Rock Hill Faces Aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene
Friday was a wild day for residents of Rock Hill and surrounding areas, as Tropical Storm Helene made quite the entrance. With wind gusts soaring over 40 miles per hour and heavy rain pouring down, it felt like the perfect storm for chaos. Rainfall measurements ranged between five to seven inches in Rock Hill alone, with Fort Mill and Indian Land also facing significant deluges. Can you imagine that much rain in just a day?
Power Outages Affect Thousands
As the storm wreaked havoc, over 70,000 customers in York, Chester, and Lancaster counties found themselves without power. Reports indicated that the outages skyrocketed from around 65,000 at 8 a.m. to nearly 95,000 by 10 a.m., before dropping again as repair crews got to work. By 3 p.m., the numbers were still concerning, with approximately 3,900 customers in Rock Hill alone still in the dark, significantly down from almost 19,000 earlier in the day.
Despite the unfortunate situation, local officials have been quick to respond. Mayor John Gettys mentioned that restoration efforts could take a couple of days, particularly in areas that are tough to access. To lend a helping hand, crews from the Charleston area and Alabama will be coming in to assist over the weekend.
Community in Action
Emergency responders were busy throughout the day, showcasing the heart of our community. Firefighters and deputies came together to rescue four individuals from a home on Poinsett Drive in Rock Hill, where a large tree had fallen on their house. One man was pinned inside, and it took crews over an hour to safely extract him. Thankfully, he was able to give a thumbs up when he was freed. Isn’t that just incredible?
In another incident, a woman was struck by a tree from a neighboring property. Her husband stepped in and managed to take her to the hospital without waiting for emergency services. Thankfully, she only suffered a potential broken arm.
Continuing Cleanup Efforts
By the afternoon, most main roads were cleared for travel, though officials urged everyone who didn’t need to be out to stay home. After the storm, it was still dangerous, with wind gusts remaining above 30 MPH. Trees continued to block some roads, and it was a slow process to clear everything up. It just goes to show how quickly things can turn messy!
Statewide Impact
The effects of Helene were not confined to Rock Hill. All across South Carolina, nearly a million people found themselves without power at one point, and by *3 p.m.*, this number had jumped to over 1.2 million statewide. Even though the storm was downgraded from hurricane status to a tropical storm, it was still packing a punch!
What’s Next?
Looking ahead, weather forecasts warn of continued flash flood warnings through early next week. As the waters recede, residents are urged to stay vigilant of rising water levels, especially around the Catawba River, where headwaters could get higher than ever due to all this rain.
As Rock Hill and its neighboring counties pull together to recover from the storm, let’s take a moment to appreciate the efforts of our emergency services and neighbors who are helping each other out. It’s in times like this that the resilient spirit of our community truly shines!
