How has Hurricane Helene affected the Midlands

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Tropical Storm Helene has brought extensive problems to the Midlands of South Carolina, including power outages, downed streets, and impassable roads.

The greatest toll is the loss of life: 19 deaths so far, according to the Associated Press and local officials. Among the dead are two firefighters from Saluda County. 

News19 has received numerous reports of trees down on homes, cars, and lying in the middle of roads. Many agencies have asked people to stay off the roads if necessary.

All those downed trees have led to significant power outages, with over 1.3 million reported statewide at the peak of the storm. News19 is posting updates about conditions, including road closures, below. 

A reminder: check on elderly and disabled neighbors if you are able. Many are without power and may need assistance.

Here’s the latest updates from the storm. 

Town of Irmo to distribute bottled water. That starts at 3 p.m. Details below are rom the town of Irmo.

“The Town of Irmo, the Irmo Town Council, the LexMed Irmo Okra Strut Commission, the Town of Irmo Events Committee, and Walmart have teamed together to bring our neighbors free cases of water starting at 3 p.m. One case of water will be available per person until we run out. We will be out at 1140 Moseley Avenue until supplies run out or 7 p.m. – whichever comes first. 

Please take Lake Murray Blvd towards the train tracks and Woodrow Street (near the turn to Loveland Coffee). Turn right off Woodrow Street to Moseley Ave. Irmo Police Department will be assisting in routing traffic. 

Our thoughts are with the 1,500+ Irmo residents still without power. We would love to enjoy ourselves at the LexMed Irmo Okra Strut, but canceling the Strut was the best way to assist our community.”

The Town of Lexington is warning of long lines at gas stations due to Helene. Here’s the update they gave:

“If you are in need of gasoline, consider looking for gas stations outside of the Town of Lexington, SC if possible.  Long lines are causing stopped traffic in the roadways while gas stations outside of Lexington are less congested.  

Avoid gas stations near the interstate since we’re seeing backups along I-20, from Longs Pond Road to Sunset Boulevard.

While we understand that folks have essential needs and may be without power, stopped vehicles in the roadway are slowing the response of first responders and power company crews who are working non-stop on getting the Town of Lexington power again.

Lastly, be patient if you’re waiting in a parking lot for gasoline.  We getting reports of unbelievable and even criminal behavior of those who have let frustration get the best of them.”

Forest Acres gives an update on the storm via Facebook.

“Friday trash collection update: Friday routes you have not been forgotten! PLEASE place your cans at the road Monday morning. If they have not been collected by the end of the day, please place them back out on Tuesday. 

Public Works will have to pick up both Monday+Friday routes and both Tuesday + Friday routes plus debris. This will take time. 

If you are getting rid of your own tree, please saw into 3-4 foot sections and place at road. Do not place by a utility box or storm drain. We do not need to add to any storm drains being clogged. 

If you have hired a tree professional, they must have a Forest Acres business license and they must remove all of your tree debris. This was told to them when they got their Forest Acres business license. 

Debris clean up of this magnitude will take time. Please be patient with us. We are all working hard to get back to normal.”

Lexington County Sheriff’s Department gives update on county roads via social media

“We continue to work with County of Lexington, SC public works crews to identify road obstructions and clear them so traffic flow can resume.

As of noon on 9/28, there have been 410 reports of obstructed roads. There are 240 reports of cleared roads. There 170 obstructed roads in the county.

If you see a barricade while you’re driving, turn around and find another way to your destination.

Call 911 only if you have an emergency. Downed power lines, power outages or other concerns about your electricity are not emergencies. Call them in to your electric utility.”

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division opens Helene information line. Here’s the information they provided to News19.

“Residents in South Carolina who have questions about Helene can now call the state’s toll-free hotline. Operators with the State’s Public Information Phone System are available 24 hours a day for as long as needed.

If you have questions about Helene, such as about the state’s response or safety precautions you should take, call this information line:

HURRICANE HELENE INFORMATION LINE: 1-866-246-0133

As citizens begin clean-up efforts, SCEMD encourages residents and business owners to remember these important tips:

1. Watch Out for Power Lines: Avoid any fallen trees that may be tangled with live wires.
2. Stay Out of Flood Water: It may contain hazards that can hurt you or make you sick. 
3. Avoid Unnecessary Travel: Help emergency workers by staying off the roadways unless absolutely necessary to travel.
4. Take Pictures/Document Damage: Before starting cleanup, take pictures of any damage for insurance claims. Contact insurance company. Save all related receipts.
5. Protective Gear: Wear sturdy shoes, gloves, eyewear, and a helmet when dealing with debris.
6. Consult Waste Management: Contact local authorities about how to properly dispose of trash and debris.
   0. Residents can request voluntary agency assistance with debris removal, tarping of roof, etc., by registering their need with Crisis Cleanup. Call 1-844-965-1386.
7. Discard Unrecoverable Items: Remove items that cannot be cleaned or disinfected properly.
8. Use Proper Cleaning Supplies: Most household cleaning products can be used. Follow the label’s directions.
9. Licensed Contractors: For professional assistance, use the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation to find licensed contractors at llr.sc.gov.

