Hilton Head Island or Hilton Head the city (which is a resort town located on the island of the same name) in Hilton Head South Carolina has a static population of about 34,000 people, but swells out to about 275,000 during the summer months, when tourists flood the island city. They're there to take advantage of the 12 miles of beaches and the island is a popular vacation destination. Each year, tourists spend their vacation money in the area: In 2004, an estimated 2.25 million visitors spent more than one and a half billion dollars, which officially makes tourism the largest business of the locals.

Hilton Head, because it is an island, is touched or hit about once every three years by hurricanes.

In 1893, the island sustained heavy damage from a major hurricane.

In 1947, a hurricane hit just south of the island, but still caused damage with its 85 mph winds.

In 1959, Hurricane Gracie hit the island with 125 mph winds, causing heavy property and crop damage. Gracie spawned eleven tornadoes, dumped eleven inches of rain on the island, and killed 12 people.

In 1979, Hurricane David hit the island as a Category 1. The 75 mph winds caused damage, and there was some flooding.

Hurricane Hugo brushed the area to the north in 1989 with 140 mph winds. Hugo was a huge storm, and the island once again sustained wind damage and flooding.

Many Hilton Head homes are on stilts, because of frequent flooding and storm surge from hurricanes and tropical storms. But even a stilt house can be damaged during a hurricane, and you should also take further precautions.

Hurricane shutters are a good start, and are one of the most important things that you can do to protect your home from the storm. Storm shutters that stay up year-round are practical, convenient, and provide you with the most protection. You don't have to worry about putting them up in a hurry when a storm is imminent, and you don't have to take them down after a storm is over. They keep pressure changes that happen during a storm from ripping off your roof or tearing hunks of walls off, and they protect you from debris tossed by the storm, which often is flung at horrifying speeds. These missiles can break through windows, and cause further damage inside the home. Even wind can break your windows, and hurricane shutters are tested to certain standards for wind resistance.