My prayers go out to the folks who have lost all. I pray the areas will come together to give aid and comfort. As for the looters I also pray they are found and justly punished.
A storm system that blew through Aiken County on Saturday downed trees and power lines, knocked out power to thousands of homes and caused widespread property damage.
More than 18,000 Aiken County customers of Aiken Electric Co-op and SCE&G were without power Saturday night, said Aiken County sheriff's spokesman Lt. Michael Frank. Twenty percent of those customers were in the North Augusta area.
No injuries were reported as of Saturday night, but there were reports of looting in Clearwater, Lt. Frank said.
"We're still estimating the damage and determining how many families were displaced," he said.
Troopers manned the Aiken-Augusta Highway for most of Saturday night because of traffic light blackouts, Lt. Frank said.
Sheriff Michael Hunt advised residents of north and northeast Aiken County to remain in their homes until 8 this morning.
Just after power went out in her Palm Drive home, Ruth McGraw heard a big crash. A tree had crashed into the living room, inches from her bedroom.
"I was frightened real bad," she said as she called neighbors to find somewhere to stay for the evening.
In North Augusta, Marie West heard a loud noise at her mobile home on Cherokee Drive, where Aiken County sheriff's deputies said a tornado was reported.
"Something told me to go check on my son," she said.
Parts of the ceiling in her 17-year-old's room had fallen, but he was in another part of the home. Trees had come through the ceiling.
"My son is lucky, really lucky, that he wasn't hurt," she said. "The last time it rained so hard, I didn't get up. It didn't wake me up. This time, something told me to get up."
Chad Freeman said he, his wife and two small children left their home, also on Cherokee Drive, about five minutes before two trees slammed into it.
"I heard on the news it was coming, so we went to Hamrick's to get shelter," he said. "We saw a rainbow when we got there, so we thought it was all over. Then, we came back to this."
Trees destroyed the front end of their trailer home and their kitchen, Mr. Freeman said.
Their neighbors' homes faced similar fates.
Large trees had landed squarely in the center of homes beside and behind the Freemans.
Aiken County sheriff's deputies moved power lines and debris that held up traffic on Cherokee Drive for several hours Saturday night.
Food and shelter were the main things on Janice Freeman's mind as she packed up valuable items from their home. She said she hoped their landlord would soon repair the damage to the home they have lived in for two years.
"My kids were crying and saying, 'We need a new home,' " Mrs. Freeman said. "I'm just wondering where are we going to go."
In Bath, Augusta Chronicle online producer Steven Schretzmann reported the top of the water tower and the roof of the post office were blown off. The post office roof was strewn across South Carolina Highway 421, and a home nearby was severely damaged by a fallen tree. A number of homes in the Bath-Clearwater area were damaged by fallen trees.
A power outage forced postponement of the Lipizzaner Stallions' performance at the University of South Carolina Aiken Convocation Center. Kayla Ott, of the convocation center, said the performance was rescheduled for 6 p.m. today. She said Saturday's tickets would be honored at the 2 p.m. performance today.
For more information, call the convocation center's box office at (803) 643-6900.
Staff Writers Bill Norton and Julia Sellers contributed to this report.
Comments
My prayers go out to the folks who have lost all. I pray the areas will come together to give aid and comfort. As for the looters I also pray they are found and justly punished.
Our thoughts and prayers are with those who were affected by the storms. May God bless and restore each of you, in Jesus' name, amen.
Hey God IS with them , they all walked away ! AMEN !
I live in Clearwater, and my family is one of the lucky ones. Our house was minimally damaged by the storm last night. I do know others who were not as fortunate though. I would like to thank the many many people who stayed out all night helping others. It makes me feel good to know that when something like this happens in our community everybody comes together. Ole School is right, God was with us all.
What a bunch of classless idiots. Looting when Mother Nature shows her [filtered word]. Way to go valley rats.
I was listening to the scanner and I'll tell you, there was all kinds of help everywhere last night. I thank all that came together to clear our streets. They completely shutdown Hwy 421. And enforced the curfew. My hubby went to check on his mother and couldn't get but a block away but could see everybody out on her porch so he knew she was alright. I thank the police for all they do during times such as these. It amazes me.
sure i do, they looted. They have no class.
My husband has worked since 8PM alongside the ASCO and SLED...he was only allowed 3 hours of sleep is back at it until further notice. This was after he already worked his 8 hours yesterday.
My bad-I'm sorry, I thought you were calling the people in this area this happened to, that.
You'd be right, yes. My apologies.
No not at all, namasta. I live in the area. I commend those that help. I tell ya, I have been impressed with this area pulling together when we need one another.
I really like Mike Hunt too. I used to dislike him as a teen because he gave me a ticket and pretty much everyone i know but I think he is doing a great job with his leadership.
I agree with you on that pablanco. I respect Mike Hunt and his spokesperson, Michael Frank, that used to work here in Augusta.
I agree with pablanco, classless valley rats indeed.
Too bad more homeowners werent armed and handled it.
I am very worried, My parents live in the Woodridge section of Clearwater and they are both 85 years old and have been without power since last night. My father has to sleep under a breathing machine and could die without it. I am located in another state and feel helpless. My Mother has been ill also and is going for a MRI next week and is not at all well. They really cannot afford to go to a motel and they won't leave the house and there is no one else for them to stay with. I thought preference would be given to people that have medical problems but when I called that does not seem to be the case. I am worried out of my mind.
I live in Clearwater and would like to thank SCE&G and the Aiken County Sheriffs Dept for all there good work during this terrible time.I have lived all my life in Bath and Clearwater and this is the worst weather we have ever had.
yes we are fortunate. if this is the worst we have had.
oh anyone who looted is a valley rat. AC wants their freedom of speech but apparently the press is the only people deserving of it.
If you would listen to my prophets and take heed, then you will know that jesus is soon to come. read deuteronomy 32;29. repent now and continue to give god the praise. we are still living through the storms and the rain.
Strangely...that is the best video coverage we've seen of the storm damage. How is it that a newspaper has better video than the tv news crews?
Great Job!
I live on Cherokee Drive and I was amazed and happy to see people out right after the storm helping neighbors putting tarps over holes in roof, getting started cutting trees, etc. There are some fine men and women in this area.
chrisspires, I was thinking the same thing.
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