St. Simons Island Beach Hours After Hurricane Irma Passed Through
Hurricane Irma has come and gone, which leaves a lot of people wondering “what now?”. We wanted to take the opportunity to tell you how the island is doing and what it looks like here on St. Simons Island.
The simple answer is, it looks just as beautiful and well kept as the last time you visited! St. Simons Island and the surround areas did receive quite a bit of storm surge from hurricane Irma, we had minor flooding in a few of our complexes but no major damage. The grounds and pools of all Hodnett Cooper complexes are in great shape. Landscaping was completed shortly after Irma passed through and the pools were up and running the next week. The beach was not affected, it is still as pristine and beautiful as the last time you saw it!
Here is a short list of the most common questions we are receiving.
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Latest Hurricane Irma Update
9.14.2017 5:30 pm
Dear Guest,
Thank you for your patience as we continue to work through the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. We are happy to report our office has begun the process of reopening with a handful of staff able to return today and even more returning tomorrow. While our office is still without power, our generators are running and phone and data communications are working. This morning Glynn county has opened access for residents to return to their homes and businesses. We are continuing to assess the sitatuon in our vacation rental properties and hope to resume normal operations soon.
The island is still experienceing significant power outages and our water and sewer system is under significant strain and have implemented a strict water conservation plan. The full report from our joint water and sewer commission can be found here.
Due to the utility situation we will not be accepting any incoming reservations or check in’s until at least Sunday, September 17th, 2017.
Please note that this information could change based on updates from our utility providers. We will send updates accordingly.
Thanks so much for your patience during this difficult time. From all of us at Hodnett Cooper we very much appreciate the calls and emails of concern. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Thank you
9.14.2017 11:00 am
To Our Guests,
Thank you for your patience as we work through the aftermath from Hurricane Irma. As I am sure you have seen and heard, St Simons had significant impacts. The majority of the island, to include the Hodnett Cooper offices are without power and have limited phone service. Today, staff have been able to return to their homes and some to work, we hope to quickly resume normal operations in the coming days.
As our staff is able to return to work, power and water service restored and property inspections are completed we will begin to resume normal operations. Today we will begin reaching out to impacted guests.
Thanks so much for your patience during this difficult time. From all of us at Hodnett Cooper we very much appreciate the calls and emails of concern. We look forward to seeing you soon.
9.13.2017 6:00 pm
Thursday, 9/14/17 Residents of St. Simons Island will be permitted back on the island starting at 8 am.
9.13.2017 2:25 pm
We are back on the island with a limited staff. At the present time our office is still closed and without power, we are operating on a generator, but our phones are down . We are working diligently to get our operation up and running.
Once power is restored we will be in touch with each guest individually that is in house or has a reservation this weekend.
9.11.2017 2:00 pm
As of 10:00 am this morning bridges and many roads are still closed. The mandatory evacuation is still in place. As winds begin to deteriorate and water recedes, Glynn County officials will asses the situation and info when it is safe to return to the island. Please see full briefing from Glynn County by following the link below.
https://glynncounty.org/773/Severe-Weather-TS-Hurricane-Updates
9.9.2017 6:00pm
Glynn County is under storm surge watch, flash flood watch, and tropical storm warning. 55-65 mph winds are expected to be felt as soon as tomorrow night. The Sidney Lanier Bridge will be closing tomorrow, Sunday September 10th at 12:00 pm due to weather conditions. We can except to see 8 to 15 inches off rain and up to 4 feet of storm surge.
See latest PSA from Glynn County here.
9.8.2017 3:45pm
As of this afternoon our area continues to be in the three day cone of uncertainty and we would anticipate that tropical storm and/or Hurricane watches and warnings will begin in the next day or so. The current forecast track has shifted the storm to the west and appears that it will be a weakening hurricane or possibly a tropical storm as it moves up through Florida into Georgia. The latest report from the National Weather Service has a concern about the potential for storm surge, especially if Irma comes through at high tide.
Governor Deal moved up the mandatory evacuation and our county emergency officials began the mandatory evacuation for all of Glynn county beginning at 8am this morning.
9/8/17 Hurricane Irma Briefing from NWS
http://www.weather.gov/media/jax/briefings/nws-jax-briefing.pdf
9.7.2017 6:00 pm
We continue to monitor Hurricane Irma and its potential impact on St Simons Island. As of this afternoon Governor Deal has placed a mandatory evacuation for our area beginning Saturday. Our staff is continuing to secure loose furniture on properties and have notified all in house guests of the evacuation order. All guests are being instructed to depart no later than noon on Saturday. Reservations scheduled to arrive between today and Wednesday 9/13/17 have been cancelled or moved to a later date.
Based on reports from the National Weather Service and local emergency management officials, Hurricane Irma will be dangerously close to St Simons as a major hurricane beginning late Sunday -Monday. Obviously, any variation in the forecasted track could significantly change the impact on our area.
