Forestbrook Roofing: Lessons from the December 2023 Tornado

The December 17, 2023 tornado was part of a powerful nor'easter and coastal storm system that hit the Myrtle Beach area on a Sunday. The National Weather Service confirmed it as an EF-1 tornado with wind speeds up to 95 mph. In addition to the tornado itself, downburst winds up to 80 mph caused damage in surrounding areas.

The tornado's path began at 3951 Socastee Boulevard near Tyner Street. It cut through residential neighborhoods, causing the heaviest damage along Socastee Boulevard and Palmetto Pointe before lifting near Arrowhead Country Club. Downburst damage was also reported near Palmetto Point, Fantasy Harbor, and River Oaks.

The damage was severe:

• At least 6 homes on Village Drive were deemed unsafe and uninhabitable
• One home on Burcale Road was destroyed by a large tree falling directly onto it
• Neighboring homes suffered broken windows, roof damage, kitchen countertops destroyed by branches, and floor damage
• Several roads were blocked by fallen trees
• Heavy flooding of several feet accompanied the tornado
• Waccamaw Mall was also impacted by the storm

Home surveillance video captured the tornado tearing through Forestbrook, showing just how quickly the destruction happened. For the families affected, the timing could not have been worse -- just eight days before Christmas. The community came together to help affected neighbors, but many faced months of repairs ahead.

As someone who worked on damaged roofs in the area in the aftermath, I can tell you that the pattern of damage was consistent: trees were the primary cause of roof destruction. The tornado's winds did not just strip shingles -- they toppled tall pines onto homes, punched branches through roofing materials, and sent debris into structures that would otherwise have survived the wind alone.

An EF-1 tornado sits in the 86-110 mph wind speed range on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. At 95 mph -- the confirmed speed of the Forestbrook tornado -- the damage to roofs includes peeled-off surface sections, doors blown in, and mobile homes overturned. But in a heavily treed area like Forestbrook, the wind speed is only part of the story.

There are two distinct types of roof damage from a tornado in a wooded inland neighborhood:

1. Wind Uplift Damage

At 95 mph, wind creates significant uplift pressure on roof surfaces. Shingles that are improperly nailed, aged, or already compromised get peeled back or torn off entirely. Ridge caps are especially vulnerable because they sit at the highest point of the roof where wind speeds are greatest. The edges and corners of roofs experience the most uplift force -- which is why you often see damage patterns that start at the edges and work inward.

2. Tree Impact Damage

This is what makes Forestbrook different from coastal neighborhoods. When 95 mph winds hit a 60-foot pine tree, and that tree falls onto a roof, the damage is catastrophic -- far worse than what the wind alone would have caused. The home on Burcale Road that was destroyed by a tree falling onto it is the clearest example. But even smaller branches can punch through shingles, crack decking, and create penetration points that lead to water damage for months afterward.

The December 2023 tornado demonstrated both types simultaneously. Some homes lost shingles to wind. Others lost entire roof sections to fallen trees. The most expensive damage was almost always tree-related.

Arrowhead Country Club is one of Forestbrook's premier communities, and it is also where the December 2023 tornado lifted. The community includes 9 distinct sub-communities, a 27-hole golf course, community pools, walking trails, a playground, and lighted tennis courts. Some homes in Arrowhead sit directly on the Intracoastal Waterway.

I have worked on roofs throughout Arrowhead, and the roofing challenges here are specific to the community's layout:

Tree canopy coverage is extensive. The golf course and walking trails are lined with mature trees -- pines, oaks, and maples -- that overhang many homes. These trees are beautiful and they provide shade that keeps energy costs down, but they also create three roofing problems:

• Falling limbs during storms -- even non-tornado events send large branches onto roofs during tropical storms and nor'easters
• Pine needle and leaf accumulation -- organic debris traps moisture against roofing materials, accelerating algae growth, moss, and shingle deterioration
• Shade-related moisture retention -- roofs that stay shaded most of the day dry slowly after rain, creating a humid environment that encourages fungal growth and premature aging

The 9 sub-communities have different roof ages and materials. Arrowhead was not built all at once. Different sections were developed over different years, which means some sub-communities have 15 to 20-year-old roofs while others are newer. Older sections that were built with three-tab shingles are more vulnerable to both wind uplift and impact damage than newer homes with architectural shingles.

