Greenwood Faces Power Outages and Cleanup in Hurricane Helene’s Aftermath
Greenwood, South Carolina — As of Tuesday, October 1, a little over 5,000 residents in the City of Greenwood are still grappling with power outages due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. The storm that swept through the region has left its mark, but efforts to restore normalcy are in full swing.
According to Tony Williamson, the director of communications and governmental relations for Greenwood Metropolitan District, the Metro’s wastewater treatment plants fared relatively well. “No huge damage. Of course, we’re like everyone else. We have trees on fences, debris, but no really bad damage to the plants,” said Williamson. The two wastewater plants have been staffed around the clock since last week to ensure continued operation and safety.
CPW (City Public Works) has reported steady progress in restoring power to various parts of Greenwood. On Monday, power was restored to West Alexander, while Wilson Creek is currently running on generator power. Williamson is optimistic that Wilson Creek will resume normal operations by the end of the week. The roads around both plants have been cleared, facilitating the travel of crews and fuel between sites.
In a statement, Jeff Meredith, CPW general manager, said: “In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Greenwood Commissioners of Public Works (CPW) wants to assure our community that we are fully committed to restoring power as quickly and safely as possible. The impact of this storm has been unprecedented, with 100% of our electric power system affected, including the loss of transmission service to all six of our substations.” Meredith emphasized that the electric crews have been working tirelessly around the clock with a priority on critical facilities and key commercial areas. Approximately 60% of the system has been restored, yet around 5,000 residents remain without power.
CPW’s efforts are complemented by the hard work of linemen from various parts of the country, including Troy, Alabama; Fayetteville, North Carolina; Westerville, Ohio; and Jacksonville, Florida. These combined efforts highlight the collaborative spirit of overcoming the challenges posed by Hurricane Helene.
The good news is that CPW’s Water Treatment Plant is fully operational with water storage tanks filled to capacity, providing an uninterrupted supply of safe drinking water to the community. There have been no boil water notices issued as a result of the storm.
The gas infrastructure suffered some damage as well, including two gas mains, 21 services, and one regulator station. The damage has been effectively repaired, though the regulator station will require future replacement. Currently, 15 customers are still experiencing interrupted gas service, which will be restored as storm cleanup progresses. CPW assures that all issues related to gas leaks have been safely addressed.
“We assure you that we will not rest until every customer has their power restored,” stated Meredith. He also expressed gratitude for the community’s continued patience and support during this challenging time.
As Greenwood moves forward, the clouds are expected to clear, both literally and metaphorically. According to forecasts, the weather will remain partly cloudy with a high of 82°F and light, variable winds. By nighttime, expect some clouds with a low of 64°F and similarly light winds.
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Note: Any customers who suspect a gas leak should report it immediately to CPW at 864-942-8100.
