Help is being offered to South Carolina residents impacted by Hurricane Helene

Help is being offered to South Carolina residents impacted by Hurricane Helene

Written by Taylor Farmer. Originally Posted by WSPA Channel 7 News on October 9, 2024.

CLEMSON, S.C. (WSPA) — On Clemson University’s campus inside Littlejohn Coliseum more than 20 different agencies responsible for disaster relief are providing a one-stop opportunity for folks to learn about what resources are available following Hurricane Helene.

There’s no doubt nearly everyone in this area was affected by the storm and thousands are still looking for some help. 

State and federal officials say any help you need to recover from the storm including insurance, housing, transportation, health, mental health, employment, etc… is still being offered.  

“As an emergency manager and as a community member it means everything to be able to say our doors are open, come here, we are going to get you the help that you need,” Sarah Custer, Director of Emergency Management with Clemson University said. “It is really important that we put our arms around this community that we are a part of. These are our friends and neighbors as well.”

While state and federal agencies were in-person to assist in Clemson on wednesday they can still help out if you weren’t able to make it.

“During the pandemic, the Governor instructed the Department of Commerce to put everything on one website, so it was a one stop shop,” Lt. Governor Pamela Evette said. “We kept hearing how helpful that was and how amazing it was to be able to do that. That is the same idea for what you are seeing here today.”

It’s an ongoing effort. State leaders say they are working hard everyday to make sure the people of South Carolina are taken care of.

 Lt. Governor Evette called the state’s game planning system a well-oiled machine and says she and Governor McMaster, along with many other leaders,  have been going around to areas impacted.

“Every single day we have an emergency management call where everybody gets together and shares all their information,” Evette said. “It’s an update everyday so we know where to direct resources.”

The assistance in Clemson Wednesday was for all Pickens, Anderson, & Oconee County residents. 

Similar events will be held in Spartanburg on Thursday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the USC Upstate Health Education Complex, 300 N Boulevard and in Greenville on Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Greenville Tech Student Success Center, 506 S. Pleasantburg Drive.

For more assistance: South Carolina Emergency Management Division (scemd.org)