Hurricane Helene: After The Storm

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Four days after South Carolina took a stronger-than-expected hit from Hurricane Helene, residents are still picking up the pieces and trying to return to normal – many of them without power. As of this writing, 693,559 out of the Palmetto State’s 2,839,993 tracked utility customers – approximately 24.5 percent of the state – were still without power. Estimates on restoration varied with many areas expected to be in the dark until Thursday or Friday of this week.

On Monday morning (Sepetember 30, 2024), U.S. president Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration in South Carolina. The declaration opens up funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for individuals affected by the hurricane in the following counties: Aiken, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Lexington, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda and Spartanburg counties. 

In an effort to keep residents up-to-speed about what resources are available in the aftermath of the storm, FITSNews has compiled a list for our readers. As more information becomes available, this list will be updated.

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FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE

Individuals located in the counties approved for major disaster assistance can apply online to DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA App or call 800-621-3362 from 7:00 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. 

FEMA disaster assistance covers uninsured or underinsured expenses to repair, rebuild or replace damage to your primary residence. In addition to repairs to your primary residence, disaster assistance covers a variety of unexpected expenses that often come up following a natural disaster, including but not limited to:

Rental assistance for alternate housing accommodations if you are displaced from your home because of the disaster

Money to reimburse for lodging expenses such as hotels or motels for anyone temporarily displaced by the disaster.

A onetime serious needs payment of $750 is available following a home inspection to help individuals pay for lifesaving and life-sustaining items such as water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, breastfeeding equipment, diapers, personal hygiene items and fuel for transportation if the storm displaced you from your home or had other emergency costs due to the disaster. 

Assistance for repairing or replacing personal property such as appliances, room furnishings, and personal or family computers damaged by the disaster. This can also include money for books, uniforms, tools, additional computers and other items required for school or work, including self-employment.

Assistance for miscellaneous items such as a generator, dehumidifier, chainsaw, etc purchased or rented after the storm to assist with recovery.

The full list of expenses covered is available on the FEMA website.

These resources are available for Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties in North Carolina.

In South Carolina, Aiken, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Lexington, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, and Spartanburg have been approved for individual assistance while Aiken, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, and Spartanburg have been approved for public assistance.

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STATEWIDE RESOURCES

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) has a website dedicated to resources for hurricanes. The website includes:

• A list of power companies throughout the State along with numbers to call to report an outage.
• A list of emergency shelters and locations.

Traffic Conditions/Road Closures: To check road conditions prior to traveling, check the South Carolina Department of Transportation’s (SCDOT) website.

Medical Needs: Able SC offers assistance after natural disasters for individuals with disabilities. The organization can provide durable medical equipment (like canes, walkers, wheelchairs and accessible cots) lost or damaged as well as advocacy for people with disabilities in shelters to ensure equal access to all shelter activities and amenities, including communication, food, sleeping and bedding. Response and recovery services are listed on the organization’s website and they also have a hotline for assistance: 1-800-681-6805.

Oxygen Tanks:

SCDPH has worked to get a supply of medical oxygen tanks into South Carolina for those in need in certain counties. These tanks have been given to county emergency management divisions who will determine the best distribution plan to those in need. If you live in one of the following counties and are dependent on oxygen, you can contact your county’s emergency management division for more information:

• Cherokee: (864) 487-2590
• Edgefield: (803) 637-2123
• Greenville: (864) 467-2680
• Oconee: (864) 638-4200
• Pickens: (864) 898-5945
• Saluda: (803) 334-1446
• Spartanburg: (864) 595-5365

Individuals with oxygen concentrators who do not have access to power needed to use their concentrators at home may be eligible for a medical needs shelter. To find out if you are eligible for a medical needs shelter, call the DPH Care Line at 1-855-472-3432.

If you need help with damage clean up following Hurricane Helene, call Crisis Cleanup at 844-965-1386
Volunteers may be able to assist with:
-Mucking out
-Cleaning up trees
-Tarping roofs
-Clearing debris
All services are free. Service is not guaranteed. pic.twitter.com/8jSg0huNFc

— SC Emergency Management Division (@SCEMD) October 1, 2024

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AIKEN COUNTY

For any of the 66 percent of Aiken County residents without power, the North Augusta YMCA is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for showers, charging stations and water.

Citizens needing assistance with damage clean-up such tree removal, tarping, general assistance on private property, are asked to call Crisis Cleanup at 1-844-965-1386.

Aiken County Drop Off Centers are currently running on normal hours at all locations. Until power can be restored to these centers, they will only be accepting yard debris.

Aiken County has opened a regional community shelter at Merriweather Elementary, 565 Springhaven Dr, North Augusta, SC 29860 for Aiken, Edgefield, and North Augusta residents if needed.

The North Augusta Community Center is being turned into an Aid Center on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 starting at 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. or while supplies last. MRE meal and water is going to be provided. You must show a South Carolina ID or South Carolina Drivers License. This is for the North Augusta Residence, Aiken County Residence and Edgefield County Residence.

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ANDERSON COUNTY

As of Monday, 58 percent of Anderson County residents remain without power. For those needing to charge devices, a number of charging stations have been set up throughout the community with some offering complimentary food.

