Greenwood County Recuperates After Powerful Early-Morning Thunderstorms
Greenwood County, October 2, 2024 — Strong thunderstorms rolled through Greenwood County early Thursday, causing widespread power outages and closing parts of Florida Avenue. The early morning storms created quite a stir, leaving thousands without power and prompting a short-lived tornado watch.
The power outages were first reported by Duke Energy at around 2:45 a.m., affecting over 1,200 customers. Damage primarily stemmed from fallen trees and limbs, which knocked out utility equipment from Ninety Six along Highways 246 and 248, and further down Highway 25 past the Callison area. As of 11:30 a.m., power had been partially restored to some affected customers, reducing the total number of outages to 788. However, it is estimated that complete restoration won’t be accomplished until late Thursday night.
Meanwhile, another significant outage spread from Highway 34 at South Main Street in Greenwood all the way to the town of Ninety Six. As of late morning, this outage impacted 1,199 customers, and Duke Energy estimates that restoring power in this area might not be completed until Friday afternoon.
Greenwood CPW also faced its share of challenges as it worked to deal with blown line fuses caused by limb damage. Their efforts led to approximately 100 customers being without power for about an hour, with another 10 customers experiencing longer outages. By 9:45 a.m., CPW’s major residual outage was confined to the properties of the Greenwood Metropolitan District, where crews were rigorously working to restore power.
Adam Hedden, Director of the Electrical Department at Greenwood CPW, noted the persistence and dedication of the crews. “Our teams are working tirelessly to ensure power is restored as quickly and safely as possible,” he emphasized.
While residents navigate these outages and subsequent repairs, the weather forecast offers a silver lining. According to the National Weather Service, rain is expected to taper off by midday Thursday. For the period from Friday through Wednesday, no hazardous weather conditions are anticipated, posing a sense of relief for the community.
The return to normalcy will take some time as crews continue to work around the clock. Residents are urged to stay patient and follow safety guidelines during this period. The community remains resilient, and it’s with a collective effort that we’ll navigate through this temporary hardship.
In the meantime, residents can expect partly cloudy skies with a high of 83°F on Thursday and a low of 63°F during the night. Winds are described as light and variable, providing a calm end to an otherwise stormy start of the day.
Stay Safe and Informed
For those seeking regular updates on the power restoration process, following local news channels and verified social media handles can provide timely information. It’s important to take extra caution around downed power lines and report any hazardous situations to the authorities immediately.
Do remember to keep your devices charged wherever possible and avoid unnecessary travel to areas hard hit by the storm, ensuring the safety of both yourself and the repair crews hard at work.
Looking Ahead
Thankfully, the forecast suggests a quieter weather period in the days to come. With no expected hazardous weather from Friday through Wednesday, residents can look forward to calm skies and some much-needed time to recover and rebuild after Thursday’s rough start.
