Devastation in Greenville: Hurricane Helene Leaves Thousands Without Power
Greenville, SC – The aftermath of Hurricane Helene is being felt strongly across the Upstate, with over 425,000 homes and businesses currently without electricity. As residents pick up the pieces, it’s clear this storm has caused unprecedented damage across the area. Major power outages have been reported in Spartanburg, Anderson, and the surrounding counties.
Power Restoration Timeline is Fluid
According to Avery Wilks, the VP of Communications for the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, the situation remains critical. The challenges in restoring power are compounded by accessibility issues, road damage, and the sheer number of 6,650 distribution poles that have been damaged or destroyed. Each of these poles can take up to four hours to replace, making the timeline for full restoration seem rather flexible at the moment.
Wilks suggested that residents manage their expectations, saying, “This is the worst storm that anyone can remember hitting the Upstate.” Crews from various energy companies are working tirelessly, with many even camping out at energy stations to expedite recovery efforts. Wilks added that while power plants themselves have largely avoided significant damage, the transmission and distribution lines have been severely impacted.
Duke Energy Faces Major Challenges
Duke Energy is among the hardest-hit providers in the region. On Sunday night, they announced plans to have services restored by Friday, though this timeline hinges on the accessibility of affected areas. As of Monday afternoon, they reported around 438,000 customers still without power, particularly concentrated in areas north of Traveler’s Rest, Spartanburg, and north of Anderson.
Ryan Mosier, communications lead at Duke Energy, confirmed substantial initial damage assessments showed around 6,000 power poles in need of repair. Their efforts are ongoing, but the extent of the destruction remains a significant hurdle.
Local Efforts and Damage Reports
Other local providers are facing similar challenges. Laurens Electric Cooperative has made headway by restoring power to over 27,000 customers and getting 17 out of 32 substations back online. Yet they also report that 20,000 customers in their service area remain without power as of Monday afternoon.
LCEC has deployed over 300 technicians and is seeking help from neighboring regions to tackle the overwhelming number of fallen trees making restoration efforts difficult. A note from Laurens Electric highlighted the catastrophic damage their electric infrastructure has sustained, calling it historic, and even surpassing that of Hurricane Hugo in 1989.
Wilks revealed that Laurens Electric has seen over 200 broken or damaged poles in its service area, and with no set timeline for complete restoration, hardworking crews continue to push forward in the daunting recovery process.
Blue Ridge Electric Also Hit Hard
Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative has reported significant damage as well, with more than 450 distribution lines impacted. As of Monday, around 2,800 customers in Easley, Piedmont, and Williamston are still without service. Unfortunately, no clear timeline has been provided about when power will be fully restored in their territories.
Community Resilience in the Face of Adversity
As recovery efforts continue, community members are urged to be patient and to stay tuned for updates on restoration efforts. The vast network of energy companies is working hard to restore normalcy in the Upstate, though many areas may not see improvements until at least Friday evening or possibly longer.
Residents are encouraged to prepare for potential inconvenience in the coming days and to be safe as teams work around the clock. Of course, amidst the difficulties, the community spirit shines bright as neighbors help each other through this challenging time.
