Updated Oct 1, 1:45 p.m.: The South Carolina Department of Public Safety has set the number of South Carolinians killed as a result of Tropical Storm Helene at 33.
Six deaths occurred in each Aiken, Spartanburg, and Greenville counties, according g to DPS.
Four deaths have been confirmed in Anderson County.
Three deaths are confirmed in Saluda County.
Two deaths are confirmed in each Chester and Newberry counties.
One death in each Greenwood, Chesterfield, York, and Richland counties are confirmed by DPS.
Updated Sept. 30, 6 a.m.: By Monday morning, the number of South Carolina deaths attributed to Helene rose to 27.
The state Department of Public Safety announced one death in Chesterfield County.
Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger has also announced a sixth person has died in the county. The death has been attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning front running a generator inside.
Parts of Spartanburg County are completely without power as crews toil day and night to get it back on.
The Greenville News has also reported a fifth death in Greenville County, of a woman killed in a house fire started by a candle. Much of Greenville County remained without power Monday morning.
Other Helene-related deaths in South Carolina include four in Aiken County, four in Anderson County, four in Saluda County, two in Newberry County, and one in Greenwood County.
Updated Sept. 28, 2 :13 p.m.: Twenty-three South Carolinians are now reported to have been killed by Tropical Storm Helene.
On Saturday afternoon, two additional residents of Saluda County — there had previously been two — and one resident of Greenwood County were announced by officials in those counties.
Twenty-three is four more that were killed by Hurricane Hugo, which tore through the Upstate and Charlotte area in 1989.
Updated Sept, 28, 12:45 p.m.: With another reported death in Anderson County, the death toll wrought by Tropical Storm Helene in South Carolina is now at least 20, with 12 of those deaths reported in the Upstate.
Five deaths were reported in Spartanburg County, all involving fallen trees, County Coroner Rusty Clevenger confirmed in a press statement Friday. Two of those deaths were the result of a tree hitting a golf cart, with man being washed away by floodwater; the others involved trees falling on residences.
Cleanup is ongoing around the county.
At 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Spartanburg County Communications Manager Scottie Kay Blackwell said in an email statement:
“We are still addressing unmet needs in the community and aiding our first responders. We will be transitioning to damage assessments today and supporting our Public Works crews as they coordinate clean-up with a debris contractor.”
Blackwell added that Spartanburg County 911 was still down in the early afternoon.
“Until it is restored, we are asking everyone to please call (864) 596-2076 for life safety needs,” she said.
Four deaths related to Helene have been reported in Greenville. All died Friday morning and were confirmed killed by fallen trees.
Anderson County Coroner Greg Shore has also confirmed to media outlets three Helene-related deaths in the county, both involving trees falling on residences.
The South Carolina Department of Public Safety has reported four deaths related to Helene in Aiken County. All deaths were the result of fallen trees on residences.
Gov. Henry McMaster announced two deaths Newberry County that were connected to the storm. Both deaths involved a tree crashing into a home.
McMaster also confirmed the deaths of two volunteer firefighters, who were killed when a tree fell on their truck.
Original report:
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By late afternoon Friday, Tropical Storm Helene has been blamed for at least 13 deaths in South Carolina.
Nine of those deaths occurred in the Upstate, as confirmed by various state and local officials.
Four deaths in Greenville are being blamed on the storm, with no other details provided. Three deaths in Spartanburg occurred in separate incidents close to the North Carolina border. Two deaths in Anderson County were blamed on trees falling on residences.
Helene has become one of the deadliest hurricanes to hit the U.S. in years. So far the storm has been blamed for 25 deaths across three states, barely a day after lashing Florida as a category 4 hurricane.
Much of the Upstate remains without power, at risk for flash flooding.
Nearly 100,000 customers in Lancaster, York, Chester, and Cherokee counties were reported to be without power at one point or another on Friday.
The National Weather Service has issued a continuing wind advisory until 7 p.m. Friday.
