12 residents killed in Helene storm, 600K without power & roads flooded in Upstate SC

Eleven Upstate residents and four Aiken County residents have died as Tropical Storm Helene roared into South Carolina Friday morning.

Coroners in Greenville, Anderson, Spartanburg and Aiken counties confirmed the deaths were due to trees falling on homes, attempting to walk through floodwaters and a tree hitting a golf cart.

In Greenville, four people died. In Spartanburg, five were reported killed. In Anderson, two died.

Two firefighters were killed in Saluda County after a tree fell on their firetruck, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

More than 600,000 homes were without power and many roads were flooded and blocked by fallen trees.

Fairview Road, a major thoroughfare in the Golden Strip in southern Greenville County, was blocked by downed power lines.

Two small airplanes flipped over at Donaldson Jet Center in Greenville County after their tie-down fittings were snapped by the wind, WYFF reported.

The wind was measured at more than 60 mph at one point.

Many residents reported trees on their houses and outbuildings. Historic neighborhoods near downtown Greenville were particularly hard hit by downed trees.

The Greenville Zoo was closed and zookeepers reported all the animals were inside. Also closed were Greenville city parks, Cleveland and Unity. Furman University closed as well. Public schools had already planned for e-learning Friday.

Public officials, from police to transportation officials to coroners, urged people to stay home. They said they expect the storm to pass through the Upstate by noon.

Initially, forecasters thought the storm would move through east of Greenville but it shifted farther east and brought punishing wind and rain.

The normally docile Reedy River became a raging waterway and in some places rose to just under bridges. Reedy River Falls had so much water the elevation drop virtually disappeared.

Water rushed over the top of the century-old Lake Conestee Dam.

This story was originally published September 27, 2024 at 10:10 AM.