Key Takeaways

• Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30 in South Carolina, and pool owners should prepare in stages — long-term equipment placement, pre-storm preparation, and post-storm recovery.
• Never drain a fiberglass pool before a storm. An empty shell can pop out of the ground from groundwater pressure during heavy rain, especially in coastal sandy soil.
• Lower the water level only 6 to 12 inches below the skimmer, secure or store loose patio furniture, and shock-treat the pool with chlorine before the storm arrives.
• After the storm, remove debris before running equipment, balance water chemistry over 7 to 14 days, and inspect coping, decking, and equipment pads for damage.

How Should I Prepare My Pool for Hurricane Season in Myrtle Beach?

Hurricane prep for a Myrtle Beach pool happens in three phases — long before a storm forms, in the 48 to 72 hours before landfall, and during cleanup after the storm passes. Most damage to coastal pools comes not from the pool shell itself but from flying debris, contaminated water, and equipment failure caused by flooding or surge. A solid plan protects all three.

The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30, with peak activity along the South Carolina coast typically in August and September. Homes along the Grand Strand — from North Myrtle Beach down through Surfside Beach and Pawleys Island — sit directly in the path of any storm tracking up the Eastern Seaboard. Even storms that make landfall hundreds of miles south can deliver tropical-storm-force winds and 6 to 10 inches of rain to Horry County backyards.

Fiberglass pools handle storm conditions well when prepared properly. The smooth gelcoat shell resists impact better than tile or plaster, and fiberglass flexes slightly with ground movement. The bigger risk is what happens around the pool — patio furniture, planters, grills, and toys all become projectiles in 75-mph winds.

What Should I Do Before Hurricane Season Starts?

Long-term preparation matters more than last-minute scrambling. Before June 1, walk your backyard and identify everything that could move in high wind, plus every piece of equipment that could be damaged by water intrusion. Setting up storage and protection systems now means you only have to execute the plan when a storm is named.

Equipment Pad Placement and Anchoring

Pool pumps, filters, heaters, and salt cells should sit on a properly graded concrete pad — not directly on sandy soil. The pad should be elevated at least 6 inches above grade and positioned where surface runoff drains away, not toward the equipment. In flood-prone areas of Horry County, equipment pads should be raised higher or placed inside a small enclosure with weep holes for drainage. Bolting equipment to the pad with stainless steel hardware prevents wind displacement.

Tree and Landscape Management

Palms, pines, and live oaks all drop heavy debris in tropical storms. Trim any limbs hanging over the pool deck or equipment area before hurricane season starts. Remove dead or weakened trees within falling distance of the pool. Mulch beds near the pool can wash into the water during heavy rain — switch to heavier ground cover like river rock in the splash zone if you have ongoing problems.

Cover and Furniture Inventory

Make a list now of everything around the pool that needs to be moved or secured: chairs, umbrellas, side tables, planters, kayaks, grills, pool toys, solar covers. Decide where each item will go — garage, shed, or anchored down — so you're not making decisions during a rushed evacuation. A solid pool safety cover provides better storm protection than a lightweight solar cover, and many fiberglass pool owners along the coast install one specifically for hurricane and winter use.

What Should I Do 48 to 72 Hours Before a Storm?

Once the National Hurricane Center issues a watch or warning for the Grand Strand, pool prep should be your second priority after personal safety. Most of the work takes 2 to 3 hours and is best completed before tropical-storm-force winds arrive — typically 12 to 24 hours ahead of landfall.

Lower the Water Level — But Not Too Much

Drop the water level 6 to 12 inches below the skimmer using your pump's waste setting or a submersible drain pump. This creates capacity to absorb heavy rainfall without overflowing the pool. Do not drain the pool completely. An empty fiberglass shell can pop out of the ground when the surrounding water table rises during a flood — a phenomenon called hydrostatic uplift. The weight of the water is what holds the shell in place against groundwater pressure, which becomes severe in sandy coastal soil during heavy rain.

Shock the Pool and Balance Chemistry

Heavy rain dilutes pool chemistry and introduces contaminants. Before the storm, shock-treat the pool with chlorine — typically 2 to 3 pounds of cal-hypo per 10,000 gallons — to raise free chlorine to 10 ppm or higher. Higher pre-storm chlorine helps protect against bacterial bloom while equipment is offline. Balance pH to 7.4 to 7.6 and ensure alkalinity sits between 80 and 120 ppm. This buffer makes post-storm recovery faster and cheaper.

