Latest news with #MeredithDenari
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Southern vacation hot spot fires back at poor safety rating following shooting: 'Fake news'
Myrtle Beach—a popular, coastal South Carolina city for snowbirds and locals alike—is firing back against a study ranking it the No. 2 most unsafe beach in the United States. Seven of the top 10 most dangerous beaches listed in the study from Everly Life, an insurance company, are in Florida, including New Smyrna Beach at No. 1, followed by Miami Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miramar Beach, Panama City Beach and Ponce Inlet. The only other non-South Carolina beach included on the list is Oak Island, North Carolina, which is ranked at No. 3. Researchers examined four main risk factors when determining the relative danger of popular U.S. beaches, including crime rates, shark attacks, drownings and wind conditions. It is unclear why no West Coast or Northeast beaches were listed; Everly Life did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital. Mass Shooting In Myrtle Beach Tourist Hotspot Leaves 1 Dead, 11 Wounded Myrtle Beach crime concerns have been heightened since April 26, when a shooting in the entertainment district left the shooter dead and 11 injured. Myrtle Beach officials described the shooting as an isolated incident. Read On The Fox News App But locals and city officials disagree that Myrtle Beach is unsafe. Fsu Shooting: At Least 6 Injured, 1 Person In Custody As Police Investigate 'Active Crime Scene' Meredith Denari, director of communications and creative services for the City of Myrtle Beach, described the Everly Life study as "misleading, flawed and clearly skewed," noting that it was not peer-reviewed in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Like many reports produced by life insurance companies, its primary purpose appears to be generating clicks rather than serving the public interest," Denari said. "This is evident in the use of outdated, inconsistent and irrelevant data, including shark attack records dating back to 1882 and wind and crime statistics from 2009–2015 and 2023, respectively. None of these sources accurately reflect the year 2025. Also, the City of Myrtle Beach was not incorporated until 1938. Even then, it was pretty difficult to reach. I would call this study 'fake news.'" She added that "Myrtle Beach is a wonderful place to live and visit for thousands of families," and the "Myrtle Beach Police Department continues to report downward trends in crime, and downtown revitalization efforts are well underway." Denari described the Saturday shooting as "a tragic, isolated incident." University Of Virginia On Edge After 'Active Attacker' With Knife Captured Near Campus "Myrtle Beach police officers, already nearby, immediately returned fire, likely saving numerous lives when they fatally shot the perpetrator," she said. "While details are limited at this time due to an open investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, violence has no place in Myrtle Beach," Denari said. "Saturday's incident is not reflective of the experiences of millions of people who visit the area every year and enjoy the beautiful coastline, our restaurants, family-friendly entertainment and businesses." Melissa K., a seven-year Myrtle Beach resident originally from Connecticut, told Fox News Digital she does not feel unsafe in the southern beach town, where she moved for milder weather and her job. "And I'm happy I did," she said. Locals, she noted, don't spend much time in the downtown area where the shooting happened. Ocean Boulevard can attract unsavory behavior from visitors who stay out late at bars and engage in rowdy behavior, she said. Melissa also noted that Myrtle Beach is less expensive than other beach towns in the Carolinas. "It has attracted, unfortunately, some of the wrong people, from what I've gathered in my seven years being here," Melissa said. "As locals, we really don't go on the boulevard or that district, especially at night, and especially alone. But at the end of the day, things could happen anywhere at any time in any place. The world's gotten a little bit crazy." The shooting, Melissa said, was "shocking" for the community, but dangerous incidents of that scale are not normal for Myrtle Beach. "I do love living here. It's a great place to visit, golf, eat, have a good family vacation," she said. "Unfortunately … you just have to be aware of your surroundings at all times, and that just goes for anywhere. It's still a beautiful place to visit and hang out at the beach. I feel safe."Original article source: Southern vacation hot spot fires back at poor safety rating following shooting: 'Fake news'
