How Hurricane Matthew Is Impacting Retail — And How Retailers Are Responding

Hurricane Matthew likely will impact the retail sector well after the storm runs its course: Major seaports are in its path as well, potentially delaying shipments of retail goods for an indeterminate period of time. The Wall Street Journal reports that officials in South Carolina have reversed the direction of vehicular traffic on the main highway leading into the Charleston area. While the move is designed to help residents evacuating the city, it also blocks traffic coming into the Port of Charleston, one of the East Coast’s busiest gateways for retail goods imports. Several container ships reportedly set sail from the Port of Charleston Wednesday night, ahead of the storm’s arrival. Workers anchored empty containers across the port’s yards “so they don’t become projectiles” in case of high winds, South Carolina Ports Authority President and CEO Jim Newsome told The Wall Street Journal. Outside of South Carolina, the U.S. Coast Guard implemented port condition Zulu for Port Miami, Miami River, Port Everglades, Port of Palm Beach, Port of Fort Pierce and all other regional ports as of 8:00 pm Wednesday, and the Georgia Ports Authority will close gate operations and restrict vessel arrivals beginning at 6:00 pm Thursday. Expect other ports to issue status updates as the hurricane moves further inland. Read more at Retail Dive.