Power Outages Dwindle in South Carolina After Hurricane Helene
As South Carolina begins its recovery process from the recent battering of Hurricane Helene, there is a glimmer of hope for residents still without power. As of early Friday morning, the number of power outages in the state has significantly decreased, though it remains substantial a week after the storm swept through, leaving behind a trail of disruption.
According to the latest reports, about 282,896 customers across the state remain in the dark, a notable drop from 490,696 reported just two days earlier on Wednesday. Many areas are still grappling with outages, particularly in the Upstate region, where three counties are bearing the brunt of the power loss.
The Hard-Hit Areas
Let’s take a closer look at the counties that have been most affected:
- Laurens County: About 15,595 out of 30,386 customers remain without power.
- Greenwood County: Here, 14,413 out of 27,111 customers are still relying on candles and flashlights.
- Edgefield County: This area has 8,050 out of 14,795 customers still impacted by outages.
Meanwhile, in Lexington County, progress is evident, with outages down to 4,631 from a staggering 12,583 earlier this week. Richland County also saw a decline, with its outages falling from 4,714 to 1,003 over the same period.
Restoration Efforts Underway
Across the Midlands counties, which include Richland, Lexington, Kershaw, and others, power restoration efforts are in full swing, with a total of 10,491 customers still disconnected on Friday morning. Aiken County is facing a race of its own, with 35,613 customers left without electricity.
Dominion Energy has been making strides in restoration. The company has reduced outages from 57,102 to 35,337 in just two days. On the flip side, Duke Energy has also reported a significant drop; their outages decreased from 323,015 to 185,733, showing that efforts are ongoing in those trouble spots.
One notable update from Dominion Energy indicates they are actively working to restore power, with over 95% of their restoration efforts completed. However, the company cautions that extensive damage means some customers might face longer wait times to regain power.
Looking Ahead
Duke Energy shared promising news that they expect to restore power to 134,000 customers by Friday evening. They aim to have the remaining 85,000 customers in the hardest-hit areas back online by Sunday.
Residents still facing power outages are encouraged to take action. For those who need to report outages or check the status of their power restoration, the following number can be dialed:
- Dominion: 888-333-4465
- Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina: 803-796-6060
- Santee Cooper: 888-769-7688
- Duke: 800-769-3766
In Conclusion
While the road to recovery is still underway after the chaos brought by Hurricane Helene, it’s heartening to see power restoration efforts making strides. Community spirit remains strong as neighbors lend a helping hand, and outage numbers continue to decline. Let’s hope for a full restoration for all residents soon!
