Hurricane Helene has resulted in nearly 1 million power outages in South Carolina, leading to significant disruption across the Carolinas and beyond. The storm, which caused historic flooding and damages estimated at $15 to $26 billion, has prompted ongoing recovery efforts by Duke Energy.
The aftermath of Hurricane Helene has left nearly 1 million residents in South Carolina without power, marking the state as the hardest hit by the storm. As of 12:30 p.m. ET, reports from PowerOutage.US indicate that approximately 894,495 customers in South Carolina are currently without electricity. This situation is mirrored in neighboring states, with Georgia experiencing 671,367 outages and North Carolina reporting 547,630. In total, the storm has rendered around 2.5 million homes and businesses without power across the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, and Virginia. The devastation extends beyond power outages; Hurricane Helene has also led to unprecedented flooding in various regions and has resulted in estimated property damages ranging from $15 billion to $26 billion, mainly impacting Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Live updates are ongoing, with North Carolina making efforts to restore normalcy after being significantly affected by Helene. Duke Energy has indicated that power restoration efforts are underway, with expectations set for many customers’ power to be restored before the estimated deadline of 11:59 p.m. on Sunday night. The hurricane, which initially made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend as a Category 4 storm, has now been downgraded to a tropical depression as it moved southeastward. The storm has tragically resulted in at least 61 fatalities reported across the five affected states.
Hurricane Helene, which struck Florida on Thursday as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, caused extensive damage as it moved inland. The storm is part of a larger weather event that has significantly impacted the Southeastern United States, leading to widespread power outages and severe flooding. The storm’s impacts are felt across multiple states, calling attention to the readiness and resilience of local and state emergency services.
In summary, Hurricane Helene has left almost 1 million individuals in South Carolina without power, with a total of approximately 2.5 million outages across several states. As recovery efforts commence, Duke Energy remains hopeful for prompt power restoration while acknowledging the extensive damage and loss of life caused by the storm. The communities are now focusing on rebuilding and restoring normal conditions following the devastation wrought by Helene.
Original Source: www.usatoday.com