Residents can also use the Damage Assessment tool in the SC Emergency Manager app to report property damage to authorities. Download the app on the App Store and on Google Play: http://onelink.to/dn92rx.

Power outages remain widespread and should be reported to the local electricity provider for your area.

For more information, visit scemd.org.”

Lexington County is offering storm debris pick up. This is what they posted online. 

“Lexington County officials will now offer a storm debris drop-off site to residents. The site will be located on 501 Ballpark road in the Recreation Complex’s parking lot.

The location hours will be today, Saturday, September 28, 2024 until 7 p.m. Tomorrow, Sunday, September 29, from noon until 7 p.m. and then Monday through Friday of next week from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If there is a long line we ask residents to please be patient.”

Dominion Energy gave this update on power restoration, which they posted on their social media channels:

“With devastating winds, tornadic activity and torrential rain, Helene took a departure from the path of most high-impact storms and was uniquely devastating. This resulted in a volume of power outages in South Carolina we haven’t seen since Hurricane Hugo in 1989. 

After working 24/7 Thursday and Friday, by 8 a.m. Saturday, crew had restored power to nearly 189,000 customers, which is nearly half of customers who had lost power. We’ll continue working, night and day until everyone’s lights are back on.

Crews continue to work safely and as quickly as possible to restore power to ~196,000 customers who are still without power. More than 2,500 employees & contract resources are currently dedicated to storm response. More crews are on the way from NC, VA, GA, AL, MS, IL, and TX. 

Customers should expect multiple days of outages.

Because of extensive damage and widespread outages, some customers may be without power for several days. Currently, estimated times of restoration are not available. 

We urge customers to make plans now.

Stay away from downed power lines. Always assume downed power lines are energized and dangerous. Downed lines may not always be visible and use extra caution when walking outside after a storm. Please remain at least 30 feet away and ensure that others avoid the downed line.

Please note, because of an unusually high volume of calls, customers who call 888-333-4465 to report a downed power line may get an automated voice message and experience a call disconnection

Download the Dominion Energy app, which is the fastest and most secure way to report or track an outage. Customers may also report outages by going to http://DominionEnergy.com or calling 800-251-7234.”

Newberry Public Utilities said they’re getting help from Alabama. Here’s what they posted on social media:

“Thank you to crews from Dothan Alabama who arrived to help us in mutual aid this morning! More crews from additional areas will begin arriving throughout the day. 

To our customers: we appreciate your patience as we work to restore power as quickly as possible to you!”

According to reports from the Lexington County Emergency Operations Center, about 49.6% of Lexington County is without power. That’s about 79,118 utility customers. 

According to reports into the Lexington County Emergency Operations Center, about 53.5% percent of Lexington County is without power. That’s about 85,368  utility customers. 

The S.C. Department of Public Safety confirms 19 storm-related deaths attributed to Helene as of 4:30 p.m. on Friday, September 27. 

The numbers provided below have been confirmed through the coroner’s office in each county. 

The Aiken County Coroner has identified four people who died in storm-deaths Friday morning. 

Coroner Darryl Ables said 78-year-old Jerry Savage and his wife, 74-year-old Marcia Savage, died when a tree crashed through the roof of their home on Church Road in Beech Island. They were pronounced dead at 11:40 a.m.

Michael Roukous, 29, of Dexter, New York was renting a bed and breakfast on Casnettie Road in Beech Island. when a tree crashed through the roof of the home. Roukous was pronounced dead at 9:52 a.m.

And a 70-year-old man was pronounced dead at 8:50 a.m. after a tree crashed through the roof of his home on Metts Park Circle in Aiken. His name wasn’t released yet because his family hadn’t been notified. 

There are now 17 storm-related deaths in South Carolina, according to the Associated Press. 

The dead included two firefighters responding to calls in Saluda County, Gov. Henry McMaster said at a Friday news conference. The tree hit their firetruck around 6:30 a.m. Friday about 4 miles (6 kilometers) west of Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina Highway Patrol Cpl. David Jones said

Two additional deaths were reported in Newberry County, according to McMaster. The Newberry County Coroner identified them as 49-year-old Robert Wise and 48-year-old Valencia Jones of Chapin. They were killed in a vehicle versus tree collision. 

