October 7 Update on Laurens County’s Recovery from Hurricane Helene

Laurens County continues to make significant progress in its recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene. The county’s color-coded status system reflects the current conditions and ongoing challenges, with some sectors showing improvement while others remain under watch. County Administrator Thomas Higgs provided updates on the status of the county as of October 7, highlighting key areas of concern and resilience.

Current Statuses:

• Safety and Security: Yellow – While most safety concerns have been addressed, generic safety issues remain, keeping this category at a cautionary level. Higgs commented, “Safety remains a priority. We’re continuing to check on isolated homes, and our teams are being cautious as we move forward.”
• Food, Hydration, and Shelter: Green – With the effective distribution of resources, the Points of Distribution (PODs) are being scaled down. The PODs in Waterloo and Clinton (Peachtree Street) will likely remain open through tomorrow, and additional feeding locations supported by the American Red Cross should be available in Cross Hill and Clinton (per the American Red Cross). Information will be released as received from them.
• Medical Services and Water Systems: Green – Medical facilities and water services remain fully operational.
• Energy: Yellow – As of 12:45 p.m. today, there has been a dramatic decrease in power outages. However, the energy sector remains at Yellow as efforts continue to restore power to the remaining homes. “We’re hopeful that within the next few days, we’ll see a complete restoration of energy services,” Higgs noted.
• Communications: Green – Overall communication systems are functioning, though some areas still experience spotty cellular coverage.
• Transportation: Yellow – Ongoing debris cleanup remains an issue, with 10 roadways still partially obstructed by utility lines. “Clearing roadways is a priority, but with the extent of the damage, it’s taking time to fully restore access,” Higgs explained.
• Roadways: Yellow – Until all roads are cleared of debris, this status will remain Yellow.
• Hazardous Materials and Economy: Green – No significant concerns in these areas at this time, though monitoring continues.

Transitioning Phases: Laurens County remains at Op Con 1, the most severe operational level, but Higgs is optimistic about scaling down to Op Con 2 as power is restored to more residents. “Once fewer than 10% of customers are without power, we’ll transition to a lower operational level,” he stated.

Shelter services at The Ridge are still available for those in need but the number of residents requiring this assistance has lessened considerably, and FEMA resources are expected to remain through Tuesday, with efforts underway to extend their stay through Wednesday. “Participation in the shelter has decreased as power is restored, but The Ridge remains both a shelter and a FEMA assistance station for residents,” said Higgs.

The county is also monitoring Hurricane Milton. While there is no immediate concern, officials are staying vigilant. “We don’t anticipate impact from Milton at this time, but as we’ve learned, storms can change direction quickly,” Higgs cautioned.

Debris Cleanup and Future Plans: Debris removal is one of the largest challenges the county currently faces. Laurens County has entered into an agreement with the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SC DOT) for state and county roadway cleanup, with further guidance expected soon. Additionally, the county is purchasing woodchippers and grinders, with some equipment being sourced from across the country. “The storm was fast and furious, but the cleanup will take much longer. We ask for patience as we work through this,” Higgs urged.

County operations have shifted the flow of traffic around the courthouse for security and incident command, but regular operations are expected to resume fully by Wednesday, according to the Clerk of Court.

As Laurens County continues its recovery, Higgs praised the resilience of the community. “The people of Laurens County are truly remarkable. Our citizens are helping their neighbors, and that spirit of unity is what will carry us through this.”

For More Information: Residents are encouraged to stay tuned to local announcements, including social media, for updates on FEMA services, road closures, and debris cleanup timelines. The county will continue to provide updates on the status of recovery efforts as they evolve.