American Red Cross recognizes 130th Anniversary of the Sea Island Hurricane and impacts on the Lowcountry

What

One hundred and thirty years ago, one of the deadliest hurricanes in American history made landfall on August 27, 1893. Now known as the Sea Island Hurricane, the storm had winds as high as 120 mph and a sixteen-foot storm surge—the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane. The storm devastated the barrier islands of South Carolina and Georgia, killing over 2,000 people and leaving more than 30,000 homeless.

Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, set up a post on the South Carolina coast and began coordinating relief efforts and soliciting donations for residents who were without safe drinking water and threatened by starvation and disease. Racial tensions flared as white mainlanders complained that Black residents on the barrier islands, who were the hardest hit, were getting most of the assistance. The state and federal government’s indifference to the threat of famine appalled Barton. At the age of 72, she agreed to take charge.

Relief and recovery was a long, arduous process that lasted nearly a year. Clara had to appeal to northern donors for cash, food, clothing and other supplies through newspapers across the entire eastern half of the United States. It would take residents and relief workers nearly ten months to restore housing and food supplies to the Sea Islands. Economic recovery would take decades longer.

Why

The impacts of the Sea Island Hurricane are still felt in the Lowcountry to this day, haunting descendants of those impacted. People impacted by the hurricane had to rebuild for themselves, including digging about 37 miles of drainage ditches on Hilton Head Island, removing the saltwater before they could plant food crops.

To this day, inspired by our founder, Clara Barton, the American Red Cross fundamental principles guide our humanitarian work, including:

• Humanity – The Red Cross, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation, and lasting peace amongst all peoples.
• Impartiality – It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavors to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.
• Neutrality – To continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Red Cross may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.
• Voluntary Service – The Red Cross is a voluntary relief movement not prompted by desire for gain.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.