Greenwood Residents Come Together to Face Aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s Devastation

Greenwood Residents Rally After Hurricane Helene Brings Devastation

The normally serene town of Greenwood, South Carolina found itself reeling this weekend after Hurricane Helene made an unexpected and fierce entrance. **The winds swept through South Carolina at 70 miles per hour. Rain lashed down, dumping as much as 15 inches of water in some places. As the weather cleared into clear blue skies on Friday afternoon and Saturday, many residents — especially those in the western South Carolina counties — were confronted with devastation**. Leaves littered the ground, and tall, old trees were uprooted, crushing power lines as they toppled across roads and into houses.

A Widespread Wake of Destruction

Among the hardest hit was **Greenwood County**. “I don’t know if we’ve ever seen anything like this in Greenwood,” said Robbie Templeton, a member of Greenwood County Council. “We’ve got power lines down everywhere, people have got trees down through their homes.” In many older neighborhoods, large trees were brought down by Helene’s winds, including one that crashed through the roof of former mayor Welborn Adams’ kitchen. “It’s just incredible, I’ve never seen anything like it,” Adams shared.

Comparisons to Past Storms

Local residents couldn’t help but draw comparisons to past catastrophic events. Some mentioned the tornado outbreak in 1984 that flattened a hospital in Newberry, while others referenced Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and the 2015 ice storm in Aiken County. However, many agreed, “Hurricane Helene’s impact feels unprecedented,” as Templeton noted, adding that when friends from the coast called to check on him, he knew it was unusual.

Unprepared but Resilient

With power and basic services disrupted, and **at least 23 people reported dead across the state**, including two volunteer firefighters in neighboring **Saluda County**, the community found itself unprepared for such devastation. “We were not prepared, I don’t think anybody was prepared for this,” confessed Adams.

The scope of the tragedy became more evident as information trickled in from other affected areas. **Aiken, Saluda, and Newberry counties imposed curfews Friday night**, and power outages were widespread. In Greenwood alone, **26,924 of the county’s 27,077 utility customers were without power** as of Saturday afternoon.

Efforts to Restore and Rebuild

County authorities and utility companies are working tirelessly to restore services, but the task is monumental. “Right now we’ve got crews out assessing damages,” said Abby Banks, a public information officer for Greenwood County. She noted the efforts to clear roadways, reopen landfills, and convenience centers, and ensure access for emergency and utility workers. “We’re still trying to get landfills and convenience centers back open,” Banks added.

State emergency officials are also collaborating with local agencies. The sheer number of snapped utility poles, estimated at **1,400**, mainly concentrated in the western part of the state, has compounded the difficulty of restoring power. “They got hammered pretty hard,” said Avery Wilks, vice president of communication for the Electric Cooperative of South Carolina.

Community Spirit Shines Bright

Amid the chaos and destruction, the resilient spirit of Greenwood’s residents has been a silver lining. Long lines are reported at gas stations, restaurants, and a few open businesses like Publix and KJ’s grocery store, which are running on generators. People are coming together, helping each other clear the debris and lending a hand wherever needed. Adams recounted how he ran a chainsaw for five hours to clear fallen trees from roads and neighbors’ yards. According to Templeton, “Fire departments, emergency crews, good Samaritans, whoever — everyone is out, helping each other.”

Moving Forward Together

The road to recovery will be long and arduous. Even though the sun has started to shine, the aftermath of the storm, like downed trees and non-functional traffic lights, is still causing disruptions. Adams highlighted the ongoing challenges, mentioning that “people are running into each other” even days after the storm.

Still, the overwhelming sense of community and togetherness has been heartening. “Things like this kind of bring communities together,” Templeton remarked, a sentiment that will no doubt propel Greenwood toward a brighter, more resilient future.