With the evacuation order, our plan is to close our offices tomorrow afternoon with a limited staff here on Saturday morning to shut down our systems and offices. **Please note that in all of our managed associations to minimize potential damage all elevators will be sent to the top floor and shut off until power is restored and re-entry to the island is permitted. **
We are expecting widespread power outages, but will be doing the best we can to send daily updates through email as well as posted on our website.
Also, in the event our phones go down we have activated our toll free hurricane line and will post updates as we are able. The toll free # is 844-383-4758.
We will continue to monitor the updates this evening and tomorrow morning and will have another update for everyone tomorrow.
9.6.2017 4:00 pm
A State of Emergency has been issued by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal in six coastal counties: Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Glynn, Liberty, and McIntosh counties. There have been no warnings, watches, or evacuations in Georgia at this time but the Governor is encouraging residents to remain “vigilant and prepared”.
9.5.2017 1:30pm
We are continuing to monitor Hurricane Irma and the potential impacts on St. Simons Island. At this time, our area is not under any watches or warnings and the impact to St Simons late this weekend or early next week is unknown. We will update this page as new information becomes available from the National Hurricane Center as well as local authorities.
The Golden Isles was named number 4 in Travel + Leisure – The Top 10 Islands in the Continental U.S.
We can’t say we are surprised! According to Travel + Leisure’s Rebecca Ascher-Walsh “Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated islands according to their activities and sights, natural attractions and beaches, food, friendliness, and overall value.”
St. Simons Island and the surrounding Golden Isles are the true definition of paradise- a place of extreme beauty, delight, or happiness. The weather is close to perfect year-round, with highs in the 80s and lows in the 60’s. The beaches are kept in pristine condition, the area is rich with history, and there are more local restaurants with 5-star cuisine than we can count! If you want to experience all that this Top US island has to offer book your stay now with Hodnett Cooper!
As the GoldenIsles News reports,
The name Hodnett Cooper Real Estate has long been a mainstay in the Golden Isles real estate market. But in the spring that will change.
The company will join Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, part of the HSF Affiliates LLC family of real estate brokerage franchise networks. In the spring, the company will officially begin operating as Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hodnett Cooper Real Estate.
The family-owned brokerage, led by broker/owner Pat Hodnett Cooper, the daughter of its founder, operates three offices with more than 50 agents. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is America’s fastest-growing real estate brokerage network with more than 42,350 agents and 1,270 offices admitted to the brand since its founding in September 2013.
When presented with the opportunity to join the firm, Hodnett Cooper said she jumped at the chance.
“Very few times in your life do opportunities present themselves that are life changing; this is certainly one of those times,” she said.
“I am so excited for the future of our real estate company and for what our franchise affiliation with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices will mean for our business.”
She feels that aligning the real estate brokerage with a large and recognizable firm like Berkshire Hathaway Inc. will bring good things in the years ahead.
“The name will resonate well with clients in all market segments and with real estate professionals in our area; we’re proud to represent this terrific brand and look forward to growing with the very best,” she said.
With their transition, Hodnett Cooper Real Estate agents will gain access to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ Global Network Platform, a powerful tool suite focusing on lead generation, marketing support, social media, video production/distribution and more. The brand also provides national and international marketing support, listing syndication to consumer search sites in 35 countries, professional education and the exclusive Luxury Collection for high-end and resort listings.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices CEO Gino Blefari is also optimistic about the move.
“Pat is a well-respected leader throughout the St. Simons Island and Golden Isles marketplace,” he said. “We are thrilled to welcome them to the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices family.”
The company’s new Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices yard signs are expected to populate the Golden Isles this spring. Hodnett Cooper Vacation Rentals, Inc., however, will continue operations as the largest vacation rental company on St. Simons Island and will not be part of the franchise affiliation.
Today, Donald Trump will be sworn in at his inauguration, becoming the 45th President of The United States. This is a day full of exciting events for all Americans as they turn their eyes to the US Capitol to watch Donald Trump formally replace President Barack Obama in the White House. Although this is a monumental and historic day for the American People, some of us still have to work… so if you can’t tune in for the duration of the inauguration, we’ve laid out a time line so you can catch the events you don’t want to miss!
FRIDAY 20 JANUARY
- 9:30am (14:30 GMT)Inauguration ceremony begins with musical performances
- 11:30am (16:30 GMT) Opening remarks followed by Supreme Court Justice swearing in Mr. Pence
- 11:45am -Noon (16:45 – 17:00 GMT)President Obama’s term of office ends at precisely noon. Before then, Mr. Trump must recite the oath of office, administered by Chief Justice Roberts. He will then deliver his inaugural address
- 3pm-5pm (20:00 – 22:00 GMT) Trump and Mr. Pence will embark on a 1.5 mile (2.4km) parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, which will probably be lined with both supporters and protesters
- 7pm-11pm (00:00-04:00 GMT) Trump, Mr. Pence and their wives will attend three official inaugural balls
It’s safe to say after this long election season many of us would definitely enjoy some down time. Add to the inauguration timeline above and pencil yourself in to book some vacation time! Why not come to St. Simons Island and enjoy the warmer weather and the salty air? You can relax, unwind and enjoy some time to yourself after this weekend’s inauguration events!
