Greenville Grapples with Aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene
Tropical Storm Helene roared through Greenville and surrounding areas late last week, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Residents are still reeling from the impact of the storm, which has resulted in significant damage and wide-spread power outages.
The storm brought down large trees, which in turn knocked out power lines and blocked main roads. Greenville Restaurateur Carl Sobocinski had to clear a massive tree from his front yard on North Main Street with his wife, Karen. Fortunately, their house wasn’t hit, but part of their fence was destroyed, and the road was blocked for several hours.
As of 6 p.m. on September 29th, nearly 830,000 people were still without power. According to Mike Callahan, Duke Energy’s South Carolina president, restoring power to all affected areas could take until October 4th. “This is one that’s going to take patience,” Governor Henry McMaster said. “Slowly but surely, we’re getting the power back on.”
Death Toll Rises
Unfortunately, the death toll in the Upstate continues to climb. The figure has now reached 25 in South Carolina, with Anderson County reporting another fatality. Local resident Karen McCall, 60, was found in her overturned car after she went missing during the storm.
Other counties affected by fatalities include Spartanburg (6), Greenville (5), Aiken (4), Saluda (3), Newberry (2), and Chesterfield (1). Many of the deaths were caused by falling trees, according to reports.
Community Efforts and Authorities’ Response
During a press conference at the Greenville Downtown Airport, Governor Henry McMaster emphasized the need for patience and cooperation as recovery efforts continue. “The Upstate has likely not seen anything quite like this, if ever,” he remarked.
Joining him were several politicians including Greenville Mayor Knox White, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, and U.S. Rep. William Timmons who has suspended his campaign to aid in recovery efforts. The National Guard was also mobilized to assist with recovery operations.
“Mother Nature bombed us pretty hard,” Graham said, drawing a somber comparison to war-torn areas.
Road Safety and Utility Restoration
Residents have been urged to stay off the roads to allow first responders and utility workers to clear debris and restore services. “The more traffic we generate… the more gas we’re burning, which causes a cycle of problems at gas stations,” emphasized Greenville County Chairman Dan Tripp.
Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis also addressed misinformation spreading on social media, assuring the public, “There are hundreds and hundreds of people out here working in Greenville County to get your power restored.”
In addition to power outages, residents relying on oxygen concentrators without power are urged to seek shelter. An emergency shelter at Hillcrest High School in Simpsonville and a medical needs shelter at Bon Secours Wellness Arena are open to assist residents.
Damage Reporting and Clean-up Operations
Local officials are encouraging residents to report damage through the state’s Emergency Manager app to help assess the extent of the destruction for federal assistance. The county’s debris management contract will commence on October 2nd, with crews starting to collect debris placed along county roadsides.
From Dominion Energy customers on Daufuskie Island to residents around the Upstate, the community is doing its best to adapt while the power restoration efforts continue into next week. “The damage we are seeing from Helene is historic,” said Duke Energy spokesman Ryan Mosier, highlighting the storm’s unprecedented impact.
Looking Forward
As Greenville and the surrounding areas work towards recovering from the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene, the efforts and coordination between state officials, utility companies, and local communities are critical. Residents are encouraged to remain patient, stay safe, and support one another during these challenging times.