Fox News
02-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Fox News
Southern vacation hot spot fires back at poor safety rating following shooting: 'Fake news'
Myrtle Beach—a popular, coastal South Carolina city for snowbirds and locals alike—is firing back against a study ranking it the No. 2 most unsafe beach in the United States. Seven of the top 10 most dangerous beaches listed in the study from Everly Life, an insurance company, are in Florida, including New Smyrna Beach at No. 1, followed by Miami Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miramar Beach, Panama City Beach and Ponce Inlet. The only other non-South Carolina beach included on the list is Oak Island, North Carolina, which is ranked at No. 3. Researchers examined four main risk factors when determining the relative danger of popular U.S. beaches, including crime rates, shark attacks, drownings and wind conditions. It is unclear why no West Coast or Northeast beaches were listed; Everly Life did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital. Myrtle Beach crime concerns have been heightened since April 26, when a shooting in the entertainment district left the shooter dead and 11 injured. Myrtle Beach officials described the shooting as an isolated incident. But locals and city officials disagree that Myrtle Beach is unsafe. Meredith Denari, director of communications and creative services for the City of Myrtle Beach, described the Everly Life study as "misleading, flawed and clearly skewed," noting that it was not peer-reviewed in a statement to Fox News Digital. "I would call this study 'fake news.'" "Like many reports produced by life insurance companies, its primary purpose appears to be generating clicks rather than serving the public interest," Denari said. "This is evident in the use of outdated, inconsistent and irrelevant data, including shark attack records dating back to 1882 and wind and crime statistics from 2009–2015 and 2023, respectively. None of these sources accurately reflect the year 2025. Also, the City of Myrtle Beach was not incorporated until 1938. Even then, it was pretty difficult to reach. I would call this study 'fake news.'" She added that "Myrtle Beach is a wonderful place to live and visit for thousands of families," and the "Myrtle Beach Police Department continues to report downward trends in crime, and downtown revitalization efforts are well underway." Denari described the Saturday shooting as "a tragic, isolated incident." "Myrtle Beach police officers, already nearby, immediately returned fire, likely saving numerous lives when they fatally shot the perpetrator," she said. "While details are limited at this time due to an open investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, violence has no place in Myrtle Beach," Denari said. "Saturday's incident is not reflective of the experiences of millions of people who visit the area every year and enjoy the beautiful coastline, our restaurants, family-friendly entertainment and businesses." Melissa K., a seven-year Myrtle Beach resident originally from Connecticut, told Fox News Digital she does not feel unsafe in the southern beach town, where she moved for milder weather and her job. "And I'm happy I did," she said. Locals, she noted, don't spend much time in the downtown area where the shooting happened. Ocean Boulevard can attract unsavory behavior from visitors who stay out late at bars and engage in rowdy behavior, she said. Melissa also noted that Myrtle Beach is less expensive than other beach towns in the Carolinas. "At the end of the day, things could happen anywhere at any time in any place. The world's gotten a little bit crazy." "It has attracted, unfortunately, some of the wrong people, from what I've gathered in my seven years being here," Melissa said. "As locals, we really don't go on the boulevard or that district, especially at night, and especially alone. But at the end of the day, things could happen anywhere at any time in any place. The world's gotten a little bit crazy." The shooting, Melissa said, was "shocking" for the community, but dangerous incidents of that scale are not normal for Myrtle Beach. "I do love living here. It's a great place to visit, golf, eat, have a good family vacation," she said. "Unfortunately … you just have to be aware of your surroundings at all times, and that just goes for anywhere. It's still a beautiful place to visit and hang out at the beach. I feel safe."
