Personal Injury Attorney in Aiken, SC

On Friday, President Biden announced 100% cost-share for a period of time to make recovery more affordable for the state.

In South Carolina, FEMA has provided over $4.7 million to over 5,700 households. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties continuing to help survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connect them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources. South Carolina is monitoring river rises along coastal communities.

Residents with questions on Hurricane Helene can call the state’s toll-free hotline, open 24 hours a day, at 1-866-246-0133.

Residents who are dependent on medical equipment at home and who are without power due to Helene may be eligible for a medical needs shelter. Call the state’s Department of Public Health Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 for more information.

Power restoration continues across Aiken County as crews continue to arrive in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene.

Dominion reported 14,547 of its 62,038 Aiken County customers remain without power as of 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5.

Aiken Electric Cooperative is also working to restore power for its members.

The outage map indicates 7,200 of Aiken Electric's 36,861 members in Aiken County remain without power as of 2:30 p.m. p.m. Oct. 5. In Edgefield County, 4,300 of its 7,227 customers don't have service.

Dominion Energy is estimating that 85% of its customers in Aiken County will have power restored by Sunday, Oct. 6 at 11 p.m.

The company estimates 95% by Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 11 p.m.

Due to the extreme damage and access constraints, the company said, restoration times will be provided when available in the following areas: Hammond Hills, Aiken Estates, Belvedere Ridge, Crosland Park and Forest Heights.

Aiken Electric began notifying customers Oct. 2 of estimated restoration times. To add your phone number, click here for instructions on how to add or update your contact information.

For those who don’t have a current phone number or no phone number listed on their account, they will be included in the next round of text alerts as the system updates. Once signed up, customers will receive routine updates based on assessments and progress being made.

Aiken Electric said restoration times could increase or decrease based on this information. If you don’t receive the first alert, you can visit our storm updates page for a list of estimated restoration times by area.

Aiken County Coroner Darryl Ables on Friday announced three more deaths related to Hurricane Helene.

Paul Linn, 86, died Oct. 2 on Broughton Drive in Aiken of respiratory issues.

Wayne Dawes, 81, died Oct. 2 on Fairway Drive in New Ellenton of cardiac issues.

Douglas Buck, 80, died Oct. 3 on Pine Log Road in Aiken of cardiac issues.

The South Carolina Department of Insurance is offering consumers assistance and remote claims services along with insurance carriers on Monday, Oct. 7, and Tuesday, Oct. 8, in Aiken.

It will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days at the Aldi’s Parking Lot, 2510 Whiskey Road.

Representatives from State Farm, USAA, Allstate, South Carolina Farm Bureau, Auto-Owners, Travelers, Progressive, Nationwide and Heritage Insurance Companies will be in attendance along with members of the S.C. DOI’s Office of Consumer Services to help consumers file claims and answer insurance-related questions.

The SC DOI’s Insurance Fraud Division will share information to help consumers prevent being scammed by bad actors who often show up after a disaster.

Consumers are encouraged to contact the South Carolina Department of Insurance’s Office of Consumer Services at 803-737-6180 or visit doi.sc.gov for more information and for helpful tips on navigating the claims process.

Flood insurance policyholders should contact their agent or the NFIP directly to report flood claims at 1-800-427-4219 or visit www.floodsmart.gov for additional information on the NFIP claim process. Suspected insurance fraud should be reported to 1-888-95-FRAUD.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has committed to coming to Aiken County and the Savannah River area in South Carolina today, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said in a news release.

Graham spoke with a FEMA representative Oct. 3 and urged the agency to make contact with local officials and come to the area immediately because of the level of devastation. FEMA is touring Aiken County this afternoon with Aiken County Council Chairman Gary Bunker and Silver Bluff Fire Chief Kerry Green, he said.

“Aiken County is appreciative of the support provided by Sen. Lindsey Graham and his staff. Within hours after his commitment to provide FEMA support, we had a point of contact lined up from the agency. I and Silver Bluff Fire Chief Kerry Green will be taking a FEMA representative on a tour of the impacted communities later this afternoon,” Bunker said in a release. “The critical issues in Aiken County are the clearing of the roads and the pickup of storm debris and the rebuilding of the power network. A power grid built up over decades was smashed in four hours during the storm last Friday morning.”

Graham also said he was grateful for FEMA's response.

“Aiken County has been hard hit and North Augusta has been particularly devastated, but the people living there are pushing through and rising to the occasion," Graham said. "The entire Savannah River region was severely impacted both sides of the river and I expect a surge of resources to the region very soon.”

