City of Columbia and Dominion Energy discuss local post-Helene recovery efforts

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) – Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, several Columbia executives and Dominion Energy officials spoke Monday about local recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene.

You can watch the full live stream of the press conference below:

City Manager Teresa Wilson began her remarks by comparing the devastation of Hurricane Helene to the historic Midlands floods of 2015.

She said that while mass flooding and contamination of drinking water were a concern in 2015, this was not the case according to Helene. She also praised city workers and Dominion Energy officials for their quick response in restoring power to the state.

Mayor Rickenmann spoke about the effective cooperation of local authorities and called on residents to use the resources available to them. He also urged residents to verify information before sharing it with others, as misinformation has the potential to cause panic.

“Please don’t spread rumors,” Rickenmann said. “Please do not distribute information that has not been verified.”

Keller Kissam, president of Dominion Energy South Carolina, also spoke, saying electrical crews had cleared the Lowcountry and were moving toward the Midlands.

Kissam said the estimated time for restoration in the greater Columbia area is Thursday, except for those whose electrical equipment was damaged by a fallen tree or other debris.

He said Dominion had 162,000 customers at its peak but reduced that number to 30,000 customers on Monday. He also noted that their response time has improved since the 2015 floods, with crews able to restore power within days, as opposed to 18 days in 2015.

“We will continue to work around the clock until every last person has power restored,” said Kissam.

Clint Shealy, assistant city manager for Columbia Water, also spoke during the press conference. He updated the public on water conditions and said there are currently no plans to evacuate water treatment plants.

He also noted that there are currently no boil warnings and that Columbia Water teams have successfully achieved their goal of keeping sewage out of people’s homes and streets.

Shealy urged any resident who does not have an urgent water service issue to call 803-545-3300.

Robert Anderson, Columbia’s public works director, asked for patience as the solid waste department makes its rounds collecting trash and removing debris. He also noted that all road closures have been lifted except for Lost Creek Drive in the Chestnut Hills subdivision.

City officials also talked about an emergency shelter at Greenview Park at 6700 David Street. This shelter has resources for 50 residents, including cribs, laundry kits, personal hygiene kits, charging stations, three daily meals, Wi-Fi and more.

Law enforcement officials also spoke during Monday’s news conference.

Columbia-Richland Fire Department (CRFD) Chief Aubrey Jenkins urged residents to use flashlights instead of candles and to avoid staying indoors with trees. He also said CRFD has boat crews deployed as the Congaree River rises.

Columbia Police Chief William “Skip” Holbrook said they received approximately 2,000 calls for assistance during Hurricane Helene, including 149 accidents, 198 alarms, 21 manned traffic checkpoints and four burglaries.

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott urged the public to be patient as law enforcement responds to incidents in the Midlands, saying, “There is no need to squander a loaf of bread or a bag of ice cream at the gas station argue.”

Craig Witherspoon, superintendent of Richland County School District One, also provided an overview of his district during the conference. Noting that 15 to 16 schools lost all or part of power during Helene, he said the district canceled classes today because 25-30% of its bus drivers were unable to come to work Monday morning.

Helene made landfall on Thursday evening as a Category 4 hurricane. According to Gov. Henry McMaster, Helene claimed the lives of 25 South Carolinians and caused severe power outages in thousands of homes, many of which are still unaffected.

Feel more informed, prepared and connected with WIS. For more free content like this, subscribe to our Email newsletterAnd Download our apps. Do you have any feedback that can help us improve? Click here.

Copyright 2024 WIS. All rights reserved.