News Summary
Newberry County is currently facing significant disruptions due to administrative phone line outages following Hurricane Helene. Despite ongoing recovery efforts, many residents still lack power as crews work to restore services. Emergency 911 services remain operational, but road access is severely impacted, complicating recovery operations. Community shelters and charging stations have been set up to assist those affected. The storm caused extensive damage across the county, resulting in fallen trees and widespread power outages. Community support remains strong as Newberry works towards restoration.
Newberry, South Carolina
Newberry County is currently experiencing significant disruptions due to outages affecting administrative phone lines, particularly 321 and 405 numbers on the Sheriff’s Office Campus, as of Wednesday morning. However, emergency 911 services remain operational despite these challenges.
This outage follows the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene, which struck the western half of South Carolina three days ago. The storm brought extensive damage to the region, leading to widespread power outages. By Monday afternoon, approximately 76% of Newberry County residents were without electricity, with City Manager Jason Taylor reporting that prior to any restorations, 100% of the county’s homes and businesses lost power.
As recovery efforts are ongoing, many residents, including individuals like Bethany Green, have turned to generators to cope with the power outages caused by fallen trees. Green’s property was severely affected when a large tree fell, bringing down power lines and poles near her home, narrowly avoiding damage to her parked truck.
Road accessibility has also been a major issue; about 80% of roadways in Newberry presented obstructions, complicating emergency response and recovery operations. The Newberry County Memorial Hospital, along with the city’s water and sewer systems, lost power during the storm, further stressing the need for rapid recovery initiatives.
By Monday, power restoration efforts were making progress, with approximately 75% of power customers in Newberry regaining service. A dedicated crew from North Carolina has been working around the clock, putting in 16-hour shifts to restore power to the affected areas. Nevertheless, the issue extends statewide, with around 740,000 residents without power, some of whom may not see service restoration until as late as Thursday.
Damage from the storm varied across the county. While some residents managed to avoid significant structural damage, others, like Chris Dunn, faced challenges when a neighbor’s tree fell onto his house. Fortunately, Dunn’s property was restored to power after approximately 12 hours, likely due to being connected to the same circuit as the local hospital, which has been critical during the crisis.
In response to these emergencies, a temporary shelter has been established at Newberry High School to support residents impacted by the hurricane. Additionally, a charging station was set up at the old firehouse for those in need of internet access and device charging, assisting residents like Menda Shelton and her children, who required connectivity for remote schooling. Over the weekend, hundreds of people utilized this charging station, including college students without power until midday Sunday.
Throughout the recovery process, community support has been evident as neighbors reach out to offer assistance to one another. These actions reflect a strong community spirit in the face of challenges, as Newberry County works toward restoring normalcy after the destruction wrought by Hurricane Helene.
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Additional Resources
- WLTX: South Carolina Power Outages and Storm Damage
- ABC Columbia: Power Outages Across Midlands
- WIS TV: Duke Energy Reports Power Outages in Newberry County
- The State: Weather News Update
- SC Daily Gazette: Flooding and Power Outages Update
- Wikipedia: Power Outage
- Google Search: South Carolina Weather Updates
- Google Scholar: Storm Impact South Carolina
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Hurricane Helene
- Google News: South Carolina Power Outages
Author: STAFF HERE NEWBERRY
The NEWBERRY STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENewberry.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Newberry, Newberry County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Newberry Opera House performances, Newberry Arts Fest, and the Newberry County Fair. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Newberry County Chamber of Commerce and the Newberry Museum, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and agriculture that power the local economy such as Amick Farms and Newberry Mills. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAiken.com, HEREBeaufort.com, HEREChapin.com, HERECharleston.com, HEREClinton.com, HEREColumbia.com, HEREGeorgetown.com, HEREGreenwood.com, HEREGreenville.com, HEREHiltonHead.com, HEREIrmo.com, HEREMyrtleBeach.com, HERENewberry.com, HERERockHill.com, and HERESpartanburg.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into South Carolina's dynamic landscape.