The South Carolina Forestry Commission has revised its State Forester’s Burning Ban – effective at 6 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 3 – to include 15 counties: Abbeville, Aiken, Anderson, Cherokee, Edgefield, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, Spartanburg and Union counties.

A State Forester’s Burning Ban prohibits outdoor burning outside of all unincorporated areas (outside of city limits). This includes yard debris burning, burning for forestry, wildlife or agricultural purposes (prescribed burning), campfires, bonfires and other fires for recreational purposes.

Here's the latest from the federal government on disaster relief following Helene:

FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in South Carolina to help survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connect them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources.

South Carolina is monitoring river rises along coastal communities. Region 10 Administrator Willie Nunn continues to be on the ground to help oversee response and recovery operations in the state.

Financial Support: In South Carolina, FEMA has provided over $4.5 million to over 5,600 households.

Commodities: The American Red Cross is engaging in targeted distribution of emergency supplies in low-income communities with high levels of minor or affected residential damage. One shelter closed on Thursday. Ten shelters are open with around 200 occupants. The American Red Cross will begin distributing FEMA-supplied boxed food and water in Aiken County. The state has established a Mass Feeding Task Force to include multiple voluntary agencies. Three Salvation Army mobile feeding units are in hard hit areas. FEMA is supporting the state’s feeding mission with Meals Ready to Eat and drinking water.

Debris Removal: Team Rubicon is continuing to route clearance operations in Spartanburg County and continues planning for clearing other areas.

Information for Residents:

• Residents with questions on Hurricane Helene can call the state’s toll-free hotline, open 24 hours a day, at 1-866-246-0133.

• Residents who are dependent on medical equipment at home and who are without power due to Helene may be eligible for a medical needs shelter. Call the state’s Department of Public Health Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 for more information.

Security Federal Bank is offering its Hurricane Helene Emergency Relief Loan, designed to assist homeowners in the aftermath of the disaster.

The new loan program offers homeowners financial support to help with unexpected storm damage related expenses. The loans are up to $15,000, with flexible terms and a competitive interest rate.

A Security Federal Bank checking account is required (new or existing).

The Hurricane Helene Emergency Relief Loan is available to homeowners in the Security Federal Bank market area. For more information about the loan and how to apply, visit www.securityfederalbank.com or call 803-641-3000

4

OCT

Today’s lunch menu: shredded chicken and noodles with freshly baked cornbread.

For many in the area with no power, they have been surviving on peanut butter sandwiches or crackers. Their first hot meal following the destruction left in the wake of Helene came from one of The Salvation Army’s canteens or food delivery trucks.

Aiken, S.C., and the surrounding counties, according to officials, was the hardest hit area in the state, on the eastern side of Helene’s eye wall. When Helene unleashed her fury, she came with 7-12 inches of rain and winds estimated to have reached 100 miles per hour. As a result, nearly a third of the county remains without power a week after the storm. Many homes have been damaged and some destroyed altogether.

By God’s providence, The Salvation Army Corps in Aiken was spared from loss of power, despite the surrounding neighborhood and 98 percent of the county losing power. For this reason, The Salvation Army was able to respond in the immediate aftermath. From the Corps kitchen, with one stove, Cheatham and an army of staff of volunteers prepare each day for reaching out in the community.

The Salvation Army has been on the ground serving here from the beginning; it has provided more than 12,000 meals since Friday, Sept. 27 at multiple locations. Many of the neighborhoods The Salvation Army is serving were not only the hardest hit, they were already struggling before the storm.

“People barely making it by have now been pushed over the edge,” said Captain Michael Good, Corps Officer for The Salvation Army in Aiken.

Good accompanies staff and volunteers to strategic locations across the region for lunch service. You can find him hugging residents, sharing a reassuring smile and providing an even more critical service than feeding: prayer.

People arrive at the KJ’s Market in Aiken for a hot meal, many not expecting power to be restored at their homes for days, or even weeks. It’s obvious The Salvation Army’s presence is a spark of hope in an otherwise desperate situation. But, the gratitude is evident.

“God bless y’all.”

“Thank you so much.”

“Thank you; I have six kids at home.”

“God bless you, I really mean it.”

Good shares an encouraging smile. “How are you holding up? You doing okay?”

“I’m trying, I’m taking it a day at time,” he hears in response.

