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Death toll hits 23, making Helene one of SC's deadliest storms in recent history

Alexa Jurado, The State on

Published in News & Features

COLUMBIA, S.C. — At least 23 people have died across South Carolina after Hurricane Helene — one of the largest storms in decades — devastated the Southeastern United States, causing widespread flooding, damaging roads and homes and leaving more than 1 million without power.

The death toll has eclipsed the 19 deaths caused by the state’s historic flooding in 2015, and closing in on the 26 deaths caused by Hurricane Hugo in 1989.

In most cases in South Carolina, the victims were killed when trees fell on them.

Across the region, at least 44 people have died as a result of the storm, the Associated Press reported. The storm caused massive damage in Georgia, North Carolina and Florida when it came ashore early Friday morning as a Category 4 hurricane.

Here’s what we know about the deaths in South Carolina:

Aiken County

The Aiken County Coroner’s Office is investigating four deaths related to the storm.

Just after 11:30 a.m. Friday, an elderly couple were found dead in their home in the 300 block of Church Road in Beech Island after a tree crashed through the roof of their home. They were identified as 78-year-old Jerry Savage and his wife, 74-year-old Marcia Savage.

A New York resident, 29-year-old Michael Roukous, was found dead just before 10 a.m. Friday. A tree fell through the roof of a bed and breakfast home he was renting on Casnettie Road in Beech Island.

A 70-year-old man was found dead around 9 a.m. Friday after a tree had fallen through the roof of his home in Aiken. His identity was not released because the family had not yet been notified.

Anderson County

Three storm-related deaths were reported in Anderson County.

One victim was identified as 55-year-old Christine Lynn Schmeiske. Due to high winds and heavy rain, a tree fell on her house in the 400 block of Whitner Street. According to the Anderson County Coroner’s Office, she had been trapped under heavy debris early Friday morning.

A second woman in Anderson County also died from a fallen tree falling on her home. She was identified as 54-year-old Sandy Lee Fisher.

A third person, identified as 83-year-old Bobby Jean Foster of Belton, died in a traffic accident just before 2 a.m. Saturday. It was the result of blunt force trauma when two cars collided head-on on Main Street in Pelzer.

Foster was the sole occupant of his car and was pronounced dead on the scene. The two people in the other car were taken a hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The coroner has since said this was storm-related due to road obstacles and damage in the area, including a large fallen tree and downed power lines.

Greenville County

At least four people died in Greenville County on Friday, the Greenville County Coroner’s Office told local reporters.

A woman was found trapped in her home on Cedar Avenue with a tree on top of her around 7 a.m. She was pronounced dead and identified as 56-year-old Lornder Lee Palmer.

A man was struck and killed by a fallen tree outside of his home on the 800 block of Chestnut Ridge Road in Marietta around 9:45 a.m. He was identified as 40-year-old Aaron Marshall Lance.

 

Around 9:30 a.m. the coroner’s office was called to the 2000 block of Cleveland Street Ext in Greenville for a report of a fallen tree on a home. A man, identified as 59-year-old Charles Daly Dean, was found dead inside.

Just before 10 a.m. another man was struck and killed by a tree branch outside of his home on the 1300 block of Ridge Road in Greenville. He was identified as 68-year-old Moreno Arnez Maddox.

Greenwood County

The Greenwood County Coroner’s Office confirmed at least one death in Greenwood County.

Greenwood County Coroner Sonny Cox told The State on Saturday that his office was not releasing the name of the deceased but that a tree had come down on his house. The individual was pronounced dead at the scene, Cox said.

Newberry County

Two people died as a result of a traffic-related incident caused by Helene, Gov. Henry McMaster confirmed at a press conference Friday.

The Newberry County Coroner’s Office identified them as 49-year-old Robert Wise and 48-year-old Valencia Jones Wise of Chapin. They died after their car collided with a tree on Chapman Road near Little Mountain around 9:30 a.m. on Friday.

The Newberry County Coroner’s Office and the South Carolina Highway Patrol are still investigating the incident.

“Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Mr. and Mrs. Wise,” the coroner’s office said in a release.

Saluda County

Two volunteer firefighters were killed in Saluda County after a tree fell on their fire truck on Beulah Road around 6:30 a.m. Friday, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol. They were identified as 53-year-old Chad Satcher and 18-year-old Landon Cale Bodie, both of Leesville.

Two other Saluda County residents were killed at their homes, officials said, at least one by a fallen tree.

“Our deepest condolences are with their families during this difficult time,” the county said in its news release.

Spartanburg County

Five people were reported killed in Spartanburg County.

Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger told local reporters that one death was the result of a tree falling on a campsite in Chesnee.

In Landrum, two people on a golf cart were killed when a tree fell on them. Another person in Landrum died after their car was swept away by water.

Another death was that of 34-year-old Anna Maria Smith of Inman. A tree fell on her home on Rainbow Circle while she was inside.


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