6-week series combines standing and seated movements that flow together, incorporating balance, strength, flexibility, and breathwork. It will meet at 11:00 am from June 4 to July 9.
Continue reading “Keep Up with the Lake House June 10”

America’s Tall Ship in Charleston

The United States Coast Guard Barque Eagle will be in Charleston from June 11-13.

The Eagle is known proudly as “America’s Tall Ship.” The 295-foot barque CGB Eagle is the largest tall ship flying the Stars and Stripes and the only active square-rigger in U.S. government service. Originally built in Germany in 1936 and taken as a war reparation after World War II, she was commissioned into the U.S. Coast Guard in 1946. Today, she serves as a vital floating classroom for future Coast Guard officers, teaching cadets and officer candidates the timeless arts of seamanship, leadership, and teamwork.

Her expected arrival time is around 11:00 am on June 11 at the Charleston Downtown Cruise Terminal, 196 Concord Street, Charleston.

Tours are free and open to the public, no reservation required. They will be available at the following times:

June 11: 3:00 – 7:00 pm
June 12: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
June 13: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm

–Tidelines Editors

(Image Credit: Out West Photography)