Hurricane Helene has left nearly one million customers in South Carolina without power, contributing to a total of approximately 2.5 million outages across the southeastern United States. The storm has caused historic flooding and substantial property damage, and restoration efforts by Duke Energy are underway, with many expected to have power restored by Sunday evening.
South Carolina is currently facing significant power outages following the impact of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Florida earlier this week. As of 12:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, nearly 900,000 customers in South Carolina alone are reported without power, marking it as the state experiencing the highest number of outages due to the hurricane. The overall power outages span nearly 2.5 million across the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, and Virginia. In addition to power disruptions, Hurricane Helene has caused historic flooding in several areas and resulted in property damage estimated between $15 to $26 billion, primarily affecting Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Duke Energy has provided updates regarding power restoration, indicating that most individuals outside the western regions of the Carolinas can expect their electricity to be restored by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday. However, many may have their service restored even sooner, as restoration efforts commenced as Helene departed the Carolinas on Friday. Hurricane Helene initially made landfall as a Category 4 storm along Florida’s Big Bend region before weakening to a tropical depression while moving through the southeastern United States. This catastrophic event has also claimed the lives of at least 61 individuals across the affected states.
The article discusses the widespread power outages resulting from Hurricane Helene’s impact across several states, with a particular emphasis on the situation in South Carolina. It details the extent of the outages and the estimated damage caused by the storm, which has added to the challenges faced by residents and power companies alike. The importance of power restoration efforts and the timeline for addressing these outages is also highlighted.
Hurricane Helene has led to unprecedented disruptions in power for nearly one million residents of South Carolina, as well as significant outages across several other states in the region. Efforts are underway to restore power rapidly, and current projections suggest that the majority of outages will be resolved soon. The storm’s catastrophic effects underscore the need for preparedness in the face of such natural disasters.
Original Source: www.usatoday.com
