Recovery Efforts After Hurricane Helene
Councilman Blount’s Newsletter 9-28-24
I want to take a moment to update you on our recovery efforts following the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene. The storm’s unprecedented force left widespread damage across Greenville County, and we are all working together to respond as quickly and safely as possible.
I’d like to share some important updates from Hesha Gamble, our Assistant County Administrator, and Jessica Stumpf, Deputy Director of Greenville County Emergency Management, who have been on the front lines of this response effort. I am incredibly grateful for their diligence and leadership in keeping us informed and coordinating the county’s recovery.
The Scope of the Storm’s Impact
According to Hesha, this was an “unprecedented event that broke many records for rainfall, wind, and flooding.” While the storm tragically claimed four lives, we are fortunate that the toll was not higher, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the families who suffered such loss.
The damage left behind is extensive:
• Thousands of trees are down across the county, with many entangled in power lines. This has made road clearing much more challenging, as crews have to work carefully to avoid live wires.
• Power outages remain widespread, with 97% of Duke Energy customers in our area still without power. Duke has mobilized over 5,000 employees to assist with restoration, but due to the severity of the damage, we expect many residents to remain without power for several days—some possibly for a week or more.
As Hesha noted, one of the unique challenges in Greenville County is our mature tree canopy—something we love about our region, but a factor that has slowed down the cleanup process. Crews often have to “cut their way into places and even cut their way back out.”
Power Restoration and Emergency Assistance
Duke Energy has been working around the clock, deploying resources from across the country to restore power. As of today, over 723,000 customers across the Carolinas have had their power restored, but there is still a long road ahead. The hardest-hit areas, including many parts of Greenville County, are still being assessed, and Duke is using helicopters and drones to help speed up the process.
Local power providers like Blue Ridge Electric and Laurens Electric Cooperative are also struggling with major outages, as many of their substations rely on Duke Energy’s transmission lines. With only 3 of 34 substations currently operational, it will take time before these systems are fully restored.
Meanwhile, emergency crews from other parts of the state, including EMS teams, firefighters, and road crews from the Lowcountry, are arriving to assist in our recovery. We are extremely grateful for their help.
Jessica Stumpf and her team at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) are working tirelessly to coordinate the county’s response. As Hesha mentioned, “staff in the EOC is coordinating response efforts and doing a fantastic job,” ensuring that all available resources are being used to the fullest extent possible.
Road Clearing and Safety
County road crews have been working nonstop to clear the roads, but the sheer volume of trees and the presence of power lines has made progress slow. If you know of a road that has yet to be cleared, please report it.
Additionally, damage assessment efforts will begin tomorrow, with county codes staff working alongside the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) to assess property damage. If your property has been damaged, stay tuned for updates on how to report and receive assistance.
County’s Emergency Declarations and Available Resources
Both the President and the Governor, as well as Greenville County, have issued emergency declarations, which make us eligible for additional resources and assistance. This will help expedite the recovery process and provide much-needed support for our community as we rebuild.
Moving Forward
While this recovery will take time, I am encouraged by the resilience of our community. I want to personally thank Hesha Gamble and Jessica Stumpf for their incredible leadership during this crisis. Their hard work and dedication have been invaluable in ensuring that Greenville County is able to respond effectively.
As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need assistance. We are all here to support you. Together, we will come through this stronger than ever.
Thank you for your patience, strength, and continued support for each other as we recover from this unprecedented storm. - BBD19
Benton, As usual you always get information out to " The People" and are so prompt. We all need to have honest caring people in our counties,cities,state government's all the way up to our COUNTRY'S TOP POSITIONS IN OUR WHITEHOUSE.I want to say that we are people that regardless of race and which party we support we all deserve to be supported with truthful, honest information and we all need to support each other and respect one another. Not out for own gain, but to be there for each other as neighbors,colleagues,friends and family. We have to get back to being able to have conversation discussions and everyone listening & respectfully to each other. We all need to be better people and get back to the basics of life. Instead of all of this greed.We all as citizens in our counties that this massive storm has hit have been taken back in one way or another from the normal everyday life and have been in survival mode in one way or another . Our United States of America very well could be no more if we do not as citizens stand up for our country. I think that we all need to take a few minutes while we are in the middle of cleaning up from the devastation of this Strom to reflect on what is the true values of our lives and pray for those that lost life. I am so thankful and respectfully feel honored to have Mr.Blount taking time to keep all the people updated. You are a true example of how anyone that has a responsibility to hold a seat - For the People should be ... If all the people who Hold a position For the People were doing their best for the People and not because of their own gain or wealth, OUR COUNTRY would have a opportunity to gain back the value and respect of being the Greatest Country in the world. Thank you for all that you do for the people.
If there's 5000 Duke Energy workers in the area, where are they? The grand majority of people aren't seeing them. This is a major fail from them, clearly they had no plan and not enough people in place.