Newberry County Faces Ongoing Recovery After Hurricane Helene
In the heart of Newberry County, a resilient community is pulling together in the aftermath of the devastation left by Hurricane Helene. Homes are still dark, and many residents are wondering when their lives will return to normal. Days after the storm ripped through the area, power companies are racing against the clock to restore electricity, but for many, the days have stretched into a frustrating silence.
A Community in Need
As of now, about 73% of Newberry County is still struggling without power, according to reports from Power Outage US. The impact is vast, and communities are pulling together to help one another. On Wednesday, the Sheriff’s deputies stepped up their game by distributing food and water supplies to the residents most affected by the storm. Sheriff Lee Foster couldn’t help but feel a sense of duty to support his community. “We’ve given out 16 pallets of water, and we’ve probably serviced over 1,000 people,” he remarked, showing the sheer scale of the need in the community.
Every Little Bit Helps
Among those helping out is local resident Keli Dickert. Instead of staying home in the dark, Keli and her sons, Ayden and Easton, chose to lend a helping hand at the sheriff’s department. “We’ve not had power since Friday morning around 4,” Keli explained. “My children haven’t been able to do their schoolwork, and I’m a teacher, so I haven’t been able to do any of my stuff… so we’re just trying to give back to the community.” This kind of spirit is what keeps Newberry County strong during challenging times.
The Quest for Power Restoration
Meanwhile, power companies are hard at work trying to restore electricity. Debra Shaw, the Vice President of Marketing at Newberry Electric Cooperative, expressed the critical state of affairs. “This is a storm unlike any we’ve seen before here in Newberry County,” she noted. Extensive damage to their infrastructure means a long road ahead. “We had more than 100 broken poles across our system, and if you know anything about electricity, it takes over 3 hours to change out a pole. There is an awful lot of damage to our system, and it’s gonna take a while. I honestly don’t think it will be within a week; just lots of lots of damage.”
Hope Amidst Chaos
In the face of chaos, Sheriff Foster offered a glimmer of hope. “It’s like a war zone out there. But in the scope of things, if you can just sit back and reflect, we are very blessed with not having more disaster than we had.” His words resonate deeply with those in the community as they band together to weather this storm, literally and figuratively.
Looking Ahead
The sheriff’s department has plans to continue their efforts of distributing food and water, scheduled for Tuesday. While the exact time is yet to be announced, residents are encouraged to check their Facebook page for updates, staying informed is crucial during such challenging times.
While Newberry County may be facing hardship, the spirit of community shines through. The love and support shared among neighbors remind everyone that together, they will rise again, bringing light back to their homes and restoring the warmth that has been missed.
