Federal Disaster Declaration Approved for Greenwood County After Hurricane Helene

Greenwood, South Carolina

It was a busy Friday morning for Anthony Crouch. He spent hours cleaning up the damage left by Hurricane Helene at his home on Highway 25 North. While he was hard at work, Greenwood County and other Upstate residents received hopeful news from the federal government.

**President Joe Biden has approved a major disaster declaration** for Greenwood County and other areas struck by the storm. What does this mean for local residents? Well, it means the much-needed federal aid will begin flowing into the region to support recovery efforts. The disaster declaration covers a wide swath, including Aiken, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Lexington, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, and Spartanburg counties.

According to a release from FEMA, the aid can come in various forms. Among them are **grants for temporary housing, home repairs, and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses**. These programs are designed to assist not just individuals but also business owners as they try to rebuild their lives and establishments.

Beyond individual support, federal funding is also extended to state, tribal, and eligible local governments, as well as certain private non-profit organizations. This financial assistance will help cover the costs associated with emergency work needed to get the counties back to normal. On top of that, there’s funding for hazard mitigation measures to ensure areas are better prepared for any future incidents.

**If you’ve experienced losses**, you can start applying for assistance today. Register online at *DisasterAssistance.gov* or call *1-800-621-3362*. There’s also the option to use the FEMA app. For those utilizing relay services, be sure to share the number for your service with FEMA.

**Assistance Coming Together**

Other agencies are rolling up their sleeves to help Greenwood County residents recover. The National Guard, Team Rubicon, and the State Forestry Commission are out in force, clearing roads and aiding local fire services. They’re working side by side with the Greenwood County Fire Services, City of Greenwood Fire Department, and local public works departments.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) teams from Lexington, Lancaster, Dorchester, and Charleston are also in town, providing support to Greenwood County EMS. Businesses along Highway 25 Bypass and portions of Montague Avenue have had their power restored. You can follow updates on power restoration via Duke Energy’s Outage Map and Greenwood CPW’s Facebook page. Remember, for safety’s sake, always treat downed power lines as if they are energized.

**Ongoing Support and Sheltering**

The American Red Cross has set up a shelter at the Greenwood Family YMCA, located at 1760 Calhoun Road. The YMCA is also offering public access to showers, phone charging, and wi-fi from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Do keep in mind that service availability might be limited based on staffing.

For those in need of food, the Salvation Army office at 222 Pressley Ave. is distributing food boxes from 9 to 11:30 a.m. through Thursday, while supplies last. The Greenwood County Landfill at 1115 Siloam Church Road is also open daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., though convenience centers remain closed and won’t accept storm debris once they reopen.

On Monday, lake inspectors will be assessing water quality on Lake Greenwood to ensure it’s safe for residents. If you’re looking to lend a hand, you can call the Greenwood County Emergency Operations Center at 864-942-8553 and ask for Gerry Partridge to volunteer for cleanup efforts.

“We’ve had volunteers from all walks of life,” Partridge said. “We need everyone from professionals to people who just want to get their hands dirty. It’s been great, but we need more help.” Tasks for volunteers will range from delivering food and water to getting involved in the actual cleanup operations. Experience in construction or handling saws would be particularly valuable.

“We live in an amazing city and county,” Partridge continued. “It’s been inspiring to all of us. Together, we’re going to get through all this.”