Hurricane Helene Leaves Upstate South Carolina in Disarray

Hurricane Helene Leaves Upstate South Carolina in Disarray

Early in the morning of September 27, Greenville, South Carolina, woke up to the chaos brought on by Hurricane Helene. The storm made quite an entrance, barreling through the region with winds that reached up to 70 mph. As residents sipped their coffee and attempted to check the damage, they quickly realized that roadways had turned into hazardous zones.

Widespread Power Loss and Traffic Woes

With winds this strong, it was no surprise that many trees and power lines were downed across the area. In fact, 207 traffic signals in the city of Greenville were left without power after the storm passed. As a result, many roads were rendered impassable, and traffic signals simply stopped functioning. Can you imagine the frustration? The situation was mirrored across Greenville County and throughout the Upstate.

As people ventured out onto the roads, the Greenville Police Department reported a notable uptick in collisions. From September 27 to September 29, there were 39 accidents reported in the city. Sgt. Johnathan Bragg pointed out that many of these vehicular mishaps were primarily due to drivers being unsure of how to navigate intersections where the traffic lights were out.

Understanding the Rules of the Road

This brings us to a crucial point—what should a driver do when a traffic light is out? According to Master Trooper Mitchell Ridgeway with the South Carolina Highway Patrol, it’s quite simple: you must come to a complete stop at intersections where the traffic lights are nonfunctional. For four-way intersections, the first vehicle to arrive has the right of way, and this applies regardless of road size.

Neglecting these rules can lead to serious consequences. Tragically, this exact scenario led to a fatal car accident on October 2 at a Spartanburg County intersection. As a precautionary measure, the Mauldin Police Department enlisted officers to direct traffic at problematic intersections rather than allowing drivers to fend for themselves. Sgt. Stephen McLean shared their approach, stating, “We made the decision to put people there to hand-direct traffic instead of letting them do it on their own.”

Other Collisions and Safety Measures

Back in Greenville, an alarming incident occurred on September 29 when a car collided with a bucket truck that was tending to storm cleanup. The intersection of Laurens and Airport roads, where the traffic signal was out, became the stage for this unfortunate event, resulting in injuries to five individuals who were promptly taken to a local hospital.

Within the city of Mauldin, there were also two minor accidents attributed to the absence of functioning traffic lights. With an estimated 10 to 15 traffic lights going dark due to Hurricane Helene, the Mauldin Police Department took proactive measures to help mitigate risks at major intersections.

Restoring Order

As the days passed after Helene’s wrath, the Greenville Police Department encouraged the community to refrain from driving on the streets immediately after the storm. This was not just for the safety of drivers but to allow police forces to manage the many emergencies brought on by the storm.

Fortunately, by October 4, the city reported that about 97% of the traffic lights were back to operational status, thanks in part to the quick thinking of the traffic engineering team, who utilized generators on hand to restore power.

Director of Engineering Services, Clint Link, confirmed that while most signals resumed functionality, some, like the one at Pleasantburg and northbound I-385, would need monitoring for damage. The one at Butler Avenue-Hampton Avenue, however, was a total loss and would need complete reconstruction due to tree damage.

A Community’s Resilience

As life gradually returns to normal, the resilience of the Upstate community shines through. It’s important for everyone to remember the correct driving rules when faced with non-operational traffic signals and to give our dedicated emergency services the space they need to operate effectively. With power restored and roads clearing up, residents look forward to smoother travels and a return to everyday life.