Team South Carolina Responds to Helene

South Carolina's state agencies and local partners continue to respond to Helene. As of 2 p.m. today, the storm is located 125 miles south-southeast of Louisville, Kentucky, and is moving to the north-northwest at 28 mph. Moderate to major river flooding is forecasted for many rivers in the Upstate and Midlands, and Upstate rivers have already begun to crest.

"Priorities here at the State Emergency Operations Center are maintaining communications, road clearing, and power restoration." said Director Kim Stenson. “County primary focus currently includes search and rescue operations, possible local evacuations, sheltering, communications restorations, and road clearing.”

Current Situation:

• As of the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Helene is moving at 28 mph with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. 
• The storm is located 125 miles south-southeast of Louisville, KY, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and a minimum central pressure of 982 mb.
• Many upstate and midlands counties are reporting blocked roads due to downed power lines and trees.

State and Local Activities:

• South Carolina Emergency Management Division has fielded 72 logistical requests for shelter support and debris clearance.
• Thousands of line workers are working around the clock to make power repairs. At the height of the storm over 1.4 million outages were reported.
• 6 general population shelters are currently in operation. View shelter information here.
• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Decisions to open shelters are made at the local level.

• The South Carolina Department of Public Health has been in contact with 144 health care facilities to check on their power/electricity status and assist with any needs.

• Road safety remains a top priority, with 236 South Carolina Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol Troopers and State Transport Police Officers assigned to traffic incident response.152 officers and troopers will be assigned this evening.  
• The South Carolina National Guard has 115 service members on state active duty. 
• The South Carolina Department of Transportation has shifted to 24-hour operations with approximately 2,300 personnel mobilized. 

Guidance for Residents:

• Residents in low-lying areas should remain vigilant and follow any guidance issued by local emergency officials.
• Remember to check on neighbors, especially those who may need extra assistance, and bring pets inside.
• Residents can help with clean-up efforts by using the Damage Assessment tool in the SC Emergency Manager mobile app to report any damage to their property.
• Avoid unnecessary travel. Flooding or downed trees can impact roads, making them impassible. If you must drive, watch for:
• Standing water on the roads.
• Downed power lines, trees, or other debris in the roadway
• Flash flooding resulting from standing waters, creeks, or rivers spilling over their banks and into the roadways.
• Stay out of floodwaters and standing water. Stormwater contains harmful bacteria, wastewater, oil and fuel, hazardous materials, and other contaminants that can pose health risks. Stormwater can also contain dangerous debris.
• Private well owners can call SCDES's Private Well Hotline at 1-888-761-5989 for information about steps to take to test their well water or disinfect their well. A private well that’s been flooded can result in unsafe drinking water that could make you sick.
• SCDES’s Dam Safety team is beginning to perform post-storm dam assessments at approximately 200 high-hazard dams in areas of the state that have received eight-inches of precipitation or more.
• Stay informed by following local news, weather updates, and official social media channels for the latest information.

Residents can visit the SCEMD website at www.scemd.org for more information and updates. SCEMD will continue to provide updates as the situation develops. Please stay alert and take all necessary precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones.