Hurricane Helene made landfall on September 27, 2024, wreaking havoc across Upstate South Carolina, resulting in 50 fatalities and extensive property destruction.

The storm destroyed or severely damaged approximately 2,500 homes throughout the state, highlighting the widespread impact of the disaster.

Laurens County recorded the strongest wind gusts at 77 miles per hour, the highest documented in South Carolina during the storm.

Sunfish Mountain in Greenville experienced the highest rainfall total, with an astounding 21.66 inches recorded.

During and after Tropical Storm Helene, around 1.3 million homes lost power, complicating recovery efforts.

The storm also caused record river flooding in 22 locations across South Carolina, exacerbating the damage.

The unexpected trajectory of the storm strained local emergency responders, emphasizing the need for improved emergency preparedness.

Emergency managers, such as Spartanburg County's Doug Bryson, faced unprecedented challenges as high winds complicated rescue efforts and disrupted communications.

In the aftermath, community members rallied together, providing food, shelter, and assistance to those affected as cleanup efforts began.

In Greenville County alone, over 1.1 million cubic yards of debris were collected following the storm, with cleanup efforts still ongoing six months later.

Funding from the South Carolina Housing Trust Fund is now available to assist low-income homeowners in repairing storm-damaged properties.

As of late January, the South Carolina Department of Transportation had collected a total of 3 million cubic yards of debris, excluding that removed from county-maintained roads.