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69 Shelter cats made the trek to Ohio to avoid potential hurricane conditions.
STORY 1
From the Island Packet
When most people think of hurricane preparedness, they imagine sandbags, bottled water and boarded-up windows. But on Hilton Head Island, where cats are often as much a part of the landscape as palm trees and salt marshes, storm prep sometimes takes a softer, furrier form. As Hurricane Imelda loomed offshore last week, the Hilton Head Humane Association quietly orchestrated a life-saving evacuation for a handful of four-legged felines. With help from Beaufort County Animal Services and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 69 unowned shelter cats were transported out of the potential danger zone to a recovery facility in Columbus, Ohio – just as the storm pivoted away from the coast.
When Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency for South Carolina on Sept. 26, ahead of Hurricane Imelda, HHHA and BCAS didn’t hesitate. Knowing the region’s existing vulnerability to hurricanes – and the large number of animals already in their care – they reached out to the ASPCA for assistance. The team sprang into action, traveling to Hilton Head to assess the animals, speak with local shelter staff and make selections. Within 72 hours, ASPCA staff members selected 69 cats for transport, secured health certificates and loaded up two vehicles for the 10-hour journey to Ohio. By moving the shelter cats to a new home up north, 57 kennels were cleared, opening up more space in the wake of potential storm destruction and giving these animals a better chance to find homes outside the disaster zone.
Story 2
From Bluffton Today
The American Heart Association has awarded Beaufort Memorial with its new Commitment to Quality award for high performance across three or more clinical areas in the Get With The Guidelines® program for heart and stroke care.
Beaufort Memorial is among just 158 hospitals nationwide that met the criteria for the Commitment to Quality award. Hospitals earning this new award demonstrate a comprehensive approach to quality improvement. By participating in three or more Get With The Guidelines programs, they commit to using real-time data registries, evidence-based protocols and cross-disciplinary teamwork to raise the standard of care across multiple specialties.
In 2025, Beaufort Memorial reached achievement levels in five clinical areas.
Get With the Guidelines is the American Heart Association’s hospital-based quality improvement initiative that helps ensure patients are treated in accordance with the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines. Participating hospitals benefit from tools, resources and peer benchmarking to drive better patient outcomes.
Story 3
From WSAV
A Hilton Head Island father created an artificial reef to honor his late son who died last year. Nate Riley was a longtime Hilton Head Island resident and worked at the Broad Creek Marina for years while building up a charter boat business of his own. He was even going to have a baby with his girlfriend, until a traffic accident took his life last July. His father, former Hilton Head Island Town Manager Steve Riley, had an idea to create a reef in the waters off the island, a place his son Nate loved most.
The reef won’t only provide something for the ecosystem, but it’ll be a special way to honor Nate, Steve said.
The reef project will cost close to $10,000 to get ready for the water. If you would like to donate, go to www.captainnatesoasis.com for more info. There’s also a link to the SCDNR page on the benefits of offshore reefs.
View all episodes
By Beaufort County TVSTORY 1
From the Island Packet
When most people think of hurricane preparedness, they imagine sandbags, bottled water and boarded-up windows. But on Hilton Head Island, where cats are often as much a part of the landscape as palm trees and salt marshes, storm prep sometimes takes a softer, furrier form. As Hurricane Imelda loomed offshore last week, the Hilton Head Humane Association quietly orchestrated a life-saving evacuation for a handful of four-legged felines. With help from Beaufort County Animal Services and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 69 unowned shelter cats were transported out of the potential danger zone to a recovery facility in Columbus, Ohio – just as the storm pivoted away from the coast.
When Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency for South Carolina on Sept. 26, ahead of Hurricane Imelda, HHHA and BCAS didn’t hesitate. Knowing the region’s existing vulnerability to hurricanes – and the large number of animals already in their care – they reached out to the ASPCA for assistance. The team sprang into action, traveling to Hilton Head to assess the animals, speak with local shelter staff and make selections. Within 72 hours, ASPCA staff members selected 69 cats for transport, secured health certificates and loaded up two vehicles for the 10-hour journey to Ohio. By moving the shelter cats to a new home up north, 57 kennels were cleared, opening up more space in the wake of potential storm destruction and giving these animals a better chance to find homes outside the disaster zone.
Story 2
From Bluffton Today
The American Heart Association has awarded Beaufort Memorial with its new Commitment to Quality award for high performance across three or more clinical areas in the Get With The Guidelines® program for heart and stroke care.
Beaufort Memorial is among just 158 hospitals nationwide that met the criteria for the Commitment to Quality award. Hospitals earning this new award demonstrate a comprehensive approach to quality improvement. By participating in three or more Get With The Guidelines programs, they commit to using real-time data registries, evidence-based protocols and cross-disciplinary teamwork to raise the standard of care across multiple specialties.
In 2025, Beaufort Memorial reached achievement levels in five clinical areas.
Get With the Guidelines is the American Heart Association’s hospital-based quality improvement initiative that helps ensure patients are treated in accordance with the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines. Participating hospitals benefit from tools, resources and peer benchmarking to drive better patient outcomes.
Story 3
From WSAV
A Hilton Head Island father created an artificial reef to honor his late son who died last year. Nate Riley was a longtime Hilton Head Island resident and worked at the Broad Creek Marina for years while building up a charter boat business of his own. He was even going to have a baby with his girlfriend, until a traffic accident took his life last July. His father, former Hilton Head Island Town Manager Steve Riley, had an idea to create a reef in the waters off the island, a place his son Nate loved most.
The reef won’t only provide something for the ecosystem, but it’ll be a special way to honor Nate, Steve said.
The reef project will cost close to $10,000 to get ready for the water. If you would like to donate, go to www.captainnatesoasis.com for more info. There’s also a link to the SCDNR page on the benefits of offshore reefs.