Beaufort County Assesses Extensive Damage After Hurricane Helene Hits

Beaufort County Faces Storm Damage as Hurricane Helene Passes

As the sun peered over Beaufort County on Friday, it was clear that the aftermath of Hurricane Helene had left its mark. The storm, which was expected to impact Florida’s Big Bend region, triggered a tropical storm watch for the Lowcountry area, resulting in significant damage that residents are now beginning to assess.

Emergency Response in Full Swing

Early Friday morning, Stephen Combs, the public information officer for Bluffton Township Fire District, reported that the damage was quite extensive. Within just 24 hours, their service had responded to an impressive 118 calls, with that number “keeping on coming in.” Fire departments all over Beaufort County have been hard at work, addressing numerous storm-related emergencies.

Between midnight and 9 a.m. on Friday, firefighters on Hilton Head Island alone answered 35 calls related to downed trees, two of which caused damage to buildings. It seems the early morning hours were particularly busy, as Scott Harris from the Lady’s Island-St. Helena Fire District reported an array of fallen trees and power lines, along with plenty of debris scattered across the roadways.

The Impact of Helene’s Winds

By 6 a.m., Deputy Chief Ross Vezin stated that the Beaufort/Port Royal Fire Department had responded to 12 storm-related calls. Also, steady winds were making their way through Hilton Head Island, prompting the beach patrol to set a red flag on Coligny Beach to warn beachgoers about the high risk of rip currents. Debris washed ashore, with small items and seaweed dotting the coastline as determined walkers and bicyclists ventured out to assess the damage.

The Burton Fire District also reported a major uptick in emergencies, with over 50 emergency calls related to Hurricane Helene. Among these calls were instances of downed wires and trees, along with electrical fires caused by exploding transformers. Firefighters even responded to a house fire around 1:30 a.m. on Winsor Road in Shell Point. Fortunately, most emergency calls yielded no serious injuries.

Storm Damage Reports Rolling In

As the storm passed through, the National Weather Service in Charleston received nine preliminary reports of local damage. These ranged from fallen trees to possible tornado sightings, which really painted a picture of the havoc wreaked by Helene.

Some of the notable reports included:

• 7:03 a.m. Thursday: Possible tornado near Captain Monroe Lane on Daufuskie Island caused several trees to fall.
• 7:16 a.m. Thursday: A tree snapped and debris reported on Game Land Road.
• 7:30 a.m. Thursday: Property damage reported from a tornado on Driftwood Drive.
• 1:24 a.m. Friday: Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport recorded wind gusts of 75 mph.
• 7:30 a.m. Friday: Bluffton Fire Department reported numerous road closures due to fallen trees and power lines.

Community Alert and Cleanup Efforts

With so much debris and downed power lines throughout the area, locals are undoubtedly focused on cleanup efforts. Affected residents are being encouraged to report damages by sending information, photos, or video footage to local authorities. Roads remain problematic, with key areas like Boundary Street and May River Road encountering closures.

This storm season serves as a reminder for all of us to stay cautious and prepared. While we clean up in the wake of Hurricane Helene, let’s keep those who are still facing challenges in our thoughts as they navigate through this stormy chapter.