Coroners reported 13 other deaths — four in Greenville County, four in Aiken County, three in Spartanburg County and two in Anderson County.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster confirmed four storm-related deaths in the state due to Helene. Two of those deaths were firefighters in Saluda County. McMaster did not give details on what led to the firefighters’ deaths. 

The other two deaths were in Newberry County, something the sheriff there had stated earlier in the day. 

The governor did not mention two deaths in Anderson County which had been reported by the Associated Press. 

VA Health Care Services reports the Anderson and Spartanburg VA clinics are closed dur to power outages and the Orangeburg VA Clinic closed at noon for the remainder of the day.

Lexington County Sheriff posted crews are dealing with more than 200 impassable roads throughout the county and reminds residents to stay at home.

Columbia Fire reminds motorists in the area that although crews are working to restore power, traffic signals continue to be out at this hour in many spots around the City of Columbia & Richland County!

It’s one more reason why travel on the roads today is especially hazardous  

South Carolina Department of Public Health is expanding the public information Care Line beginning today. Care Line representatives will be available to answer questions about any DPH public health department services that are interrupted due to Hurricane Helene and provide other storm-related information.

The Care Line number is 1-855-472-3432 and will be open for calls 24 hours a day beginning Friday, Sept 27, until 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30. DPH will notify residents when the Care Line resumes its regular hours and services.

City of Columbia announces Whaley Street from Assembly to Sumter streets, and Main Street from Catawba to Whaley streets have re-opened. The roads were closed Thursday after heavy rainfall caused flooding in the area.

Chapin Police post all roads in the Town of Chapin appear to be opened. If you come across a downed tree blocking the roadway please call 803-785-2521.

Outside of the Town roads still may be blocked, but most have been reported already and are in the process of being cleared.

Power is out for the majority of Chapin and there is no timeline for when it will be restored. With that being the case the majority of businesses in Town will be closed. Again if you can stay home, stay home.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has announce he’ll hold a briefing at 2 p.m. to discuss Helene’s impacts on South Carolina. News19 will have live coverage of those remarks on-air, online here at WLTX.com., on our WLTX+ streaming app, and our News19 app. 

Richland County offices closed to the public on Friday. Richland County Solid Waste and Recycling is experiencing some delays in service but advises there will be curbside pickup through Saturday. Additional updates will be forthcoming. 

Richland County and the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) have received numerous reports of downed trees and flooded roadways. A number of teams from both agencies are working together to clear roadways; however, this may take some time because of the volume of reports. For continuous updates on road conditions, please monitor the County’s Facebook page and SCDOT’s website.

The County asks that residents call the Ombudsman’s Office at 803-929-6000 to report standing water or backup at stormwater inlets between rainfall events. Additionally, the County’s Emergency Operations line is open. Residents with concerns or questions may call 803- 576-3439.

The Verizon store at the corner of Forest Drive and Beltline Boulevard sustained damage from the storm.

The Associated Press confirms one person has died as a result of Helene. 

Helene cut a path of destruction across western South Carolina as the storm moved further east than forecast.

Almost 45% of homes and businesses across the entire state were without power Friday morning. Whole counties were without electricity as winds gusted to near hurricane force. Trees or other debris blocked every major road leading into Greenwood, a city of about 22,000 people about 65 miles (105 kilometers) west of Columbia, Greenwood County officials said on social media.

“We’re still trying to assess what all is going on,” said Greenwood County Emergency Services Director Derek Oliver in a brief phone call.

All but about 1,000 of the 28,000 homes and businesses in the county were without power, according to poweroutage.us.

One death has been reported in the storm so far. A tree fell on a house Friday morning in Anderson, the Anderson County Coroner’s Office said.

Columbia Eye Clinic is closed today, Sept. 27th,due to the weather.

Lexington County releases a list of roadway hazards reported in the county in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The three-page list of roads catalogues fallen trees and downed power lines 

MUSC Health Express Care-Santee will open at noon today. MUSC Health offices care closed today at the following locations (All other medical practices are opening at 10 a.m.):

• MUSC Health Heart and Vascular – Bamberg
• MUSC Health Primary Care – Branchville
• MUSC Health Primary Care – Holly Hill
• Santee HealthPlex
• MUSC Health Primary Care-Carolina Ave
• MUSC Health Primary Care-Summers Avenue

Forest Acres updates the number of trees down is now 30. One tree is on a house on Juarez Court, another tree is blocking neighborhood traffic at OldePark, off Willingham. Trees have fallen on houses on North Trenholm and Parrish

Orangeburg County sent out the following notice: Due to current conditions, Orangeburg County will be closed on Friday, September 27, 2024. Convenience sites will be closed on Friday, September 27, 2024.  The Orangeburg County Landfill, located at 310 Endicott Court, Orangeburg will open at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, September 27, 2024. This notice does not include Emergency Services, Sheriff’s Office, Detention Center, EMS, Buildings and Grounds, or Public Works, because they have their own inclement weather procedures. We will continue to monitor weather conditions and will provide updates as necessary. 

Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster confirms a vacant building on the main square in Newberry did collapse during the storm. There were no injuries reported as a result of that incident, however Sheriff Foster did say Newberry County is dealing with “widespread destruction” due to fallen trees, downed power lines, damaged homes and multiple reported storm-related injuries. Foster said the damage is the worst he’s ever seen in his career.

Poweroutage.us reports 1,366,173 customers are without power across South Carolina. 120,145 in Lexington County; 13,788 in Newberry County; 104,102 in Richland County; 5,884 in Sumter County; 18,600 in Orangeburg County

City of Cayce offices will remain closed today due to power outages. If you don’t have to get out on the roads, please stay home. Cayce Parks team, Cayce Police and Cayce Fire are out and already hard at work removing downed trees. Sanitation will be picked up this morning on normal schedules. Please roll your carts back in to minimize roadway debris.

Irmo Fire District posted on Facebook, “We have dozens of trees down blocking roads, trees into houses, wires down, fires and the usual medical aids. We do not have enough resources available right now to clear the roads or address all of the power lines down. Power is out, street lights are out, it’s pandemonium.

Many people who have left home have been involved in vehicle accidents and those are blocking roads, too. If you leave your home, you will be in danger. Not may, WILL.

SHELTER IN PLACE until the worst of the storm passes and we can catch up with the pending emergencies.”

Newberry County Emergency Management issues a Shelter In Place warning. “Danger in travel exists. You endanger yourself and emergency crews. Flying debris, high wings,flooded roads. This is a dangerous situation. Stay in place. Do not call 911 for power outages. We have no tornado warnings but high wind and rain from hurricane is causing life endangering situations”

In Camden, police report Gordon Street between Laurens and Chestnut streets is closed due to a downed power line and tree blocking the road.

Lexington Police report the following roads blocked by either fallen trees or downed power lines:

• Maxie Road near Old Chapin Road
• 200 block Cedar Road
• Taylor Drive near East Main Street – Reopened
• 300 block of Pilgrim Church Road – Reopened
• Hendrix Street near Barr Road
• 700 block Mallard Lakes Drive – One Lane Open
• 200 block Corley Street
• 600 block Corley Street
• Tarrar Springs Road at Athena Lane
• Several Areas of Mineral Springs Road
• 5700 block of Sunset Blvd/US-378
• 4801 Sunset Blvd/VLMHP Entrance
• South Church Street at Roberts Street
• Satcher Road at Pond View Lane
• Several Streets in Golden Hills
• Wildlife Road at Quin Oak

Report downed trees over the roadway in the Town of Lexington by calling 803-359-6260.

While News19 Meteorologists are expecting the worst of Hurricane Helene to exit the Midlands late Friday morning, there are some residual effects left by Helene’s overnight passage through the state. Here’s a snapshot of what’s going on.

Poweroutage.us tracks power outages throughout South Carolina. At 7:15 a.m. there were 78,799 customer outages in Richland County; 85,982 in Lexington; 9,265 in Sumter; 10,001 in Newberry; and 11,425 in Orangeburg

• Forest Acres Police (FAPD) report power out along Forest Drive to Trenholm Road affecting businesses in the area, including Trenholm Plaza
• Piney Grove at I-26/Bower Parkway

FAPD reports crews working to remove a large tree on Trenholm Road at Whitaker Drive. In addition to that one, there are also 14 other roads blocked by trees in Forest Acres, including:

• Linbrook
• Gamewell
• Percival at Overcreek
• Percival at Northshore
• Rockbridge
• Trenholm and Churchill
• Laurel Springs
• Spring Lake
• Landers Street
• Crystal Drive
• Sylvan and Daniel
• Bethel Church Road
• Storkland Drive

Also in Forest Acres, Lakeshore Road is deemed impassable and Forest Drive remains closed at the Gills Creek bridge

A tree has been reported down across Broad River Road near SLED headquarters. The tree allegedly fell on power lines.

Tree down on Community Road in Blythewood, between Blythewood Road and Northpoint Boulevard

Businesses and government offices affected

SC Oncology offices in Columbia and Sumter are closed for the day due to power outage

ALL Cooperative Health offices are closed

ALL Lexington Medical Center Physicians Offices closed early Friday and will reschedule with patients who had appointments for today. Lexington Medical Center’s Urgent Care locations in Northeast and Lexington are open 

Lexington County municipal offices are on a two-hour delay and are expected to open at 10 a.m. Administrative offices are currently without power and will remain closed on Friday.

Lexington County Collection and Recycling Centers will operate 1-7 p.m. Friday, returning to regular hours on Saturday