Hurricane Helene has left nearly one million South Carolina residents without power, contributing to a total of approximately 2.5 million power outages across the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, and Virginia. The storm caused historic flooding and extensive property damage, with recovery efforts already in progress.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene making landfall in Florida, nearly one million residents across South Carolina are experiencing power outages, with a total of 894,495 customers affected as of 12:30 p.m. ET. This positions South Carolina as the state facing the most significant disruptions caused by the hurricane, followed by Georgia with 671,367 outages and North Carolina with 547,630 outages. Overall, approximately 2.5 million households and businesses across the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, and Virginia are without electricity due to the storm’s widespread impact. The hurricane has also resulted in historical flooding and is projected to have caused between $15 billion to $26 billion in property damages, primarily affecting Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. According to Duke Energy, power restoration efforts commenced even before Hurricane Helene exited the Carolinas on Friday afternoon. The company anticipates that residents in western regions should have power restored by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, with many experiencing restoration even sooner. Hurricane Helene originally made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend as a Category 4 hurricane before dissipating into a tropical depression as it moved through the southeastern United States. Tragically, the storm has been linked to at least 61 fatalities across all affected states.
The severe impact of Hurricane Helene, which recently made landfall and caused extensive power outages and damages in multiple states, highlights the vulnerabilities of regions particularly prone to hurricanes. South Carolina and its neighboring states have faced significant challenges following the storm, prompting emergency responses for restoration and recovery. Understanding the scale of power outages and the economic implications is crucial for residents and authorities dealing with the aftermath of such natural disasters.
In conclusion, Hurricane Helene has profoundly affected the southeastern United States, rendering nearly a million South Carolina residents without power. The storm’s extensive damage highlights the critical need for effective disaster response and recovery efforts, as communities grapple with the long-term impacts of such natural disasters. Restoration is underway, with expectations for many to regain power soon, yet the storm’s toll on lives and property remains significant.
Original Source: www.usatoday.com
