Category: Weather

COLUMBIA—The State Forester’s Burning Ban will be lifted for Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens and Union counties, effective at 6 a.m. Friday, Oct. 4. The Forestry Commission is lifting the ban after evaluating conditions in these counties and in consultation with county fire officials. The ban will remain in place for Aiken, Edgefield, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Saluda and […]

PICKENS, South Carolina — Approximately 5,700 Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative members had their power restored Thursday, dropping the percentage without power down to 16 percent. As of tonight, over 53,000 members have had their power restored since Tropical Storm Helene ripped through our region last Friday. At the time of this release, 11,878 members were without power. All 43 Spartanburg County members are now back online. Further […]

PICKENS, South Carolina — Today, we are releasing a map of the recorded broken poles created by our GIS/mapping department. Please understand that this is a pilot initiative that we continue to track internally. Crews are still factoring in newly discovered damage to our grid. If a member doesn’t see a red bubble signifying a downed pole at their home, […]

PICKENS, South Carolina — Federal and state elected officials have visited with Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative workers in the field and operations center to assess the damage brought by Tropical Storm Helene. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, U.S. Rep. William Timmons (SC-04) and Sheri Biggs (SC-03 Republican nominee) visited pockets of our five-county service area today and Tuesday. “Our cooperative is grateful to have elected representatives witness the historic damage we’ve […]

PICKENS, South Carolina — Approximately 6,500 Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative members had their power restored Wednesday. As of Wednesday night, over 46,000 members have had their power restored since Tropical Storm Helene ripped through our region. At the time of this release, 17,608 members were without power, representing approximately 24 percent of our membership. Further field assessments today confirmed 710 broken poles. That figure was at 625 […]

Pilots from Oconee, Anderson, and Pickens counties are organizing relief flights to deliver supplies to heavily impacted areas of Western North Carolina. Judson Minyard from the Oconee Regional Airport invites the public to drop off supplies at 365 Airport Road, Seneca, between 8 AM and 6 PM over the next few days. Due to weight restrictions, he said water cannot […]

The Golden Corner Food Pantry will be providing food and water to the public at two locations in Oconee County. Items will be distributed through Friday, October 4th. Times vary by location. • Mountain Rest Community Club, 120 Verner Mill Road, Mountain Rest, SC, Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. • Salem Fire Department Parking Lot, 115 […]

At a Tuesday press conference, Pickens County provided updates on storm relief efforts, including details about its non-emergency call center. Water and MREs are being distributed daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Clemson University (141 Pendleton Rd.), Dacusville Fire Department (2509 Earls Bridge Rd.), and Pickens County Building Maintenance Complex (1507 Walhalla Hwy). A pet-friendly shelter is open […]

Duke Energy contractors worked Monday night and Tuesday to restore power to the Easley-Central Water District’s Water Treatment Facility in Norris, S.C., so that nearly 8,000 customers near the towns of Central and Norris can continue to receive water. Hurricane Helene’s fury damaged the power supply to the plant. The crew, from Canada, restored eight power poles and 15 spans […]

PICKENS, South Carolina — Approximately 4,900 Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative members had their power restored Tuesday. As of Tuesday night, over 40,000 members have had their power restored since Tropical Storm Helene ripped through our region. This leaves 24,151 members without power at the time of this release. That figure represents approximately 33 percent of our membership. Further field assessments today confirmed 625 broken poles. […]