ICW-adjacent homes face a hybrid challenge. Homes along the Intracoastal Waterway in Arrowhead get some salt air exposure -- not as severe as oceanfront properties, but enough to affect metal components like flashing, fasteners, and gutters over time. These homes deal with both the tree canopy risks of the inland community and mild salt exposure from the waterway.

For Arrowhead homeowners, the December 2023 tornado was a wake-up call. The tornado lifted in or near the community, which means the outer winds directly affected homes on the perimeter. Even homes that were not directly hit experienced significant debris from trees that were damaged throughout the golf course and common areas.

Hunters Ridge is a custom home community that spans 9 distinct neighborhoods within the Forestbrook area. Homes here feature a mix of brick, vinyl, and stucco exteriors -- which tells you something about the variety of construction quality and roofing materials across the community. Some homes were built with premium materials by owners who invested in quality. Others used builder-grade products that are now approaching the end of their useful life.

The roofing concern for Hunters Ridge is the same one I see in custom home communities throughout the Grand Strand: inconsistent material quality. When you have 9 different neighborhoods developed by different builders over different time periods, the roofing materials range from high-quality architectural shingles to basic three-tab products that were the minimum required by code at the time of construction.

Forestbrook Preserve is a newer subdivision with low HOA fees, a community pool, and an ongoing building activity that reflects the area's rapid growth. Newer construction in Forestbrook Preserve benefits from updated Horry County building codes that require better fastening methods and wind-rated materials. But newer does not always mean better -- builder-grade roofing on new construction homes is typically the least expensive material that meets code requirements.

For both communities, the key lessons from the December 2023 tornado are:

• Builder-grade shingles perform at their rated minimums -- a shingle rated for 60 mph wind resistance will fail at 61 mph. The tornado brought 95 mph winds, which exceeded the rating of many builder-grade products installed in the area.
• Age matters more in tree-heavy areas -- a 15-year-old roof that is already weakened by pine needle accumulation and moisture retention is far more vulnerable to impact damage than the same roof in an open, sunny location.
• Stucco and brick exteriors can mask roof-to-wall junction problems -- water intrusion at the point where the roof meets the exterior wall is a common failure point that is harder to detect on stucco and brick homes.

Most roofing content for the Myrtle Beach area focuses on coastal challenges -- salt air, hurricane winds, flood zones. And those articles are accurate for oceanfront and near-ocean neighborhoods. But Forestbrook sits 5 to 6 miles inland, and that distance changes the threat profile significantly.

Here is how Forestbrook's roofing challenges compare to coastal neighborhoods:

The bottom line: Forestbrook homeowners need to prioritize impact resistance and organic debris management over salt corrosion protection. A coastal homeowner invests in stainless steel fasteners and salt-rated materials. A Forestbrook homeowner should invest in impact-rated shingles and regular tree maintenance.

That said, Forestbrook is still in the Grand Strand. Humidity is still high year-round, tropical storms still bring damaging winds, and the proximity to Socastee Swamp means some areas are prone to flooding. You are not immune from coastal weather -- you just face a different primary threat.

Forestbrook's vegetation includes pine trees, palm trees, maples, and cypress -- especially near Socastee Swamp. Many homes in the area back up to small ponds and lakes with personal docks, surrounded by mature trees. This is part of what makes Forestbrook an attractive, affordable alternative to Myrtle Beach proper and Carolina Forest.

But the December 2023 tornado showed exactly what happens when those trees encounter extreme winds. Here is what Forestbrook homeowners need to understand about the tree canopy threat to their roofs:

Direct Impact From Falling Trees

A mature pine tree can weigh 2,000 to 4,000 pounds. When one falls onto a residential roof, it is not a repair -- it is a structural failure. The home on Burcale Road that was destroyed during the tornado is the extreme example, but even a medium-sized pine limb falling 40 feet onto a roof can crack rafters, split decking, and create openings that let water pour into the home.

Branch Penetration

During the tornado, neighboring homes had branches punch through roofs and into interior spaces -- destroying kitchen countertops and causing floor damage from the water that followed. Even smaller branches moving at 80-95 mph have enough force to penetrate standard asphalt shingles and the plywood or OSB decking beneath them.

Ongoing Debris Damage

You do not need a tornado for trees to damage your roof. Normal storms, strong thunderstorms, and tropical weather events regularly drop branches onto Forestbrook roofs. Pine needles accumulate in valleys and behind dormers, trapping moisture and creating conditions for algae, moss, and premature shingle deterioration.

