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Florence hits Myrtle Beach economy harder than Hurricane Matthew

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — In terms of lost tourism dollars, Hurricane Florence was three times harder on the Myrtle Beach area than Hurricane Matthew two years ago.

[FLORENCE AFTERMATH: Updates from the coast]

Experts said anytime there is a named storm that looks like it'll hit the Carolinas, people cancel their plans to visit.

Businesses along the oceanfront sustained a lot of water damage, which takes weeks to repair.

[Photos: Hurricane Florence batters Carolinas]

The storm also caused major damage to roads, making it hard for people to get to the Grand Strand.

[RELATED: Myrtle Beach water advisory policy change aimed at helping tourism]

“This one was a little different,” said Diana Greene, with the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce. “We had a lot more issues with people getting to us, which isn't something we've had to face with the storms over the last few years."

[RELATED: Family gets sick ahead of swimming ban at Myrtle Beach]

The Chamber does not yet have an exact dollar amount on the impact from Florence, but predicts it will take a while to bounce back.

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