GARDEN CITY, S.C. — A powerful King Tide swept into Garden City this week, submerging streets, flooding local businesses, and leaving residents scrambling to protect property as coastal waters pushed inland.

Flooding Impacts Homes and Businesses

According to WPDE News 15, South Carolina beaches were under a coastal flood warning until 2 p.m., as the unusually high tide combined with strong winds and elevated ocean levels. Although the waters have since receded, the effects lingered through neighborhoods and business corridors across the Grand Strand.

For some residents and business owners, the flooding has become an all-too-familiar experience. Ryan Swaim, owner of Dunes Realty, said he narrowly prevented water from entering his building during the latest surge.

“It got right up to the level of the doors right over there,” Swaim explained. “We had a shop-vac and a bunch of towels and fortunately got to keep it out and get most of it up right away.”

Swaim added that after 55 years at the same location, his company plans to relocate due to repeated flood damage.

“We flooded five feet deep in Hurricane Hugo,” he recalled. “This was the eighth time we’ve flooded since Hurricane Matthew in 2016.”

Tourists and Locals Face Disruptions

Floodwaters also affected residents and visitors alike. Brad Bertke, a tourist renting a nearby property, described the scene as the tide poured into local streets.

“We were just waiting around in the water, watching everybody drive by,” he said. “Neighbors are ticked off because cars were making little waves into their yards.”

Photos and videos shared online showed roads turning into temporary rivers, with water lapping at storefronts and driveways. City officials urged motorists to avoid flooded areas, warning that saltwater can damage vehicles and road infrastructure.

King Tides Becoming More Frequent

Meteorologists say this week’s flooding was driven by one of the season’s highest astronomical tides, amplified by low atmospheric pressure and steady onshore winds.

Chief Meteorologist Ed Piotrowski assured residents that tides in the coming days are not expected to be as severe, though he cautioned that seasonal coastal flooding may continue through the fall. Experts warn that climate-related sea level rise could make King Tide events like this more common in coastal South Carolina communities.

Moving Forward After the Flood

As Garden City cleans up from yet another flood event, residents are calling for long-term mitigation measures — from improved stormwater drainage to beach nourishment projects that can buffer the shoreline during high-tide surges.

Locals are also preparing for more wet weather, as another coastal storm system is expected offshore later this week, according to WPDE’s weather blog.

Have you experienced flooding during this week’s King Tide in Garden City? Share your story or photos in the comments and stay connected with SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com for continuing weather and community updates.