Helene oversees resources in the Myrtle Beach, SC area

Strong winds and heavy rains, such as those experienced on the Grand Strand due to the impacts of Tropical Storm Helene, can down trees, flood roads and knock out utilities.

If you or someone near you is in immediate danger, call 911 immediately.

However, if you need further help after bands of storms hit your area, here are some resources you should know.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation, which you can call at 511, is the first port of call when you encounter problems such as a tree on the road or flooded streets. According to Thomas Bell, public information officer for the Horry County Department of Emergency Management, contacting 511 also helps put the obstacle on the radar of various agencies. SCDOT is also helpful for staying up to date on the latest traffic and road closures.

Horry County Department of Public Works at 843-915-5410 is a good source for problems on county roads. Bell recommends contacting SCDOT first to ensure the right department is dispatched and municipalities are properly coordinated, then contact the county.

Horry County Stormwater Authority at 843-381-8000 Here you can report drainage problems such as flooded streets or problems with ditches.

The Horry County Police non-emergency number is 843-248-1520 and is the point of contact if a fallen tree only causes property damage. You may need to file a report for insurance reasons. In this case, you should contact the non-emergency department. However, if a tree falls on your home, Bell said you should call 911 because first responders want to make sure all residents are safe.

Myrtle Beach Public Works Department at 843-915-5410 is a good source for urban roadway problems, solid waste problems, and water and stormwater infrastructure problems. However, the line is only open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. At night and on weekends you must call the police non-emergency number.

The Myrtle Beach Police non-emergency number is 843-918-1382. In addition to night and weekend calls to the Public Works Department, residents should contact the non-emergency number if a storm knocks down a tree in the City of Myrtle Beach but does not cause injuries or significant damage to homes or businesses.

The North Myrtle Beach Police non-emergency number is 843-280-5511 and a city public safety official recommended providing assistance for problems such as downed trees, street flooding and other problems that people in North Myrtle Beach face during or after a storm.

The United States power outage map is a good resource for tracking outages in your area. The website allows users to search by county and see how many customers of each provider in the area are experiencing power outages.

Duke Energy Progress’s number is 800-777-9898 for private customers and 866-582-6345 for business customers. Customers can also report an outage via SMS 57801 or call 800-769-3766and report downed power lines and safety hazards 800-769-3766. Estimates of when power will be restored can also be found online here.

Horry Electric Cooperative main number is 843-369-2211. Customers can report outages by telephone 843-369-2212 Estimates of when power will be restored are available online at outages.horryelectric.com.

Santee Cooper’s The customer service number is 800-804-7424. Customers can report outages by telephone at 8 a.m88-769-7688 or online at reportoutage.santeecooper.com.