Good stops in the moment and prays for God to provide peace and comfort. He asks God to be with the power crews and linemen and for power to be restored to homes quickly. Another resident drives by to pick up meals for her family, and Good reaches through the car window to hold hands and spend a moment in prayer. She prays for Good in return.

“What prayer does is allow people to feel seen and heard. Hot meals do something for the body. Prayer does something for the soul.”

People are desperate for power to be restored at their homes. Today, they are experiencing a different kind of power – the power of prayer in their lives. A simple act of kindness, just stopping for a moment to pray, makes people light up.

“You can find some food, water and ice. It’s hard to find hope. The Salvation Army brings hope.”

Salvation Army crews return to the Corps building from serving more than 1,100 meals at lunch and they immediately begin planning and preparing for what's next, ensuring they are reaching the communities that need it the most. Good’s phone rings constantly as he coordinates with government agencies and partners. Volunteers and staff – including Jannie Cheatham – clean up from lunch and take inventory of what’s on hand in preparation for the next meals.

What’s on the menu tomorrow?

For certain, it will be a warm meal for the body and hope for the soul.

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham came to North Augusta on Thursday to get a briefing on Hurricane Helene and offer some remarks of his own.

He’s the latest of a line of politicians coming to the CSRA since the hurricane hit on Friday. Some of the highest-profile ones are Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday and GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump on Friday.

“Vice President Harris was in Augusta. Was it yesterday? So you’re not being forgotten about,” Graham said. “I’m here. The governor’s been here. I think the extent of the damage, I think the fact you’ve been hit harder than anybody else and the recovery task in Aiken County seems to be monumental.”

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Still reeling from twister and floods, Bamberg struggles after Helene

Less than two months after flooding from Tropical Storm Debby and eight months after being pummeled by a Category EF-2 tornado, Bamberg County finds itself in survival and recovery mode again in the wake of last week’s Hurricane Helene.

People living or working in Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Edgefield and Saluda counties may now be eligible for disaster unemployment assistance funds.

There’s good news and bad news about power outages in CSRA

Just when things seemed to be looking better for some Augustans without power, the goalposts moved.

He said he wants to see the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Aiken County helping the suffering residents.

“FEMA will be here before the sun rises tomorrow,” he promised. “They’re the ones that know the system, and they’ve done a good job. They need to come here.”

He said he’s going to reach out and make it happen.

“People are literally on their last leg,” he said.

He also said there seems to be a “blockage” in getting Red Cross assistance in Aiken County. He says he’s going to point out that problem and insist that it get fixed.

He commented on the enormous toll the storm has taken on South Carolina’s electrical grid.

He also said he wants to see some solutions in the future to avoiding situations like that — like burying power lines.

“Well, what if they were underground – I think they’d be working,” he said. ’I know it costs more up front, I’m sure it’s very expensive. But I think we’ll get our money back. I think there are people who’d be alive today. What’s that worth? That’s worth a lot to me.”

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

The availability of gasoline continues to be a problem for Aiken County residents.

A lack of electrical service at the stations and at a fuel distribution center are the sources of the problem, S.C. Sen. Tom Young, R-Aiken, said in a message to constituents on Tuesday, Oct 1.

The Sunoco fuel supply distribution center at 221 Sweetwater Road in North Augusta lost power during the storm. Power was restored Monday, Sept. 30, but was disrupted again that night.

“It partially went down overnight because a tree fell on the line but that has been fixed as of midday today,” Young said Tuesday, Oct. 1.

At the Parker’s Kitchen at 136 Jefferson Davis Highway in Aiken, the driver of a Waccamaw Transport fuel supply truck said he waited in line four hours at the distribution center to have his tanker filled.

“We had to go to Charleston to get fuel loads when it was down,” he said.

The Circle K store at 2645 Columbia Highway N. was the first station in the area to have electrical power restored. Long lines formed during the weekend as drivers gassed up their cars and filled canisters for fueling generators.

Before dawn on Oct. 1 the store was doing brisk business. By midafternoon the nozzles of every pump were covered by a yellow plastic bag, indicating empty tanks underground.

Across the street at the Raceway at 2664 Columbia Highway N., the tanks were also empty.

Samantha Holtzendorff, manager of the store, praised her employees and other workers as she stocked shelves.

“Everybody’s working hard. The linemen are working hard. The people at the gas station are working hard. The people cooking at Bojangles and McDonald’s are working hard,” she said.

“People just need to be patient,” she said. “We can get gas. We can get groceries. But it’s going to take a little longer.”

