Post Storm Recovery Efforts Underway in Anderson County and Greenville

Post Storm Update in Anderson County and Greenville

Good news folks! In the face of the wreckage left by Tropical Storm Helene, better days are definitely on the horizon. However, for now, Anderson County saw its roads being blocked by downed power lines last Saturday, with a vehicle also submerged in the flooded water at Unity Park in Greenville.

As we continue to pick up the pieces left by the storm, power outages have become the major challenge for the Upstate community. Duke Energy broke the news to its customers at around 1 p.m. September 29 sharing that the full restoration of power could take up to five more days. However, do not fret! They assure everyone that the crews are working round the clock to restore power in the areas.

In response to this, Duke Energy and the electric co-ops serving customers across the state explained that the restoration process will be slow due to the amount of debris that needs to be cleared first. Only once the downed power lines have been dealt with, and the debris cleared, can the utility companies proceed to fix powerlines and possibly put up new poles in some places.

Further Roadblocks to Power Restoration

According to Duke Energy spokesperson Jason Hollifield, bringing back all services is not just about making simple repairs. The damage is extensive and some parts of their system will need to be entirely rebuilt. Moreover, assessing the total damage has also been tough due to blocked roads, flooding and mudslides.

Duke Energy has reported that currently, more than 900,000 of their customers across Carolinas remain without power. This half a million mark includes 508,000 in South Carolina alone. Though the company has already restored power to some customers, the severity of damage will make the entire process slow.

Turning Tide

All hands are on deck with 18,000 people from across the U.S. and Canada contributing to the storm restoration efforts across the Carolinas. Among these are Duke Energy’s own employees and contractors as well as individuals hailing from other electric companies.

Gov. Henry McMaster, during a press conference on Sept. 29 at the Greenville Downtown Airport, asked for patience from the public. He stated, “This is one that’s going to take patience. Slowly but surely, we’re getting the power back on.”

Appeal for Patience in Greenville County

Amidst this, local officials in Greenville County are imploring the residents to stay off the roads to help first responders and utility workers carry out their duties more smoothly. They are requesting community residents to exercise a bit of patience during this challenging time.

Greenville County Emergency Management Director, Jessica Stumpf revealed that 86% of the county is still without power and urged locals to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.

Turning to good news, Greenville Water has reassured its consumers that they do not anticipate any water shortages for the areas they serve. Thanks to their backup generators, all their treatment plants and all pump stations are able to continue functioning despite power interruptions.

Stay tuned for more updates.