Struggling for Supplies: The Aftermath of Helene in Lexington, S.C.

Struggling for Supplies: The Aftermath of Helene in Lexington, S.C.

Challenges in Power Restoration

LEXINGTON, S.C. — It’s been a tough few days for residents and business owners in Lexington and nearby Irmo. The town is still grappling with the effects of Helene, a storm that has left many homes and businesses without electricity. People are feeling the strain, and the search for basic necessities has become a daunting task.

Gas, Ice, and Essentials: A Community Effort

One local resident, Raven Rodriguez, traveled from Augusta to help his friends and family. He’s on his fourth trip to Lexington, and it’s starting to feel like an unending journey. “I’ve been going back and forth with like nine gas cans, filling them up, bringing them back to my friends,” Raven explained. “I’m telling them, ‘Hey, look, I found some gas stations! So hopefully this helps you out.’” It’s not just gas that is a priority; Raven is also focusing on gathering ice and groceries for those in need.

According to him, the situation is dire as they are receiving warnings that power might not be restored for weeks. “So, now we’re doing water next and food supplies. We’re just doing runs back and forth to Augusta,” he said, showcasing the community spirit that’s shining through in difficult times.

The Gas Hunt: A Test of Patience

Another local, Albert Robinson from Saluda, can relate to Raven’s struggles. He took a drive through his hometown and neighboring Batesburg-Leesville on the hunt for fuel. “This is about the fifth station, and all up through Lexington, nobody has gas whatsoever,” Albert shared. After driving around and seeing his search yield no results, luck finally struck. “We just got lucky. We finally got a fill-up of gas, and I got some extra for my generator. So at this point, we’re good to go for now because there’s no electricity in Batesburg-Leesville or Saluda,” he added confidently.

Local Businesses Feeling the Heat

This power outage is impacting businesses considerably. As the lights went out, local store owners faced losses that they say are unprecedented. Viren Patel, who owns Friarsgate Supermart, lost power last week, resulting in a massive loss of perishable goods. “I had to throw away a lot of the frozen items that I had, close to $7,000-$8,000 worth of frozen items I had to throw away,” he recounted with frustration. “I still had to throw away some stuff, which is like ice cream.” To make matters worse, Viren had recently received a shipment just before the power went out. “The lights went off right after I got a delivery on my frozen items. It’s a hard hit for sure,” he said.

Looking Ahead: Power Restoration Timeline

Those affected by the storm are holding onto hope as Dominion Energy has announced that they expect to restore power to 95% of Lexington County by October 3rd at 11 PM. This news brings some relief to those in the community as they wait for brighter days ahead.

A United Community

While challenges remain, the residents’ spirit in Lexington is admirable. From sharing resources to looking out for one another, the community is showcasing a resilient attitude in the face of adversity. It may be a tough situation, but Lexington is a place where neighbors help neighbors, and together they will weather this storm.