South Carolina Faces Ongoing Power Outages a Week After Hurricane Helene’s Impact

South Carolina Still Grappling with Power Outages a Week After Hurricane Helene

The dust is finally settling in South Carolina after the fierce winds and heavy rains brought by Hurricane Helene, but the road to recovery is still a long one for many residents. As of this morning, around 282,896 customers in the state are still in the dark—a significant drop from Wednesday’s peak of 490,696 outages but still a considerable issue for communities across the region.

Where Are the Outages Worst?

It seems that the longest wait for power restoration is being felt in the Upstate region of South Carolina. Specifically, Laurens County had 15,595 of its 30,386 customers without electricity, followed closely by Greenwood County with 14,413 out of 27,111 and Edgefield County with 8,050 out of 14,795. These numbers illustrate the significant impact Helene has had on smaller communities, leaving families in need of light, heat, and access to cold food.

A Glimmer of Hope

For those living in the Midlands area, there’s some encouraging news! Areas like Lexington County have seen their outages decrease significantly, going from 12,583 on Wednesday to 4,631 by Friday morning. Richland County also reported a drop in outages, down to 1,003 from 4,714. Altogether, in the Midlands counties which include Richland, Lexington, Kershaw, Orangeburg, Calhoun, Fairfield, Sumter, and Saluda, there were 10,491 total customers without power this morning—excluding Aiken County, which has 35,613 outages.

Utility Companies Making Progress

Both Dominion Energy and Duke Energy have been working tirelessly to restore power. Dominion started with 57,102 outages earlier in the week but has managed to reduce this number to 35,337 as of today. Duke Energy also made strides, decreasing their outages from a staggering 323,015 to 185,733. Meanwhile, the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina have cut their outages from 110,759 to 61,926.

Restoration Timelines

In terms of restoration timelines, Dominion Energy provided updates indicating that the majority of restoration efforts are ongoing, with significant work still left to be done due to the extensive damage. They have reported that their teams are actively working to restore power in the hardest hit areas. Duke Energy expressed optimism that they could have about 134,000 customers back online by Friday evening, with the remaining 85,000 expected to have their electricity restored by Sunday. It’s a tough wait for those still affected, but at least there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Reporting Outages

If you or someone you know is still without power, utility companies are urging everyone to report outages using their designated hotlines. Here are some phone numbers you can use:

• Dominion Energy: 888-333-4465
• Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina: 803-796-6060
• Santee Cooper: 888-769-7688
• Duke Energy: 800-769-3766

Stay Informed

As with all breaking situations, the details may change as crews continue to work and restore power. Staying informed will be crucial, so keep an eye out for updates. Remember, recovery from such storms takes time, and the community spirit in South Carolina is strong—hang in there, folks! We are all in this together.

Let’s hope for sunny days ahead!