“Things are going to get better. We all should be thankful that we’re still here,” Holtzendorff said.

She estimated people were purchasing five times as much gas per day as before the storm. She encouraged people to be conservative in their use of fuel, and to not run generators continuously.

“Run it for three hours and turn it off for three hours. Your freezer will stay frozen,” she said.

Even with electrical service restored and underground tanks replenished, some stores can’t sell gas without internet or 5G cell service, said Nick Blanton, a maintenance technician for Raceway.

“The newer systems require internet or cell service so the pumps can communicate to the point-of-sale system inside the store,” Blanton said. “Without that, you can’t sell gas.”

Young was optimistic that the situation would continue to improve.

“More stores are open all over the county today than yesterday and this weekend so that is helping with the fuel problems and it should help further tomorrow and into the week,” he said.

“Finally, the State Emergency Management encourages residents to use the GasBuddy website or app to learn where gas stations/convenience stores are open on a given day,” Young said.

3:30 p.m. Update

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham will get a first-hand look at the Tropical Storm Helene damage in Aiken.

Graham will provide a media briefing after meeting with local and state officials at 1 p.m. Oct. 3 at the Aiken County Emergency Operations Center.

3 p.m. Update

The North Augusta Public Safety Trunk or Treat event scheduled for Oct. 12 has been postponed.

2:30 p.m. Update

Aiken's H. Odell Weeks Activities Center is closed until further notice.

Dominion is using the facility to house the lineman working to restore power.

The adaptive traffic signal on Whiskey Road will be inoperative until further notice.

1 p.m. Update

Aiken County residents struggling through the Tropical Storm Helene recovery will have longer to file their taxes.

The federal filing deadlines have been extended to May 1, 2025, the Internal Revenue Services announced Oct. 2.

11:45 a.m. Update

Another Tropical Storm Helene-related death in Aiken County has been reported.

Rhonda Gabriel, 66, died Oct. 1 at Aiken Regional Medical Centers, Aiken County Coroner Darryl Ables said.

Gabriel’s cause of death was respiratory, Ables added.

Individuals with oxygen needs should contact the South Carolina Department of Health, Aiken County Emergency Management said Oct. 2.

The number is 855-472-3234.

11:30 a.m. Update

The effort to restore power in Aiken County following Tropical Storm Helene appears to be bogging down despite assurances that once work was completed east of Aiken County more workers would be available to restore power.

As more power restoration is completed east of Aiken County, more workers will arrive to turn the lights back on in Aiken County, Dominion Energy South Carolina President Kellar Kissam said Sept. 29 at an Aiken news conference with Gov. Henry McMaster.

As of 10:49 a.m., there are only 1,960 customers without power in areas east of Aiken County that are served by Dominion according to the company's outage map. In fact, there are more Dominion customers in Aiken County without power than in the rest of the area served by Dominion.

But, Dominion reported 33,960 of its 62,074 Aiken County customers remain without power as of 10:49 a.m. Oct. 2.

The company reported 37,328 of its Aiken County customers were without power as of 11 a.m. Oct. 1, meaning 3,387 customers saw their lights come back on in that 24-hour period.

Over 4,000 Aiken County customers saw their lights come back on from Sept. 30-Oct. 1 and around 5,000 Aiken County customers saw their lights come back on from Sept. 29-30.

Aiken Electric Cooperative's outage map was unavailable until Sept. 30 and the map went down again Oct. 1 before returning Oct. 2.

The most recent Facebook post indicates over 26,000 members have their lights back on as of Oct. 2, according to Aiken Electric.

There is no indication where these members are and how many are in Aiken County.

The now-functional outage map indicates 44.5% of Aiken Electric's members in Aiken County remain without power as of 11 a.m. Oct. 2.

There are, however, some options available for Aiken County residents that don't want to spend the day sweating inside of their still-dark homes.

First, many restaurants, gas stations and grocery stores have reopened.

The Salvation Army is offering food and water from 12;15 p.m.-1:30 p.m. at its 604 Park Ave. location, the Aiken County Family YMCA at 621 Trolley Line Rd. and the Edgefield K.J.'s at 155 Carolina Square.

Supplies are also being handled out at the North Augusta Community Center at 495 Brookside Dr.

There are also charging stations and showers at the YMCA.

Charging stations are also available at the North Augusta Goodwill store and SRP Park.

Ice will be distributed at SRP Park beginning at 3 p.m.

And Aiken-Barnwell Mental Health is providing mental health care.