Over 1 Million Power Outages in South Carolina, North Carolina amid Hurricane Helene
In a harrowing turn of events, over a million power outages have been reported across South Carolina and North Carolina as the remnants of Hurricane Helene continue to ravage these states. Late Thursday night, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend, causing extensive damage before weakening into a tropical storm and moving northwards. Post landfall, it has been wreaking havoc with devastating wind gusts, torrential rain, and flooding, leading to these mass power outages.
From Hurricane to Tropical Depression
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) was quick to report Helene’s landfall in Florida, which was then, a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. However, she soon weakened into a tropical storm while traversing through Georgia and even further downgraded to a tropical depression by Friday afternoon. Producing what experts are dubbing as “historic and catastrophic flooding,” Helene has notably affected various portions of the southeastern states and the southern Appalachians.
Tracking Power Outages in the Carolinas
One of Helene’s adverse impacts is the widespread power outages that she’s brought to Florida, Georgia, and notably, South Carolina and North Carolina. As she continues to move through these states, let’s delve into the power outage scenario in the Carolinas.
South Carolina Bears the Brunt
As per the most recent reports, South Carolina has experienced over 1.1 million power outages, primarily on its western side. The areas hit worst are Greenville County, Spartanburg County, and Anderson County with over 260,000, 180,000, and 100,000 reported outages respectively. Other significantly affected areas include Oconee County and Greenwood County, each having reported over 20,000 outages.
North Carolina Feeling the Impact
According to PowerOutage.Us, North Carolina is not far behind with over 950,000 outages reported. The western portion of the state seems to be bearing the brunt with Mecklenburg County, Henderson County, and Buncombe County reporting over 100,000, 69,000, and 150,000 outages respectively.
The governments of these affected states are working tirelessly in coordination with the NHC and various utility providers to safeguard the residents and restore normalcy as soon as possible. While the storm’s maximum sustained winds have reduced, the primary concern still revolves around the risk of continued flooding and widespread power outages. Residents have been strongly advised to stay indoors and follow all given safety measures to safeguard themselves and their families.
As Helene progresses further, the situation is expected to improve. However, extensive repair and restoration endeavors will be necessary to bring life back to normal in these severely affected Southeastern states.
