County in State of Emergency, Rivers Rising, Power Restoration Slow

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

With 82 percent of Anderson County still without power, the National Guard is being deployed here to help with the cleanup and managing the disaster.

Along the Saluda River, some residents in Piedmont, Pelzer and Powdersville are being evacuated due to rising water levels.

Meanwhile, long lines as the gas stations/convenience stores are the rule of the day, as record traffic levels of those not wanting to stay home or seeking food crowd the roadways. Ice is almost nowhere to be found.

The Anderson County Emergency Operations Center has moved to the Anderson Civic Center as the recovery from the worst storm to ever hit the county is under way.

Electricity is not expected to be restored until next week, but questions of why so few homes have been restored are still unanswered. The numbers of Duke Energy customers without electricity is actually rising, now falling. 

Crews from multiple states have been mobilized, and infrastructure such as traffic lights and key businesses are first in line, along with moving and repairing downed lines across the county.

According to one official, schools are unlikely to reopen on Monday, and some citizens are experiencing problems with cell reception. 

Updates later today…