South Carolina Faces Widespread Power Outages Following Hurricane Helene’s Impact
Hurricane Helene has caused nearly one million power outages in South Carolina, with total outages affecting 2.5 million across the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, and Virginia. Damage estimates range from $15 billion to $26 billion. Restoration efforts are ongoing, and the storm resulted in the loss of at least 61 lives across five states.
Hurricane Helene has wreaked havoc across the southeastern United States, leaving nearly one million residents in South Carolina without power. As of 12:30 p.m. ET, PowerOutage.US reported that 894,495 South Carolina customers are experiencing outages, making it the hardest-hit state in the region due to the storm. Georgia follows with 671,367 outages, while North Carolina records 547,630. As a result of the storm, power has been disrupted in a total of approximately 2.5 million homes and businesses stretching across the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, and Virginia. Furthermore, the storm has inflicted widespread flooding and is estimated to have caused between $15 billion to $26 billion in property damage, predominantly affecting Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Looking ahead to power restoration, Duke Energy indicated that residents in the western areas of the Carolinas should expect to have their electricity restored by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday night. The company has emphasized that many customers will likely have their power back before this time, noting that restoration efforts commenced even before Helene moved out of the Carolinas on Friday afternoon. Hurricane Helene initially made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane before weakening into a tropical depression as it moved through the southeastern states. The catastrophic storm has tragically resulted in the loss of at least 61 lives across the affected states, according to reports from the Weather Channel.
The profound impact of Hurricane Helene has highlighted the vulnerability of the southeastern United States to severe weather events. The storm’s transition from a powerful hurricane to a tropical depression emphasizes the potential for significant damage even as the storm weakens. The extensive power outages recorded across multiple states underscore the need for emergency response preparedness and infrastructure resilience in light of increasingly severe weather patterns. The reported fatalities from this storm reveal the human cost of such disasters, necessitating ongoing support and assistance for affected families and communities.
In summary, Hurricane Helene has left a staggering number of nearly one million South Carolinians without power, with widespread outages across several southeastern states. The storm’s impact has not only disrupted daily life but also resulted in substantial financial losses and tragic loss of life. Restoration efforts are underway, and energy companies are working diligently to return power to affected residents as quickly as possible. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by natural disasters and the importance of preparedness.
Original Source: www.usatoday.com
