Storm's Aftermath: Power Cuts and Road Closures in South Carolina

When Hurricane Helene hit South Carolina, it brought strong winds and heavy rain that caused serious damage. The storm left many people without power, especially those living in the Midlands region. The outage map showed over 50,000 residents were affected by power cuts. In Richland County alone, more than 6,000 homes lost electricity, with most being Dominion Energy customers. Lexington County was even worse off, with over 7,000 customers experiencing power loss. Saluda and Newberry counties also saw around 1,000 outages each. In Orangeburg County, the majority of affected customers were using Orangeburg Public Utilities. But the problems didn’t stop at power outages; roads were closed and schedules changed all over the Midlands. This storm reminded us how important it is to be prepared for these kinds of emergencies. It also shows why having a backup plan, like a generator or emergency lights, can make a big difference during such tough times.