Newberry County Community Unites in Resilience Amidst Hurricane Helene Aftermath

Newberry County Struggles to Recover After Hurricane Helene

The residents of Newberry County, South Carolina, are picking up the pieces after the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Three days after the storm blew through, many families are still grappling with the aftermath as they work to restore their homes and lives. The storm left a noticeable divide in the county, with power outage maps revealing a stark contrast between the powered-up blue counties in the east and the dark red areas, particularly in the west where many were left without electricity.

The Aftermath of the Storm

This weekend, Newberry was particularly hard hit by the storm, with a whopping 76% of its residents still in the dark by Monday afternoon. As local city manager Jason Taylor put it, “Newberry lost all incoming power” when the storm wreaked havoc in the early hours of Friday. Not only did the power go out, but roadways also faced significant obstructions, making it challenging for emergency services to respond quickly.

Among the residents affected is Bethany Green, who found herself using a generator in a temporary home just to keep her family going after a large tree toppled during the storm. Thankfully, her truck was spared major damage, but it was a close call. “If the truck had been parked a few feet forward, there would be no car to go to work,” Bethany mentioned, pointing to the dent in her vehicle’s hood from the fallen tree. Meanwhile, local emergency services worked tirelessly to restore power, with an estimated 80% of roads in the city still obstructed.

A Gradual Restoration

As of Monday, power was finally being restored to parts of the city. Taylor stated that approximately 75% of the power customers had service back. Outside Bethany’s house, a crew from North Carolina was hard at work, hanging downed power lines back on a new pole. The crews are dedicated, working 16-hour shifts to restore power across Newberry County.

The larger picture shows that around 740,000 people across South Carolina were still without power, and some might remain in the dark until Thursday. Many residents find solace in the fact that they managed to avoid severe structural damage, with a few lucky ones like Bethany merely sustaining minor inconveniences, such as a fallen branch damaging the roof of her shed.

Community Resilience

While some folks like Chris Dunn faced challenges when a neighbor’s pecan tree crashed through his roof, damaging a bedroom, he felt thankful that the rest of his home remained intact. Describing his 140-year-old rental home as “well-built,” Dunn expressed gratitude that he only lost power for a brief 12 hours and reflected on the community spirit around him.

With power outages affecting so many, the city took swift action by opening temporary shelters. Newberry High School welcomed those in need, offering a charging station at the old firehouse. Residents could stop by to recharge their devices and catch up on the latest news, all while sipping on coffee and water provided by local volunteers.

Coming Together in Tough Times

Among those benefiting from the charging station was Menda Shelton, who brought her kids along to get some much-needed electricity for their devices. “Xavier completed schoolwork while India entertained herself nearby,” Menda shared with a sigh of relief. Taylor noted that hundreds had visited the station over the weekend, including students from Newberry College, which lost power until midday Sunday.

Even through the struggles, a sense of community shone brightly in Newberry. Chris Dunn, witnessing the challenges faced by neighbors, joked about setting up a collection jar to help others who were worse off. “Everyone in our community, whether I know them or not, has asked if we need anything,” he reflected. “That says a lot.”

As the residents of Newberry County slowly piece together their lives, the spirit of unity and resilience remains evident. The community’s determination to help each other in the wake of Hurricane Helene showcases the heart of what makes Newberry such a special place to call home.