Oct. 21, 2016

When Hurricane Matthew passed just 5 miles off the coast of Hilton Head Island in the early hours of Oct. 8, an untold number of Beaufort County residents — those who ignored Gov. Nikki Haley’s order to evacuate days earlier— experienced the storm from inside their homes, from nearby shelters, from their boats, from their cars and, in at least one case, from under the overhang of a small-town gas station.

Their reasons for staying varied, but their nights began with the same sense of adventure, fear and speculation about the unknown.

Their nights progressed with similar anxieties, similar second-guessing, a similar acceptance of circumstances.

And, as the sun rose the next morning, as that first sliver of light appeared, they all opened their doors with the same curiosity.