Have you heard? HGTV 2017 Dream Home is on St. Simons Island! HGTV is no stranger to St. Simons featuring our small but beautiful island on many of their shows throughout the years. St Simons was featured on Island Life, where a couple and their children from California move across country for a slow paced, more relaxed coastal lifestyle. One of Hodnett Cooper’s very own, Lisa Wilson was the Real Estate agent featured on the show to help the lovely couple find their perfect island home. In addition, St. Marys, just a few miles away was also the 2004 HGTV Dream Home. This year, in the heart of the island at Sea Palms subdivision sits the 3,600 square foot Dream Home. The home was originally built in the 1980’s but was completely remolded and turned into a modern day fairy tale. In addition to the lucky winner receiving the beautiful home they also win a Honda Pilot and $250,000 in cash, not bad right?! In previous years they have opened the Dream Homes for public tours and we are keeping our fingers crossed they will do the same this year! The contest starts December 28th and ends February 17th. You can vote twice a day every day, in years past there has never been a winner who did not vote twice a day every day… so make sure you enter daily!!! The winner of the contest will be announced in late February or early March.
HGTV 2017 Dream Home
Heading to the Georgia-Florida game in Jacksonville? We have a few tips to make your day smoother!
- We suggest leaving by 8 a.m. otherwise you might get stuck in SERIOUS traffic! Stop by your favorite local restaurant or one of the fast food options and grab
breakfast for the drive. - Be sure to check out the parking map so you know where you are going! Take a look at it beforehand just in case your phone dies or you don’t have service
- Bring cash for parking!
- Tickets are easy to scalp, but if you don’t want to spend the money there is a large screen outside of the stadium for fans to watch. If you’ve never been to the game before we suggest going. The stadium is divided in half down the middle by team. Be prepared for friendly competition between the fans of the two teams!
- If you took a shuttle or bus, be out at your designated pick up spot as SOON as the game is over! They will wait to leave an hour after the game but don’t mess around with this. It’s an expensive, lonely cab ride back from Jacksonville to St. Simons if you miss your bus.
This year’s Ryder Cup is taking place in Hazeltine, Missouri featuring St. Simons Island native Davis Love III. Davis, who is no stranger to the Ryder Cup has played in 6 tournaments as well as been an assistant captain in 2010. He has had 20 PGA career victories and 13 international. Impressive credentials, which I’m sure had a little to do with the reasoning behind his selection as captain! The US has lost eight of the past ten Ryder Cups but PGA of America President, Derek Sprague is confident in Love’s ability to lead to team to victory. He says Love is a
“great leader” and “good consensus builder” who can bring together everyone on the team. Tom Lehman, Vice-Captain of this year’s Ryder Cup says “The thing Davis has going for him is he has done it before, I think he understands a lot better the way guys think and the kind of communication they need. I’m sure he’ll be better than he was the first time, and I thought he was pretty good the first time.”
Currently (9/30/2016 at 2:30pm) United States are leading by 4 points with a score of 4-0. The rules of this particular golf game are much different than tradition golf which is stroke play, however for the Ryder Cup competition consist of four-ball and foursome matches. The way this tournament is scored is whoever gets to 14 ½ points first wins. If it ends on a draw, then the previous year’s winner takes the trophy.
You can see Davis Love and team in action this weekend with full coverage of the Ryder Cup on CBS Sports.
The 11th annual Shrimp & Grits Festival, hosted by Southern Living is taking place this weekend on Jekyll Island.
This festival has gained quite the audience over the years attracting visitors from near and far. The Shrimp & Grits festival holds contests for both professional and individual cooks of the dish each year to decide who is the best in the state. Chefs were chosen to participate in the contest by an online voting system among each region. The defending champion, Blackwater Grill of St. Simons Island, will compete this year against some new challengers including American Catch Seafood Exchange, Deano’s Italian, Goin’ Coastal, The National and West Egg Café among others. This year’s competition is at 11 a.m. Sunday, the final day of the festival that starts Friday afternoon.
One new feature this year is the Jekyll Island Experience Pavilion which features education displays and interaction with wildlife from the Georgia Sea Turtle center as well as some of centers in Georgia. There will also be a Craft Brew Fest for all of the beer fanatics which will feature over 50 beverages to sample. Regional musicians will perform live on three stages, and there will be more than 100 art and craft vendors along the walking paths of the historic district where the festival is held.
All events will be held in the island’s National Landmark Historic District on the western side of the state-owned island.
The festival hours are:
Friday September 16th, 4-9 p.m.
Saturday September 17th, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sunday September 18th, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
General admission to the festival is free, but tickets for admission to the VIP Lounge, DuBignon and Riverfront Lawn lounge options and Craft Brew Fest are available at