South Carolina Grapples with Major Power Outages Following Hurricane Helene
Nearly 1 Million Left Without Power in South Carolina
After the destructive force of Hurricane Helene, nearly a million homes and businesses in South Carolina are currently without power. The hurricane, which made landfall in Florida on Thursday morning, has left an unprecedented level of disruption in its wake. As of 12:30 p.m. ET, 894,495 residents in South Carolina were affected by the outage, marking the highest number of storm-induced power failures in the state.
Other States Experiencing Power Outages
Unfortunately, the power crisis extends beyond South Carolina borders. Sparing no mercy, the storm has plunged Georgia into darkness, with 671,367 power outages and 547,630 in North Carolina. Overall, Hurricane Helene has left close to 2.5 million homes and businesses without power throughout the Southeast—spanning South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Virginia.
The Financial Impact of Hurricane Helene
The storm, which delivered historic flooding across several states, has inflicted a calamitous blow to properties. Preliminary damage estimates suggest anywhere from $15 to $26 billion in property damage primarily concentrated in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.
Power Restoration Plans in South Carolina
The pressing question for many affected South Carolinians—is ‘When will power be restored?’
Duke Energy offered some relief, posting that power should be restored for those currently without, outside the western regions of the Carolinas, by 11:59 p.m. Sunday night. They also clarified, “many will be restored before then.” Restoration work was stated to have commenced even while Hurricane Helene was still exiting the Carolinas on Friday afternoon.
Tragic Aftermath of Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend as a Category 4 hurricane. The storm later weakened to a tropical depression as it barrelled through the Southeastern U.S. However, the human toll has been significant— according to the Weather Channel, 61 casualties across all five affected states have been linked to the severe weather event.
As recovery efforts continue, the hope is that normalcy will soon return for the residents of South Carolina and other states deeply affected by the storm. Our thoughts go out to individuals grappling with the aftermath of this natural disaster.
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Author: STAFF HERE MYRTLE BEACH
The HERE Myrtle Beach Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Myrtle Beach community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Myrtle Beach Our team includes lifelong Myrtle Beach residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent developments along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Coastal Carolina University programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
