Newberry Recovers from Hurricane Helene’s Wrath
Newberry, South Carolina, is still feeling the impact of the powerful Hurricane Helene that barreled through the area just days ago. It’s been a tough few days for residents, and many are still without power, struggling to regain some sense of normalcy in the wake of the storm.
A Stark Contrast
When you take a look at the power outage maps, it’s clear that the storm caused major disruption. A line runs straight down the middle of South Carolina, with several counties on the east side illuminated in powered-up blue, while the west side, including Newberry County, is often dark red. As of Monday, a staggering 76% of Newberry County residents were still without electricity, grappling with the aftermath of the storm three days later.
Meet Bethany Green
One such resident is Bethany Green, who was making do with a generator at her father’s home on the east side of Newberry. Just imagine this: a massive tree fell during the storm, pulling down power lines and poles, and barely missing Bethany’s truck parked in the street. “There’s a dent in the hood, but that’s it,” she shared, relieved that the tree didn’t crush her vehicle. “If the truck had been parked a few feet forward, there would be no car to go to work.”
Newberry’s Struggles
The tree came crashing down on Friday morning, and as it did, Newberry lost all incoming power. Jason Taylor, the City Manager, reported that the situation was dire: %100 of the city’s homes and businesses were left in the dark, and an alarming 80% of roadways were obstructed, further complicating emergency responses.
“We’ve got to get those up and going,” Taylor recalled thinking about the power, water, and sewer systems that had all failed under the storm’s pressure. There was a sense of urgency; without clear roads, emergency vehicles couldn’t maneuver to assist those in need.
Slowly But Surely
Despite these significant challenges, it hasn’t been all doom and gloom. By Monday, about 75% of Newberry’s power customers had their electricity restored, thanks to the hard work of utility crews. Outside Bethany’s house, a hardworking crew from North Carolina was busy putting back together the downed power lines, working a 16-hour shift to restore power in Newberry and nearby areas.
However, statewide, about 740,000 people were still grappling with power outages, and some residents might remain in the dark until Thursday, a week after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida.
Community Resilience
Not every home in Newberry was so lucky. A few blocks away, Chris Dunn faced some serious damage when his neighbor’s pecan tree blew over and crashed through his roof, causing water to pour into an unused bedroom. However, Chris kept a positive attitude, saying, “It’s a really well-built house. There’s heavy timbers in it.” Chris was grateful that his power only went out for about 12 hours, a relatively quick recovery compared to others impacted by the storm.
A Helping Hand
For those who needed a little extra help, a temporary shelter opened up at Newberry High School, including a charging station where residents could juice up their devices. This little haven was packed over the weekend, especially with college students from Newberry College, who also found themselves without power until Sunday afternoon.
While some sought a warm meal or a shower, others like Menda Shelton and her kids took advantage of the charging station. Little Xavier tackled his remote school assignments while Menda pondered the possibility of a hot shower at the YMCA.
Community Spirit Shines
In the midst of all this, something beautiful has shone through—the community spirit. “Everyone in our community, whether I know them or not, has asked if we need anything,” Chris reflected. “That says a lot.” Even though he experienced some damage himself, his thoughts were directed at those who had it worse.
As Newberry joins hands to overcome the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the resilience displayed by the community is truly inspiring. Despite the challenges they face, the people of Newberry have come together, helping one another to recover and rebuild.