How to Protect Your Forestbrook Roof From Tree Damage

• Maintain a 10-foot clearance between tree branches and your roof. This is the single most effective step you can take.
• Remove dead or dying trees within falling distance of your home. A dead pine is a roof-destroying event waiting for the next storm.
• Trim overhanging branches annually -- especially pines that grow quickly and extend over rooflines.
• Clean pine needles and debris from valleys, gutters, and behind dormers at least twice a year -- spring and fall.
• Consider impact-rated shingles when it is time to replace your roof. Class 4 impact-rated shingles can withstand a 2-inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet -- they will not stop a falling tree, but they resist branch punctures far better than standard shingles.
• Install zinc or copper strips near the ridge to inhibit algae and moss growth on shaded roofs.

Because Forestbrook's primary threat is tree impact rather than salt corrosion, the best roofing materials for this area emphasize impact resistance, algae resistance, and durability against organic debris rather than salt-rated components. Here is how the main options compare for Forestbrook specifically:

My recommendation for most Forestbrook homes: Class 4 impact-rated architectural shingles with algae-resistant granules. This combination addresses the two biggest threats -- tree impact and organic debris -- at a reasonable price point. For homes that back up to heavily wooded areas or ponds, this is the minimum I would suggest.

For Arrowhead Country Club homes along the Intracoastal Waterway, standing seam metal roofing is worth the investment. Metal naturally sheds pine needles and leaves, resists impact better than any shingle, and can handle the mild salt exposure from the ICW. It also offers the longest lifespan -- 40 to 60 years with minimal maintenance.

For Hunters Ridge homes with brick or stucco exteriors, make sure any roof replacement includes proper attention to the roof-to-wall junctions. These transition points are where water intrusion most commonly occurs, and they are more difficult to inspect and repair on masonry exteriors.

For a deeper comparison of materials in coastal conditions, see our guide on best metal roofing materials for coastal SC and our flat roof materials guide.

The December 2023 tornado was a reminder that Forestbrook is not immune to severe weather. While tornadoes in the Myrtle Beach area are less common than hurricanes, they do happen -- and inland communities like Forestbrook are actually more vulnerable to tree-related damage during tornado events than open coastal areas.

Here is what every Forestbrook homeowner should do to prepare:

Before Storm Season

• Get a professional roof inspection -- identify loose shingles, damaged flashing, and weak points before a storm tests them. Pay special attention to areas where tree branches have been scraping or where pine needles have accumulated.
• Have a certified arborist evaluate large trees within falling distance of your home. Dead trees, trees with root damage, and trees leaning toward structures should be removed or trimmed.
• Clean gutters and downspouts -- clogged gutters during heavy rain (the December tornado brought several feet of flooding) cause water to back up under the roof edge.
• Document your roof's current condition with dated photos. This is critical for insurance claims if damage occurs.
• Review your insurance policy -- confirm your coverage type (RCV vs ACV), your wind and named storm deductibles, and whether your policy covers tree removal. See our insurance coverage guide for SC.

After a Tornado or Severe Storm

• Do not go on the roof yourself -- storm-damaged roofs can be structurally compromised. Have a professional assess the damage.
• Tarp any visible openings immediately to prevent water intrusion. If you cannot safely access the area, call a roofing contractor for emergency tarping.
• Document all damage with photos and video before any cleanup or temporary repairs.
• File your insurance claim promptly -- do not wait weeks. Insurance adjusters are overwhelmed after major storm events, and early filers get seen first.
• Get multiple repair estimates from licensed, insured roofing contractors. Be cautious of storm chasers who appear after major events -- they will not be here for warranty work next year.

Forestbrook is a growing community -- new construction is ongoing and the population continues to increase. Median home values range from roughly $298,800 to $483,990, and with a 71.3% homeownership rate, most residents have a direct financial stake in protecting their roofs. The lessons from December 2023 are clear: the trees that make Forestbrook beautiful are the same trees that threaten your roof. Proactive maintenance, proper materials, and regular inspections are the best investment you can make.

For questions about your Forestbrook roof or to schedule a free inspection, call WeatherShield Roofing at (843) 877-5539. We are based in Myrtle Beach and we know the specific challenges that Forestbrook, Arrowhead Country Club, Hunters Ridge, and Forestbrook Preserve homeowners face.