Power Restoration Efforts Continue in York County After Storm Helene
York County, South Carolina, is in the process of bouncing back after the recent severe storms caused by Helene. As of Sunday evening, around 9,100 customers are still facing power outages, a significant drop from the peak of 24,000 outages reported just the day after the storm hit on Friday. The local public safety officials are actively working to restore services to affected residents.
Storm Overview
According to the county’s press release, Helene has been described as the most devastating storm in decades, leaving behind a trail of destruction across the Carolinas. The damage contained within York County is being compared to what was experienced during Hurricane Hugo back in 1989. That’s quite a long time for residents to not see such widespread impact!
Restoration Update
Duke Energy is optimistic, estimating that most of its York County customers should have their power back by the end of Sunday. While this news is certainly uplifting, they cautioned that it may take a bit longer for everyone to be fully restored. In addition, York Electric Cooperative has reported that they are dealing with less than 5,000 outages remaining. They are actively rebuilding their power system, a crucial task when dealing with this kind of damage.
Support from Other Crews
Helping the local crews with this enormous task are out-of-state contractor teams along with linemen crews from both Berkeley Electric Cooperative and Central Alabama Cooperative. A statement from York Electric Cooperative expressed gratitude for this support, stating, “We’re working efficiently to restore power, and today we’ll have more outside help.”
Damage Reporting and Cleanup Efforts
For those impacted by the storm, a new web portal has been set up for residents to report damage. This site allows individuals not only to submit damage reports but to also share photos that may assist in pinpointing the most severely impacted areas. It’s crucial to document this kind of information so that the county can respond effectively. You can find the site by searching for York County Public Damage Report online.
So far, York County Public Works has managed to clear over 50 trees from the roadways, making it easier for rescue operations and regular traffic to resume. As an added step, cleanup crews will begin to tackle debris removal starting Monday, which should help get things back to normal as quickly as possible.
Local Resources Available
Residents can also make use of local collection and recycling centers, which will be open on Monday, with the exception of those in Sharon and Hickory Grove. These centers will temporarily accept household trash from those without power until services are fully restored. Utilizing these resources will assist in keeping neighborhoods clean as recovery efforts continue.
Looking Forward
As the community works through the recovery process, the resilience displayed by York County residents and officials alike is truly inspiring. While the clean-up may take some time, there is a sense of hope and determination in the air as people begin to rebuild and restore their lives after Helene’s impact.
For now, it’s important to stay connected within the community and support one another during this challenging time. Here’s to hoping for a quick resolution to the remaining outages and a return to normalcy for all the residents of York County!
