The night of September 26th into the morning of the 27th, 2024 Hurricane Helene ripped through Aiken, SC on its way to wreak havoc and destruction on a swath of unfortunate communities in its path.
Wind gusts in the area reached up to 72 mph, contributing to the extensive damage. The storm caused downed trees and power lines, resulting in power outages for most residents that lasted between two to four weeks. At our house, it was 12 days.
Tragically, the hurricane claimed four lives in Aiken County. I would estimate the total cost in damage to property was in the billions in South Carolina.
FEMA deployed over 650 personnel across South Carolina and approved more than $203 million in assistance to over 204,000 households.
Despite the challenges, the community demonstrated remarkable resilience. Neighbors supported one another, and local organizations mobilized to provide aid.
Four months later, you can still see signs of the terrible damage as you drive around Aiken– trees and debris still piled to the sides of the road, tree stumps too large to be moved torn from the ground, and even crushed houses beyond repair. The recovery process is STILL ongoing, but the spirit of unity in Aiken and its surrounding areas remains strong.
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