As of 8:20 PM, 76% of Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative members are without power due to Tropical Storm Helene, with significant outage numbers across multiple counties. Restoration efforts are ongoing, and residents are advised to prepare for longer outages due to extensive damage.
As of 8:20 PM, approximately 76% of Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative’s members, roughly 55,395 individuals, remain without power due to the severe aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene. Notable outage figures by county include: Anderson: 9,074; Greenville: 5,538; Oconee: 18,653; Pickens: 22,080; Spartanburg: 43. Thankfully, 8,000 homes had their power restored today, and the community expresses gratitude to Blue Ridge Electric for their efforts.
Local residents are facing significant mobility challenges due to numerous downed trees and power lines, particularly in the Piedmont Park Road area. One neighbor detailed their unsuccessful attempts to find ice, encountering multiple roadblocks that forced them to turn around. The extensive storm damage has severely hindered access to areas like Cherrydale which reportedly have power. As conditions remain difficult, residents are advised to remain patient and prepared.
In response to the overwhelming damage, Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative has mobilized approximately 216 workers to assess and repair power lines, with an additional 17 workers arriving from Maryland and Virginia to provide support. As of 1 PM, nearly 88% of cooperative members, amounting to about 64,100 individuals, continued to experience power outages due to Tropical Storm Helene. The precise outages by county were recorded as: Anderson: 10,502; Greenville: 5,538; Oconee: 24,457; Pickens: 23,638; Spartanburg: 43.
The aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene has left a significant number of Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative members without power. With around 76% of customers affected, ongoing restoration efforts are underway. Local residents face mobility issues due to blocked roads, emphasizing the need for patience as crews work diligently to restore services. The cooperative’s commitment is clear, with substantial reinforcements aiding in recovery efforts.
Original Source: weather.com
