As Hurricane Helene swept through Clemson in the early hours of Friday, Sept. 27, it left behind a trail of downed trees and powerlines, damaged property and widespread power outages.
With winds reaching up to 40 mph, the storm wreaked havoc across the region, scattering debris and creating roadblocks that hindered emergency response efforts and made travel nearly impossible.
By the time residents awoke, the extent of the damage was evident. Many residents found themselves trapped in their neighborhoods due to uprooted trees blocking major roads and driveways, while some trees fell directly onto vehicles, crushing roofs and shattering windshields.
On Friday, Clemson Area Transit bus services were suspended due to hazardous conditions. Although bus routes resumed on Saturday morning, local officials advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel until the roads were cleared of debris.
The destruction left by Hurricane Helene has caused many South Carolina residents to question when their lives will be back to normal.
“Power companies are working around the clock. We have thousands of people out all over the state, and we’ll have some details in a moment on that,” Henry McMaster, governor of South Carolina, said during a press conference on Sunday afternoon. “This is something that’s going to require some patience. We haven’t seen anything quite like this before, particularly in this part of the state. It is a devastating blow, but we can make it through.”
The South Carolina Emergency Management Division remains at OPCON 1 as of Tuesday, Oct. 1, indicating a full alert status where a disaster is imminent or occurring. This status ensures that the State Emergency Operations Center is fully activated, with all agency personnel on standby to respond to the ongoing crisis.
Local authorities have been coordinating closely with state officials to assess the situation and deploy resources effectively.
The impact of Hurricane Helene has extended far beyond Clemson, with the storm resulting in at least 160 fatalities across six states, including South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee, as of Tuesday, Oct. 1.
North Carolina has reported the highest number of deaths, with at least 73 confirmed fatalities, according to state and county officials. South Carolina has declared the loss of at least 36 individuals, including two firefighters in Saluda County, South Carolina, who lost their lives while responding to emergencies caused by the storm.
Georgia has recorded 25 deaths, with two fatalities attributed to a tornado that struck Alamo, Georgia. In Florida, officials reported at least 15 deaths, several due to drowning incidents in Pinellas County, Florida. Virginia and Tennessee have also faced losses, with nine and two fatalities reported, respectively.
The storm’s impact on transportation has caused challenges in the Carolinas. Approximately 300 roads were still closed in North Carolina and another 150 in South Carolina on Sunday, according to Kristin White, an acting federal highway administrator from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
These closures have obstructed the delivery of essential supplies, including water, to communities in need. The lack of access to clean water has created an urgent situation, requiring rapid response efforts to relieve affected residents.
Over 1 million residents remained without power across South Carolina days after the hurricane made landfall. Laurens Electric Cooperative had managed to restore power to 34% of its customers by Sunday evening, down from a peak of 98% outages, while Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative reported that 57% of its members were still lacking service over 50 hours after landfall. In total, about 218,000 consumers in South Carolina were still without electricity on Monday, and restoration efforts are ongoing.
The damage caused by Hurricane Helene has been described as “unprecedented” by Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina, with destruction surpassing that of Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Thousands of power poles have snapped, and many substations are currently offline.
Officials urge residents to stay away from downed power lines and to use generators safely. Emergency services are currently on standby to assist those needing medical care, ensuring that help is available for individuals facing health crises amid the chaos. While the situation fluctuates, local officials are continually monitoring developments to keep the community informed.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation has mobilized over 2,300 employees to work around the clock to clear roads and repair traffic signals. Their efforts are helping restore access and ensure emergency vehicles can navigate the streets to respond to urgent calls.
In the days following the storm, reports from the Department of Public Safety indicate that troopers have responded to 3,854 incidents related to the storm, a sign of the scale of the emergency response needed.
The South Carolina Department of Commerce is also working with public-private partnerships to address the needs of businesses affected by the storm, including grocery stores and pharmacies, that are important for the community’s recovery.
The situation remains critical as recovery continues, with extensive work needed to restore power and normalcy to affected areas. While the storm has passed, the cleanup and recovery efforts are just beginning.
Residents in Clemson and surrounding communities have faced an uncertain week as they navigate the challenges posed by the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Local officials remind residents to be patient and stay informed through official channels as restoration efforts unfold. Community resilience will be crucial in overcoming the challenges ahead, and as services gradually return, the cleanup process will continue.
As Clemson remains in recovery mode, the community is united in rebuilding after this catastrophic storm. As services gradually return, the cleanup process will move forward, but the effects of Hurricane Helene will be felt in the community for some time.
