Hurricane Helene Leaves Mark on Greenville as Response Efforts Ramp Up
Greenville, S.C. – On Sunday afternoon, the streets of Greenville were filled with concern as Governor Henry McMaster shared updates on the response to the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene. During a press conference at the Greenville Downtown Airport, McMaster stood alongside various officials, including SCDOT Secretary Justin Powell and Chief Mark Keel from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
Tragic Loss and Impact
The mood was somber as McMaster addressed the loss of life caused by the hurricane. “In this particular case, the Upstate has not seen anything like this, if not ever,” he said, emphasizing the tragedy that has unfolded. According to the latest reports, the storm has led to 25 fatalities across South Carolina, with Spartanburg County seeing six deaths, Greenville County five, and several others in Anderson, Aiken, Saluda, Newberry, and Chesterfield counties.
Community and Government Response
Governor McMaster assured the public that help is on the way. “We have people that are here [to help], others that are coming,” he said, pointing out that both state and federal resources are being mobilized in the aftermath of the hurricane.
The National Guard will be joining forces with SLED, ensuring that law enforcement is on hand to aid in recovery efforts and maintain order in the affected communities. Chief Keel reassured everyone that “we are not going to tolerate any lawlessness in our communities” during this critical time.
Power Restoration Efforts
With many residents encountering power outages, the challenges have been significant. Mike Callahan, the president of Duke Energy for South Carolina, described the damage to their infrastructure as “unprecedented.” Fortunately, there is light at the end of the tunnel as Duke Energy expects to restore power to most customers by Friday evening, although some isolated areas may take longer. “That doesn’t mean your power will be out until Friday,” Callahan clarified. “It means the very last customer we can restore might be out by Friday but we will see many more customers come online well before that.”
As of now, nearly 6,000 lineworkers and support personnel are working diligently throughout the state. Laurens Electric announced that they have successfully restored power to over 21,000 members and have 300 lineworkers on the ground, with additional help arriving from neighboring states.
Blue Ridge Electric provided an update regarding their struggles, noting that more than 328 utility poles have been damaged. “It takes three to four hours for a crew to replace a single pole,” explained Zach Hinton, chief of staff and senior vice president at Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, emphasizing the urgency of their efforts.
Getting the Word Out
McMaster made it clear that misinformation can lead to chaos, dismissing rumors that South Carolina power crews were sent to Florida before the storm. “I don’t know how that got started but no, there’s no truth to that,” he stated, underscoring the importance of relying on official channels for accurate information.
Looking Ahead
As the community rallies together in the face of this disaster, McMaster and local officials urge residents to stay safe and remain patient during the recovery process. “We want everyone to be careful,” he urged, reminding people that while help is on the way, it may take some time to return to normalcy.
In the coming days, local teams will continue their efforts to clear roads and restore vital services, all while maintaining communication with the public to share updates on progress and safety protocols. The resilience of the Greenville community shines bright amidst this challenging time.
