Hurricane Helene Leaves Ware Shoals Residents Facing Challenges
WARE SHOALS — The recent passage of Hurricane Helene has left the charming town of Ware Shoals reeling and grappling with significant damage. As the winds settled and the storm passed, many residents found themselves without power and facing various difficulties, making the days that followed particularly tough.
As you take a walk through the quaint streets of Ware Shoals, you can’t help but notice the atmosphere is one of community resilience. Families are seen gathering on porches or in their yards, some in lawn chairs, waiting and hoping for the lights to flicker back on. Many homes experienced losses, including extensive roof damage, thanks to Helene’s fierce winds. Those familiar tall trees that once framed the landscape now lie scattered across lawns and some even intrude into living rooms, painting a stark picture of nature’s power.
Glenna Hendrickson, the town clerk, shared some disheartening news stating, “The entire town is out of power.” Families without generators are feeling particularly hard hit, as the lack of electricity has made everyday life a challenge. One local worker, Melissa, who requested her last name not be used, spoke of her experience at the Stop-A-Minit gas station, which has been forced to close its doors due to the storm’s aftermath. “We’re just dealing with it,” she remarked, her tone reflecting the resilience among residents.
In the midst of the chaos, there are glimmers of hope. Enter Jamie Galloway, who drives her beloved Ice Cream Van through Ware Shoals, Greenwood, and Honea Path. Galloway has made it her mission to bring some joy in these trying times. “We try to keep our prices fair and have been providing ice to those who need it,” she expressed. “It has been worth the effort to keep the freezers running. After all, who doesn’t love ice cream?” Her dedication has been a ray of sunshine for many in the area.
Further down at Magnolia Park, Leroy Bussey was spotted waiting impatiently for his power to return. Despite his home dodging serious damage, he shared his growing frustrations. “This is crazy,” he said, “people need to do something about it. What about the nursing home residents and children without power?” His concern was perhaps echoed by many others in the community.
In response to the chaos, Mayor Bryan Ross took to social media to share updates and initiatives. He announced that the deadline for utility bill payments has been extended, offering some relief to residents grappling with the storm’s aftermath. The town has begun accepting hurricane debris at the landfill, alongside a plan for roadside collection. For safety, Ware Shoals has also implemented a nightly curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. until power is fully restored.
“Duke Energy is working tirelessly to restore power,” Ross assured residents, anticipating that many areas would see lights back on by October 4, barring any inaccessible regions. The mayor expressed gratitude for their ongoing efforts, a sentiment shared by many residents who have felt the weight of the outage.
But in these dark days, community spirit has shined through. Several residents have worked together to provide essential water and food to those in need. Dan Crockett, District 51 superintendent, reflected on the challenges many families are facing. “It’s hard to watch our students struggle, especially when our staff has families too,” he stated, highlighting the tight-knit community ethos.
The district responded by hosting a hotdog dinner on September 29 to support those in distress. “We posted the event and the community response was incredible,” Crockett said, beaming with pride over helping nearly 900 people with meals. In addition to their efforts, Greenwood County stepped in to donate water and Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) to further assist the town.
With the weight of this storm still heavy on everyone’s shoulders, Ware Shoals remains a testament to resilience and support. It’s a community that illustrates the importance of coming together to help one another. Crockett summed it up nicely: “It’s in situations like these where these lessons can be best taught.”
As the days go on, let us keep the folks in Ware Shoals in our thoughts as they continue to recover from Hurricane Helene.
