Multiple Deaths, Widespread Power Outages Across South Carolina in Wake of Tropical Storm Helene
By: Jessica Holdman
Tropical Storm Helene left a devastating imprint on South Carolina early Friday, causing 13 deaths and widespread power outages that affected over 1.2 million homes and businesses throughout the state. The lethal storm nullified over two-thirds of the state’s electricity supply in the wake of its fierce winds and heavy rainfall.
Early reports have revealed that most casualties occurred due to falling trees as a result of the damaging winds. These include the deaths of four individuals, two in Anderson County and two in Aiken County, confirmed by respective county coroners. Governor Henry McMaster confirmed additional fatalities including two firefighters in Saluda County and two in Newberry County tied to vehicular incidents due to storm conditions. Three more deaths in Spartanburg County have been reported by various news outlets.
Power Outages Across the State
Utilities across the state including Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, and Santee Cooper have reported massive power outages that according to several top-level executives could persist through the upcoming week. Keller Kissam, president of Dominion Energy South Carolina, stated the current outage parallels the power loss experienced after the notorious Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Duke Energy alone was reporting 545,000 outages in the Upstate as of Friday noon.
Devastation in the Upstate
The Upstate region has been subjected to immense damage by the storm. High winds uprooted trees on soil already soaked with rain from the days leading into the storm, resulting in total devastation. The meteorologists reported rainfall as high as 15 inches in Oconee, Greenville, and Pickens ahead of the storm. During its peak, wind gusts across the state ranged from 50 to 70 miles per hour, with gusts recording 72 miles per hour in Aiken and Anderson.
The National Weather Service had issued innumerable tornado warnings during the course of the storm, the aftermath of which is yet to be determined.
Utility Companies Invoke Patience
Utility executives have requested patience from the public as they tirelessly work to restore power as quickly as possible. They have also cautioned the public to stay away from downed power lines and exercise care when using generators to minimize possibilities of accidents like carbon monoxide poisoning.
For those displaced by the storm, six shelters have been opened across Laurens, Orangeburg, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, and Spartanburg counties, although uptake has been low with only about 30 people seeking shelter so far.
Continuing Threat
The National Weather Service forecasts major river flooding near Greenville, the Broad Rivers near the North Carolina border and the Wateree River near the dam which could extend the damage and impact caused by the weather event.
Tropical Storm Helene, which made landfall in Florida late Thursday as a Category 4 hurricane, weakened into a Category 1 storm as it journeyed through Georgia, bringing tropical storm winds and heavy rainfall across South Carolina. It is subsequently expected to drift towards the northwest and dissipate over the Tennessee River Valley this weekend.
Relief Measures
GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham has declared the delegation’s commitment to work with Governor McMaster in securing federal disaster relief. This comes as the state bears the brunt of tropical storm Helene’s destructive path, less than two months after Tropical Storm Debby, which washed over parts of the state causing flood and property damage, although no deaths or injuries were reported.
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.