To report downed trees or other roadway issues call 1-864-260-4444 or visit the ACSC app.

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BAMBERG COUNTY

A disaster relief laundry service unit is available at the Bamberg First Baptist Church.

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BARNWELL COUNTY

An emergency shelter is open at the Barnwell Elementary School for any families or citizens across the area needing a safe space. The shelter is providing food, water, basic necessities, and sleeping arrangements.

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CHEROKEE COUNTY

Food and water distribution sites are open in Cherokee County at 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on September 30 and October 1, 2024 at the Broad River Baptist Church and the Midway Recreation Complex.

A temporary shelter is set up at the Kirby Memorial Baptist Church.

A citizen hotline has been set up 1-864-487-2587 to report damages and to get information on food, water, and shelter. Citizens are urged NOT to attempt to remove trees tangled with power lines.

Carolina Pediatric Associates in Gaffney, S.C. has a limited supply of baby formula for those in need.

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GREENVILLE COUNTY

For any of the 72 percent of Greenville county residents who remain in the dark, Hillcrest High School in Simpsonville is operating as a shelter for residents without medical needs.

A medical needs shelter is open at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena for those who have electricity depended medical needs and their caregivers.

Bottle water and ready to eat meals are being distributed at McAllister Square located at 35 E. Antrim Drive. The distribution site will be available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday (October 1, 2024).

The Walmart on Woodruff Road in Greenville has relief stations with showers, bathrooms and a washer and dryer set up for individuals to utilize.

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GREENWOOD COUNTY

Almost all Greenwood County residents remain without power as of Monday. For individuals in need of food, the county will be distributing Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) and bottled water at the Ninety Six Baptist Church located at 205 North Church Street starting Tuesday (October 2, 2024) at 12:00 p.m.

A T-Mobile charging station is available 24 hours a day at the Uptown Fountain in front of 418 Main Street, Greenwood.

The Greenwood Family YMCA will offer community access from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM for charging devices, taking showers, and accessing WiFi.

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HAMPTON COUNTY

Hampton County has a community Facebook page that shares information from the Emergency Management department as well as local resources.

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LAURENS COUNTY

Pallets of water have been donated by Norbord and are available for pickup at the Joanna Fire Department.

LEXINGTON COUNTY

The Lexington County Facebook page has a compiled list of resources for its citizens affected by storm damage.

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NEWBERRY COUNTY

A shelter is open at Newberry High School shelter. The shelter can take individuals with O2 devices; however, they do not have the capability to refill them. Please be aware, the shelter is not pet friendly and has limited charging capabilities.

The Newberry County school district is offering free meals for enrolled students from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. daily.

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OCONEE COUNTY

Damage may be reported to Oconee County Emergency Services via phone, online or by utilizing a QR code.

A temporary shelter has been set up at the College Street Baptist Church located at 401 S College St, Walhalla, SC 29691.

The Golden Corner Food Pantry will be at the locations below from Tuesday (September 1, 2024) through Friday:

• Mountain Rest Community Club: 120 Verner Mill Road, Mountain Rest SC 29664 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Salem Fire Department Parking Lot: 115 East Main Street, Salem S.C. 29676 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

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PICKENS COUNTY

A temporary shelter has been set up at the Glenwood Baptist Church located at 325 Saco Lowell Road, Easley, SC 29640. This shelter is pet friendly.

The YMCA in Easley is offering device charging and showers from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Device charging stations for oxygen concentrators and mobile devices (cell phone, tablet, etc.) remain available at the following locations from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Five Point Church, Pickens Recreation Center, Pickens City Hall and Easley Fire Station 2.

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RICHLAND COUNTY

The Salvation Army is serving meals this week at Temple of Faith Bible Way Church at 2850 Congaree Road, Gadsden. Dinner will be served at 5:00 p.m. today, Tuesday and Wednesday and will also be open for lunch at noon on Tuesday and Wednesday.

To report any standing water or backup at stormwater inlets, along with downed trees or power lines, contact the County ombudsman’s office at 1-803-929-6000.

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SPARTANBURG COUNTY

Bottled waters and MREs will be distributed at SCC’s Tyger River Campus and 9070 Hwy 11, Campobello, S.C. beginning at 5:00 p.m. Monday, September 30, 2024.

A medical needs shelter is available at 365 Hodge Drive, Spartanburg (on USC Upstate’s campus). A general population shelter is set up at Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium at 385 N. Church Street, Spartanburg.

Lyman First Baptist has opened their gym for anyone in the community who needs a warm shower. All they ask is that folks please bring their own towels and soap. The church will be open until 5:00 p.m. today, and from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …

Jenn Wood is FITSNews’ incomparable research director. She’s also the producer of the FITSFiles and Cheer Incorporated podcasts and leading expert on all things Murdaugh/ South Carolina justice. A former private investigator with a criminal justice degree, evildoers beware, Jenn Wood is far from your average journalist! A deep dive researcher with a passion for truth and a heart for victims, this mom of two is pretty much a superhero in FITSNews country. Did we mention she’s married to a rocket scientist? (Lucky guy!) Got a story idea or a tip for Jenn? Email her at jenn@fitsnews.com.

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