Greenville County Recovery Update: Hurricane Helene Response and Ongoing Efforts

Councilman Blount’s Newsletter 10-2-24

I wanted to update you on Greenville County’s ongoing response to Hurricane Helene. Our community has faced significant challenges in the wake of the storm, but the resilience of our residents, combined with coordinated efforts from county, state, and federal agencies, is helping us make strides toward recovery. The citizen response has been nothing short of amazing. While I am incredibly thankful for all the work our Public Safety officials provide, not even first responders can reach you as fast as a compassionate neighbor! We are truly all in this together!

The Greenville County Emergency Operations Center remains at Operation Condition 1 (OPCON 1), meaning we are in full emergency mode, coordinating a 24/7 response across various sectors. This includes both immediate relief efforts and long-term recovery planning.

Major Disaster Declaration Approved

I’m pleased to share that a Major Disaster Declaration has been approved for Greenville County. This opens the door for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance from FEMA. If you have been affected, I strongly encourage you to apply for federal aid by visiting disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362.

Every application helps demonstrate the scale of the damage and secures the resources we need for full recovery.

🚨 Beware of Scams: There have been reports of people impersonating City of Greenville workers, asking for payments for services—this is a scam! We’ve also heard of individuals posing as FEMA workers going door-to-door requesting items—this is also NOT legitimate.

If you’re in Greenville City and have concerns about the legitimacy of any worker, contact Greenville Cares at 864-232-2273 to verify. For residents throughout Greenville County, always verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a government worker before providing any information or payments. Stay alert and protect yourself from these scams!

Power Outages and Response Efforts

As of Tuesday evening, 55% of Greenville County remains without power. We are in continuous contact with power companies to expedite the restoration process. Power crews are working around the clock to clear debris and restore electricity to impacted areas. Based on prior days projections, I am hopefully that the percentages of outages will dip to 40% or lower after today’s efforts. It is a true testament to the fact that they are out working as fast as they can!

In addition to power restoration, more than 300 emergency responders are in the field, conducting searches, clearing roads, and assessing damage. Their work is vital to ensuring that our infrastructure is safe and operational.

Points of Distribution and Shelters

To support those affected, we have set up a Point of Distribution for essential supplies at:

• 35 E. Antrim Drive, Greenville, SC 29607 (Open from 10 AM to 6 PM daily, offering bottled water and MREs)

Shelters are also available for residents in need:

• Hillcrest High School for general shelter.

• Bon Secours Wellness Arena for those with electricity-dependent medical needs, along with their caregivers. If you’re unsure whether you qualify for the medical shelter, you can call the South Carolina Department of Public Health Medical Needs Line at 1-855-472-3432.

Reporting Damage and Cleanup Assistance

As we continue to assess the damage, we ask all residents to report storm-related damage through the South Carolina Emergency Manager App. This data is crucial for tracking county-wide damage and supporting future federal assistance requests. The app is available on both the App Store and Google Play.

For those who need immediate help cleaning up, please contact the United Way by dialing 211, which will connect you with available resources.

Community Support and Donations

The United Way of Greenville County has stepped up to provide long-term recovery support through the Community Relief Fund, where 100% of donations go directly to recovery efforts in Greenville County. Additionally, they are accepting physical donations from Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 4 PM at 105 Edinburgh Court. Requested items include:

• Non-perishable foods

• Bottled water

• First aid supplies

• Cleaning supplies

• Diapers

• Pet food

🔥Burn Ban in Effect🔥

Due to the strain on emergency services, the South Carolina Forestry Commission has issued a Burn Ban for unincorporated areas of the county. This ban includes yard debris burning and any other outdoor burning not related to food preparation or using approved enclosures such as outdoor fireplaces or fire pits. Please adhere to this ban to avoid additional hazards during recovery.

Staying Informed

For updates and information about county resources related to Hurricane Helene, please call our dedicated information line at 864-467-3428, available from 7 AM to 7 PM daily. As always, for emergencies, please call 911.

We will continue to provide regular updates on recovery efforts through local media, social media channels, and I will try to give summaries through my newsletter. Your safety and well-being are our top priority, and we are committed to ensuring that no one in Greenville County is left behind during this recovery process.

Let’s Stand Together

This is a challenging time for Greenville, but I have every confidence that, together, we will rebuild stronger than ever. Your resilience, generosity, and willingness to help your neighbors are what make Greenville County a special place. Greenville County Council will continue working to secure all necessary resources for our recovery and I will do my best to keep you informed through this platform along the way.

Please stay safe and take advantage of the assistance available to you,

Councilman Benton Blount - District 19 - Greenville County Council

---

Resources:

• FEMA Assistance: www.disasterassistance.gov or 1-800-621-3362

• SC Emergency Manager App: Available in the App Store and Google Play

• United Way Assistance: Call 211 or visit www.unitedwaygc.org

• SC Department of Public Health Medical Needs Line: 1-855-472-3432