Greenville, SC: Hurricane Helene’s Impact Still Felt With Widespread Internet Outages
Hey there, folks! It’s been a tough couple of weeks for many residents across the Upstate as we continue to feel the effects of the powerful Hurricane Helene. It’s hard to believe, but two weeks after the storm, **more than 50,000 Spectrum customers** are still without internet service in the area. That’s a big number, and it just shows how severe the storm was.
Initially, Helene left about 1.2 million customers without service in several states, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and our very own South Carolina. That’s a massive wave of outages right there! But here’s the slightly better news: **Service has been restored to about 80% of those customers**. While that’s a decent chunk, there are still plenty of people living without a reliable connection.
The hardest hit counties around here were **Greenville and Spartanburg**. In Greenville County alone, by 4 p.m. on Friday, there were still 38,762 folks without internet. Over in Spartanburg County, 20,616 are dealing with the same issue. Further down the line, Anderson County counted 11,101 citizens offline, and 5,559 in Pickens County were similarly affected. That’s quite the figure when you add it all up!
On the Ground Efforts: Technicians in Action
Now, let’s chat about what’s being done to fix all this. There’s been a massive effort from more than **100 technicians and engineers** tirelessly working across the Upstate, aiming to get us all back online as soon as possible. With over 188 miles of network damage to repair, these professionals have a significant challenge ahead.
They are closely coordinating with local utility teams, following them closely to ensure everything is put back in place efficiently and safely. It sounds like a giant game of catch-up, right? **”Our crews are immediately following local utility teams as they complete their work,”** one of the technical directors mentioned. Given the huge amount of damage, it’s no small feat. But it’s good to know these dedicated teams are on the case.
Community Support and Response
Our community has also come together in remarkable ways during this challenging time. Just recently, an event over at a local taco spot managed to raise an impressive **$16,000 for storm relief**. It’s really heartwarming to see neighbors coming together to support each other, isn’t it?
Of course, while we’re all eager to see everything restored as quickly as possible, safety and thoroughness are top priorities. For those still waiting, the technical teams are keeping a close eye on conditions and working hard to complete the restoration as fast as they can.
Looking Forward
It’s been a rough period, and the lack of connectivity adds an extra layer of challenge for many of us who rely on internet service for work, communication, and entertainment. But hang tight. We’re getting through it together, and brighter days are on the horizon.
Let’s keep an eye out for further updates and support the teams working around the clock out there. They’re playing a big role in bringing back the little bits of normalcy we’ve all been missing. Thanks for sticking with us, as together, we work towards repairing, rebuilding, and, most importantly, reconnecting.
