News Summary
Severe storms have wreaked havoc in Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina, leading to extensive power outages affecting thousands. Duke Energy reported that around 13,000 customers are still without electricity, primarily in Greenwood and Anderson counties. The storms have caused significant damage to trees, structures, and utility infrastructure, complicating restoration efforts. Local officials are urging residents to report blocked roads. Meanwhile, Duke Energy mobilizes resources to restore power while prioritizing severely affected communities.
Anderson, South Carolina – Severe storms brought strong winds and heavy rains to Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina, resulting in widespread power outages affecting thousands of residents. As of 6:30 a.m. today, Duke Energy reported that approximately 13,000 customers in the region remained without electricity.
The outages are primarily concentrated in several counties, with over 6,000 outages recorded in Greenwood County and more than 5,000 affecting Anderson County. Around 800 additional outages were noted in Greenville County. At the height of the storms, more than 41,000 customers were left without power across the impacted areas.
City officials in Anderson have indicated that the severe winds caused damage to trees and structures, leading to significant challenges for restoration efforts. The local response has been bolstered by the South Carolina Department of Transportation, which is actively working to clear blocked roads. Residents experiencing road blockages are encouraged to report these incidents by calling (864) 260-4444.
In addition, the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office has reported numerous incidents of fallen trees and downed power cables, complicating the restoration process further. Hart Electric Membership Corporation also reported 635 members without power by 8 p.m. on Sunday. Duke Energy continues to mobilize resources to restore power, with over 21,000 utility workers engaged in the recovery efforts.
Major challenges faced by restoration teams include damage to transmission towers, substations, utility poles, and power lines, all of which were impacted by the strength of the storms. Additionally, flooding has destroyed roads and bridges in the affected regions, further delaying restoration operations.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is working closely with Duke Energy to accelerate the restoration process. In these efforts, Duke Energy is prioritizing the restoration of power and essential services to the most severely impacted communities.
As the situation develops, residents are encouraged to assist recovery efforts by making donations to the American Red Cross or local organizations needing support for those affected by the storms.
Duke Energy, which serves approximately 8.4 million customers across multiple states, continues to focus on clean energy transitions, grid upgrades, and has ambitious goals of achieving net-zero emissions by 2030 and 2050.
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Additional Resources
- WYFF4 News
- Wikipedia: Power Outage
- WLOS News
- Google Search: Power Outages South Carolina
- Fox Carolina
- Google Scholar: Power Restoration Efforts
- Democrat & Chronicle
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Power Disruption
- Duke Energy News
- Google News: Duke Energy Power Outage
Author: STAFF HERE GREENVILLE
The HERE Greenville Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Greenville community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Greenville Our team includes lifelong Greenville residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sales in the Heritage Historic District 17 , Greenville’s textile and railroad heritage 2 , and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Greenville Technical College programs) 27 . Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
