Helene’s Death Toll in South Carolina Rises to 25 as Power Outages and Flooding Threaten the State

South Carolina leaders, including Governor Henry McMaster and Dominion Energy South Carolina President Keller Kissam, provided an update on the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Aiken County.

The storm caused 25 deaths in the state and knocked out power for over a million customers. Restoration efforts are underway, with crews working around the clock to clear trees from power lines and restore service.

Officials urge caution around downed power lines and advise against running generators indoors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Patience is requested as recovery efforts continue, with resources being pooled from across the state to assist in the restoration process.

chool Closures and Schedule Changes:

• Bamberg District 3: Virtual learning will take place on Monday.
• Fairfield County School District: E-learning day scheduled for Monday, Sept. 30, 2024.
• Kershaw County School District: Schools will operate on a 2-hour delay Monday:
  • Elementary Schools: 9:30 a.m.
  • Middle Schools: 9:45 a.m.
  • High Schools: 10:00 a.m.
• Lexington County School District One: Schools and offices are closed Monday, Sept. 30, with all extracurricular activities canceled. A decision on Tuesday’s schedule will be made Monday.
• Lexington County School District Two: Schools and offices are closed Monday, including extracurricular activities, sports, and adult education classes.
• Lexington County School District Three: Fall break is scheduled from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4. Free lunches are available for pickup Monday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pine Ridge Middle, Cayce Elementary, and Riverbank Elementary for all children 18 and under.
• Lexington County School District Four: All schools and offices are closed Monday, and all after-school activities are canceled.
• Lexington-Richland School District Five: Schools and offices are closed Monday. Feb. 17 will be used as a makeup day (virtual or in-person TBD). Bag lunches are available for pickup at Irmo High, Dutch Fork High, and Chapin High.
• Midlands Technical College: All campuses remain closed Monday. Recovery updates will be shared on the college website and via MTC alerts.
• Newberry County Schools: E-learning days are in effect through Wednesday, Oct. 2. Food pick-up and charging stations will be available Monday at Newberry High, Mid-Carolina High, and Whitmire Community Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Orangeburg County School District: Schools and offices will reopen Monday. Some bus routes may face delays due to storm recovery.
• Richland County School District One: Schools and offices are closed Monday. Meals will be distributed from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the following locations:
  • Carver-Lyon Elementary
  • Eau Claire High
  • Lower Richland High
  • Richland One Central Kitchen
• Richland County School District Two: E-learning day scheduled for Monday, Sept. 30.
• Saluda County School District: Schools are closed indefinitely due to ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene.