Newberry County Begins Recovery After Hurricane Helene
Newberry, South Carolina, is currently facing the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which swept through the area just days ago, leaving behind a trail of destruction that the community is now working together to overcome. As of Monday, a significant number of residents are still without power, with power outage maps showing a striking contrast across the state—while some areas in the east enjoy blue skies and functioning electricity, the western counties, including Newberry, appear largely in the dark!
Power Outages and Restoration Efforts
According to estimates, a staggering 76% of residents in Newberry County were without electricity on Monday afternoon. To illustrate the challenge, City Manager Jason Taylor shared that just as the storm hit early Friday morning, Newberry lost all incoming power. It was a tough time; the storm not only knocked out power but also caused obstructions on about 80% of the roadways, complicating response efforts.
Among those affected by the chaos was Bethany Green, who was fortunate enough to avoid injury amid the destruction. She described the chaos outside her window, where a massive tree toppled over, pulling down power lines and narrowly missing her parked truck. “There’s a dent in the hood, but that’s it!” Bethany recounted with relief. “If the truck had been parked a few feet forward, there would be no car to go to work.”
Bringing Life Back to Newberry
City officials have worked tirelessly to restore power and services. Thankfully, by Monday, Taylor announced that around 75% of Newberry’s power customers had regained service. Crews from North Carolina were spotted hard at work, lifting tangled power lines and replating them onto new poles. It’s tough work, with some crew members logging 16-hour shifts to help bring Newberry back to life.
However, despite the troubles, many residents like Bethany have remained self-sufficient and resilient. Water is still available in stores, and with only minor structural damage to her home, she described her situation as relatively fortunate.
Community Support and Shelters Opened
Not everyone, though, has had it as easy. Chris Dunn faced much worse when a neighbor’s pecan tree came crashing down onto his home, creating a hole in the roof of his rental. Water poured into an unused bedroom but luckily spared the main living area. “It’s a really well-built house,” Dunn reflected, thankful that the damage was less severe than it could have been.
For those without power and needing assistance, the community stepped up. A temporary shelter was opened at Newberry High School, and a charging station was set up at the old firehouse. Here, residents could plug in their devices and access the internet while enjoying some coffee and water.
Community Spirit Remains Strong
On Monday, the charging station welcomed numerous faces. Menda Shelton brought her children, Xavier and India, to catch some much-needed internet for Xavier to complete his remote school tasks. The station proved invaluable, especially with students at Newberry College joining the throng after experiencing outages.
Dunn, witnessing the community rallying together, expressed heartfelt gratitude towards his neighbors. “Everyone in our community, whether I know them or not, has asked if we need anything. That says a lot!” he said, acknowledging the kindness that shines through the difficult times.
As Newberry continues to dig out and restore the services so many rely on, it’s evident that the community’s spirit remains unbroken. And while Hurricane Helene may have brought destruction, the sense of support and camaraderie among residents is a testament to their strength. Together, they are banding together to help one another—and that’s something worth celebrating.