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Yahoo
SC has one of the most dangerous spring break destinations in US, new study says. Here's why
With miles of Atlantic coastline, family-friendly attractions and popular golf spots, it's no wonder Myrtle Beach consistently draws spring break visitors. But according to a new study, the city is also one of the United States' most dangerous destinations. Illinois-based personal injury law firm 844SeeMike recently identified risk categories to rank the most dangerous spring break spots with overall safety risk scores. The study used Centers for Disease Control and National Highway Transport Safety Administration data to analyze alcohol-related deaths, drowning deaths, DUI-related fatal crashes, fatal crashes with cyclists, fatal crashes with pedestrians, hit-and-runs and homicides per 100,000 people. Myrtle Beach came in at number five on the list, with an overall safety risk of 18.4 out of 100. The city had higher risk scores — between 23 and 27 points — for cyclist danger, alcohol-related fatalities, DUI incidents and hit-and-runs. Other metrics posed moderate or low risks in Myrtle Beach, according to the study. The city scored 12 points for drowning and homicide risks,and just two points for pedestrian danger. However, because the city statistics rely on year-round populations, the study doesn't necessarily reflect the risks for cities where the number of people fluctuates significantly with tourism. 'While safety is always important, labeling Myrtle Beach the '#5 most dangerous spring break destination' is misleading and lacks context,' city of Myrtle Beach public information officer Meredith Denari said in an email. Although Myrtle Beach's stable population is less than 40,000 people, according to the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Grand Strand area receives nearly 20 million visitors every year, making it difficult to accurately evaluate the study's risk score metrics. 'The study fails to account for Myrtle Beach's massive seasonal population surge, where the city's population jumps from around 39,000 permanent residents to hundreds of thousands of visitors during any given time,' Denari said. 'This fact makes most studies using our seasonal population not only misleading, but inaccurate. Without adjusting for this influx, statistics like DUI rates and accident numbers are heavily skewed.' One other city in the Palmetto State, Charleston, also made the list. Florida topped the list with three cities, but Tennessee also made multiple appearances. 1. Daytona Beach, Florida Overall safety risk: 23.3 2. Panama City Beach, Florida Overall safety risk: 20.8 3. Naples, Florida Overall safety risk: 18.9 4. South Padre Island, Texas Overall safety risk: 18.6 5. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Overall safety risk: 18.4 6. Tucson, Arizona Overall safety risk: 17.5 7. New Orleans, Louisiana Overall safety risk: 17.2 8. Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Overall safety risk: 16.5 9. Charleston, South Carolina Overall safety risk: 15.7 10. Nashville, Tennessee Overall safety risk: 14.5
AFP
07-03-2025
- Climate
- AFP
South Carolina wildfires falsely linked to 'smart city' plans
"Did you see what is going on in Myrtle Beach? So many 'natural disasters'… Are these all setting the stage for the 'Smart City' reset?" asks a March 4 X post from the account Gubba Homestead, who AFP has previously fact checked. Image A screenshot of an X post taken on March 6, 2025 Similar claims circulated across Facebook, and Instagram -- with one post going as far as claiming: wildfires' are being set off INTENTIONALLY by DEWs (Directed Energy Weapons) so they can easily burn down the area." fact-checked numerous claims linking wildfires to experimental energy weapons, a target of long-circulating conspiracy theories. rt city" projects -- an urban planning concept that uses a wide range of technology to improve public services while cutting greenhouse gas emissions -- have often triggered conspiratorial claims alongside coverage of wildfires. AFP debunked similar claims during the deadly fires in Los Angeles, as well as after the massive fires that struck Hawaii and Canada in 2023. In early March, Horry County -- which includes the resort area of Myrtle Beach -- experienced several fires including the Carolina Forest wildfire (archived here), but "there are no wildfires inside the city," Meredith Denari, the city's communications director, told AFP on March 4. More than 2,000 acres (809 hectares) have burned in an area about 10 miles (16 kms) from the city, with the city's fire department providing aid (archived here). The fire has been contained to almost half its original size, according to county s were investigating (archived here) what started the fire -- with officials telling local media that neither lightning, nor controlled burns in the area were to blame. Horry