SC's Helene death toll climbs to 41, many power systems are a 'total rebuild'

South Carolina's death toll as a result of Hurricane Helene continues to rise.

On Thursday, Gov. Henry McMaster said at least 41 people have died due to the storm.

"We ask you to keep your neighbors and friends and loved ones in mind," he said.

Meanwhile, the governor said the state is making more progress in storm response and recovery.

Three more counties — Edgefield, Laurens and Union counties — were approved Wednesday night to be included in the state's major disaster declaration, linking those areas with federal assistance.

Abbeville, Allendale, McCormick and Richland counties could soon be added, he said.

McMaster and state emergency officials said Thursday that they plan to ask the Federal Emergency Management Division for an 100% match, rather than the typical 75%-25% match the federal government offers.

"They (President Joe Biden and FEMA's administrator) assured us that we would get whatever we asked for," McMaster said. "And, so, we are hoping they will provide that 100%."

Power outages continue to drop in South Carolina.

Just under 400,000 utility customers statewide remain without power, a dip from the initial 1.3 million outages at the storm's start last week. The top counties for outages are Aiken, Greenville, and Spartanburg counties.

Andrew Bateman, with the S.C. Office of Regulatory Staff, encouraged patience.

"Some of these systems are actually (a) total rebuild, not just necessarily a repair," he said.

At least 23 counties have so far reported damage to 3,500 homes.

Of those, S.C. Emergency Management Division Director Kim Stenson said 196 are reported as completely destroyed and 1,100 have major damage.

Justin Powell, the state transportation secretary, said Thursday that 319 routes remain closed, down from 456 closures earlier this week, as crews work to remove debris and other hazards.

Powell said at the requests of utility companies, 11 SCDOT crews are now embedded with linemen to help remove trees so that power can be restored at about the same time.

The department has also activated large debris contractors for at least 16 counties. And by the start of next week, Powell said residents will see operations on interstates and primary routes, followed by secondary routes.

State officials on Thursday urged residents on the eastern side of South Carolina, particularly along the Santee River, to heed local warnings about potential flooding.

Andrew Phillips, with the state Emergency Management Division, said the Santee River in Georgetown and Berkeley reached a major flooding stage Thursday afternoon.

The river is expected to crest Saturday and remain high into the next week, he said.

Phillips said homes could be impacted.

He said those impacts should be limited to flood-prone areas along the river.

South Carolina's agriculture department is still assessing damage as a result of Helene.

Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers said Thursday there is reported damage to mainly livestock, trees and poultry farms. There's also been damage to cotton and pecan fields, along with produce loss.

"One of our state's largest pecan growers in Edgefield County will have a total crop loss, and 70% of their mature orchards are on the ground," Weathers said.

Infrastructure damage and power outages are having impacts on food manufacturers, he said. Because of power failures, Weathers said there's currently more than 300,000 poultry/chicken losses from almost 100 poultry farms operating on backup generators.

Weathers said Thursday he is not concerned about a widespread food supply shortage but that his agency is working through some local impacts that should be fixed in the coming days and weeks.

Between the summer drought, Tropical Storm Debby and Helene, every part of the state's agriculture has been affected this year, Weathers said.

State officials are continuing to keep an eye on the port as a strike enters its third day.

On Wednesday, McMaster and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham asked President Joe Biden to help end the strike.

State officials have said they’re concerned that the strike will have impacts on medical supplies as South Carolina still responds to Hurricane Helene damage.

"We're already dealing with a natural disaster," McMaster said Thursday. "We don't need a manmade disaster at this point."