Protect the Equipment

Turn off power to all pool equipment at the breaker before high winds arrive. Disconnect and store any portable equipment — robotic cleaners, removable timers, salt cell controllers if your manufacturer allows. Wrap exposed motors and electronic controls in heavy-duty plastic bags secured with tape to keep out wind-driven rain. If flooding is expected, consider removing the pump motor entirely and storing it indoors. A waterlogged motor often needs full replacement, while a dry motor can ride out the storm safely.

Secure Everything That Could Become a Projectile

Move all patio furniture, umbrellas, planters, pool toys, and floats indoors or into the pool itself if there's no other option. Furniture in the pool will scratch the gelcoat slightly but is far better than a chair flying through a sliding glass door. Anchor or remove any large items that can't be stored. Trampolines and inflatable structures must come down — they will not survive Category 1 winds.

What Should I Do After the Storm?

Resist the urge to turn equipment back on immediately. Storm cleanup follows a specific sequence to avoid damaging your pump and to restore water quality safely. Most pools along the Grand Strand recover within 1 to 2 weeks of normal maintenance after a moderate tropical storm.

Inspect Before You Touch Anything Electric

Walk the pool area looking for downed power lines, damaged equipment, or standing water around electrical components. Do not turn breakers back on until you've confirmed equipment is dry and undamaged. Check the pool shell for visible cracks, displaced coping stones, or damaged tile. Fiberglass pools rarely crack from storm damage, but coping and decking can shift with ground movement.

Remove Debris Before Running the Filter

Skim out leaves, branches, and large debris by hand. Running a pump with the basket clogged or with debris in the lines will damage the impeller and burn out seals. If the pool is full of debris and dark with tannins from organic matter, vacuum to waste rather than through the filter. This wastes some water but protects equipment and speeds clarity.

Rebalance Chemistry Over 7 to 14 Days

Test the water as soon as you can safely access it. Most post-storm pools show low chlorine, low pH, and high contamination. Shock the pool with chlorine, run the pump 24 hours a day until water clears, and brush the walls daily. Algae blooms are common 3 to 5 days after a storm if chlorine isn't restored quickly. Plan on 7 to 14 days of intensive maintenance to return to normal.

Document Damage for Insurance

Photograph any visible damage before cleanup begins. Most homeowners insurance policies cover storm damage to permanent pool structures, equipment pads, and decking, though specific coverage varies. Keep receipts for chemicals, replacement parts, and professional services — these are often reimbursable on flood and wind claims in declared disaster areas.

Are Fiberglass Pools Better for Hurricane-Prone Coastal Areas?

Yes — fiberglass pools generally outperform concrete and vinyl pools in hurricane conditions. The one-piece molded shell flexes slightly with ground movement, has no tile or plaster to crack from impact, and resists staining from organic debris better than other surfaces. Most fiberglass pools installed in coastal Horry County come through tropical storms with no shell damage at all.

Concrete pools can develop hairline cracks from ground shifting during heavy rainfall, and plaster surfaces stain badly from extended exposure to dirty floodwater. Vinyl liners can tear from debris impact and may need replacement after a major storm if the liner pattern shifts. Fiberglass gelcoat cleans up well even after sitting in stained water for several days.

The other coastal advantage is installation speed. A fiberglass pool installed by Black Dog Pools can typically be in the ground and operational in 2 to 4 weeks, compared to 8 to 12 weeks for a custom concrete pool. That tighter window matters in South Carolina where a long permit-to-pour timeline can run straight into hurricane season. Browsing pool shapes through our pool gallery is a good first step if you're weighing fiberglass against other options for a Grand Strand backyard.

When Should I Call a Professional?

Call a pool professional after any storm that causes equipment damage, suspected shell damage, or water that won't clear after 14 days of normal recovery. A local Myrtle Beach pool builder familiar with coastal conditions can identify subtle issues — bond beam cracks, shifted coping, or motor damage from water intrusion — that aren't obvious from a casual inspection.

Black Dog Pools serves homeowners across the Grand Strand from North Myrtle Beach down through Pawleys Island and Georgetown. If you're considering a new fiberglass pool installation or need guidance after storm damage to an existing pool, reach out for a consultation or call (843) 732-1650. We've seen what coastal storms do to backyards and can help you build or maintain a pool that holds up to South Carolina weather.

Frequently Asked Questions