County's fire rescue team and the South Carolina Forestry Commission both said blazes were worsened by severe weather, including storms. t respond to social media claims and conspiracies, especially those that have nothing to do with our role in fighting this or any other wildfire(s)," Doug Wood, director of communications of South Carolina Forestry Commission, added on March 4. But there is no evidence of the fire being set to advance technological efforts. Horry County has a history of bad fire seasons. In 1976, the county experienced the largest forest fire ever recorded (archived here) in South Carolina, with about 30,000 acres (12,141 hectares) 'Smart city' projects They stem from various "smart city" initiatives launched since at least 2023, some of which are presented in city press releases (archived here and here). But the plan focuses on technology-forward efforts such as cloud-based digital government services including emergency alerts and payment processing (archived here). "Yes, the city is working towards building a Living Lab to give tech companies a place to prototype and test emerging technologies within Myrtle Beach. We aim for that lab to be built within our Arts & Innovation District," Denari "It is just a building, it is nothing that would blanket or change the landscape of a city," Denari said. More of AFP's reporting on misinformation surrounding wildfires can be found here.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
South Carolina wildfires falsely linked to 'smart city' plans
"Did you see what is going on in Myrtle Beach? So many 'natural disasters'… Are these all setting the stage for the 'Smart City' reset?" asks a March 4 X post from the account Gubba Homestead, who AFP has previously fact checked. Similar claims circulated across Facebook, and Instagram -- with one post going as far as claiming: "The 'wildfires' are being set off INTENTIONALLY by DEWs (Directed Energy Weapons) so they can easily burn down the area." AFP has fact-checked numerous claims linking wildfires to experimental energy weapons, a target of long-circulating conspiracy theories. Similarly, "smart city" projects -- an urban planning concept that uses a wide range of technology to improve public services while cutting greenhouse gas emissions -- have often triggered conspiratorial claims alongside coverage of wildfires. AFP debunked similar claims during the deadly fires in Los Angeles, as well as after the massive fires that struck Hawaii and Canada in 2023. In early March, Horry County -- which includes the resort area of Myrtle Beach -- experienced several fires including the Carolina Forest wildfire (archived here), but "there are no wildfires inside the city," Meredith Denari, the city's communications director, told AFP on March 4. More than 2,000 acres (809 hectares) have burned in an area about 10 miles (16 kms) from the city, with the city's fire department providing aid (archived here). The fire has been contained to almost half its original size, according to county authorities (archived here). Crews were investigating (archived here) what started the fire -- with officials telling local media that neither lightning, nor controlled burns in the area were to blame. Horry County's fire rescue team and the South Carolina Forestry Commission both said blazes were worsened by severe weather, including storms. Officials declined to discuss the social media claims. "We don't respond to social media claims and conspiracies, especially those that have nothing to do with our role in fighting this or any other wildfire(s)," Doug Wood, director of communications of South Carolina Forestry Commission, added on March 4. But there is no evidence of the fire being set to advance technological efforts. Horry County has a history of bad fire seasons. In 1976, the county experienced the largest forest fire ever recorded (archived here) in South Carolina, with about 30,000 acres (12,141 hectares) burned. Myrtle Beach does in fact have plans for technological improvements (archived here and here). They stem from various "smart city" initiatives launched since at least 2023, some of which are presented in city press releases (archived here and here). But the plan focuses on technology-forward efforts such as cloud-based digital government services including emergency alerts and payment processing (archived here). "Yes, the city is working towards building a Living Lab to give tech companies a place to prototype and test emerging technologies within Myrtle Beach. We aim for that lab to be built within our Arts & Innovation District," Denari said. "It is just a building, it is nothing that would blanket or change the landscape of a city," Denari said. Other technology projects related to the city include undersea cables operated by Alphabet and Meta (archived here, here and here). More of AFP's reporting on misinformation surrounding wildfires can be found here.
