CHESNEE, S.C. (WSPA) – South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced on Monday state and federal officials will spend three days at locations across the Upstate to help residents who need help recovering after Hurricane Helene.
The visits are part of the state’s Team South Carolina days, which aim to connect residents with aid organizations and nonprofits.
Anyone who visits one of the Team South Carolina days will have a chance to learn about what relief resources are available to them and how to apply for those resources.
Sharon Thomas, 69, of Chesnee told 7NEWS she likes the idea but worries about people like her who have no access to reliable transportation.
“A lot of people in Chesnee does not have transportation so they either got to rent a taxi or find someone that may take them to get them resources,” said Thomas. “I do not have transportation.”
Thomas, a mother of two, currently lives without power, internet, heat and air conditioning after Helene caused her neighbor’s tree to fall into her backyard and partially onto the roof.
“I was standing right up there in the kitchen when the tree hit,” said Thomas. “I was so shook up, all I could think to do was run because I thought it was coming through my house.”
Thomas said Duke Energy told her it’ll cost thousands of dollars to restore her power because her decades-old home wasn’t built to the current safety codes which means rerouting all the circuitry through her house.
She said she needs help.
“We usually have to go buy food about every day because we can’t afford to run the generator because it costs way too much money to get the gas we need,” said Thomas. “The generator takes about 10 gallons of gas per day and sometimes more.”
Here are the locations for the Team South Carolina County Days in the Upstate:
For Pickens, Anderson and Oconee counties
Wednesday, Oct. 9: Clemson University, Littlejohn Coliseum, 219 Perimeter Road, Clemson from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
For Spartanburg and Cherokee counties
Thursday, Oct 10: USC Upstate Health Education Complex 300 N Campus Boulevard, Spartanburg from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
For Greenville County
Friday, Oct. 11: Greenville Tech Student Success Center, 506 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The following state and federal agencies will be at each Team South Carolina Day stop:
- S.C. Department of Agriculture – Gathering impact data in preparation for upcoming Farm Recovery Centers (FRC).
- S.C. Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services – Providing counseling resources, alcohol and drug services and substance use prevention.
- S.C. Department of Disabilities and Special Needs – Supplying information on resources and services for individuals with disabilities.
- S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce – Supplying information on unemployment benefits (including Disaster Unemployment Assistance) as well as employment services.
- S.C. Department of Environmental Services – Providing assistance for private drinking well owners and free test kits for those whose wells have been impacted by floodwaters.
- S.C. Department of Health and Human Services – Providing information on health care services and Medicaid.
- S.C. Department of Insurance – Providing information on the insurance claim process as well as coverage and insurance fraud prevention.
- S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation – Providing information on fire safety, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and residential builder information.
- S.C. Department of Mental Health – Providing general center-wide resources and personal screenings as appropriate.
- S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles – Assisting citizens attending the event.
- S.C. Department of Public Health – Providing information on Women, Infants and Children (WIC) educational resources and support as well as onsite Tdap and flu vaccines.
- S.C. Department of Social Services – Providing guidance on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and Affidavit of Loss Due to a Household Misfortune.
- S.C. Department on Aging – Providing information on services for seniors.
- S.C. Division of Veterans Affairs – Providing information on services for veterans.
- S.C. Emergency Management Division – Coordinating individual disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and will provide information for residents about personal recovery steps. SCEMD will also provide emergency preparedness guides and demonstrate the SC Emergency Manager mobile app.
- S.C. Housing Authority – Providing information on mortgage or rent assistance, rental housing.
- S.C. Office of Resilience – Providing disaster case managers to assist eligible citizens with disaster-caused unmet needs through a basic intake process.
- FEMA – Providing assistance with registering for financial assistance related to the storm.
- US Small Business Administration – Providing assistance with applying for disaster loans.
- United Way Association of South Carolina/AmeriCorps SC and Local Chapters – Providing information on community volunteer opportunities.
- One SC Fund – Providing information on nonprofit resources during disaster relief.
- Other state and local nonprofit organizations.
