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Area
spared worst of storm
September
18, 2004
By SHAVONNE
POTTS
Index-Journal
staff writer
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| A crew from D & D Tree
Service Inc. removes tree limbs from an uprooted oak
that crashed through the attic of an Abbeville home on
North Main Street. | When
Abbeville resident Joe Cheek arrived home Friday, he found the
large oak tree separating his North Main property from his
neighbor’s had fallen onto his house.
“We weren’t home, so
I guess it happened in the early morning, probably between
four and seven,” he said.
The tree was uprooted by strong
winds and rain spawned by remnants of Hurricane Ivan that
raked Greenwood and the Lakelands Thursday night and early
Friday morning.
“It ripped the power line down, pulled
some siding off the house. A limb broke through the porch
there and punched a couple of holes in the roof,” Cheek said,
pointing to limbs.
Holes, 2 to 3 inches in diameter, were
covered by a tarp. The limbs were cut by D&D Tree Service
Inc.
David Campbell, of D&D, said the company cleared
many of the limbs and just wanted to make the home safe for
the family.
After leaving the Cheek home, company workers
responded to three more calls.
In addition to downed trees
and broken limbs, power outages were reported throughout the
area.
Sharon Morris, Duke Power spokeswoman, said there
were approximately 33 outages scattered throughout Greenwood
County. “Crews have been working through the night to restore
power,” she said.
Duke’s Friday afternoon advisory also
listed 13 outages in Abbeville County and 78 in Laurens
County. The company expected to restore power in Abbeville
County by 11 p.m. Friday and in Greenwood and Laurens counties
by 11 p.m. today.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol
reported no weather-related wrecks.
Spokesman Lance Cpl.
Steve Sluder recommended, however, that drivers continue to be
careful when traveling water-logged roads.
“Do not drive
through flooded areas and also be careful of downed power
lines,” he said.
The Calhoun Falls Police Department had
reports of power outages. Lt. Jim Bell said a tree fell on a
power line and knocked out power for about 11 hours.
A tree
was reported to have blown over and another reportedly fell on
a car. “There were no injuries that we’re aware of,” he
said.
Abbeville Public Utilities Director Mark Hall said
throughout Thursday night there were between 70 and 80
customers affected by power outages.
“Power was restored to
them early Friday morning,” he said.
The South Carolina
Department of Transportation responded to approximately 12
downed trees, said resident maintenance foreman Donald
Forsythe.
He said crews worked to remove limbs beginning at
9:30 p.m. Thursday in Hodges, Ninety Six and Greenwood.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Steve Burrus said today
and Sunday should be partly cloudy with the highs in the
80s.
“We seemed to have gotten through the worst of it,” he
said.
As the Lakelands breathes a sigh of relief over
missing the worst of Ivan and watches warily the approach of
Hurricane Jeanne, some residents are thinking of
others.
Greenwood/Abbeville Jaycees are seeking to assist
hurricane victims in Florida, at the request of the Florida
Jaycee Disaster Team.
The public can help in this effort by
making monetary donations or bringing items to Palmetto
Quality Air, across from Sonic, from 3 – 5:30 p.m. Monday
through Friday, or by appointment. Donations will be accepted
through Oct. 1, said Stephanie Meeks, S.C. community
development vice president.
Residents of Florida displaced
by the hurricanes need personal hygiene items, toilet paper,
toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, soap and bottled water.
Also, some residents can use easily prepared canned
goods.
For information, contact Meeks at 227-0758 or Bobby
Hamby at 378-3492.
Shavonne Potts covers general
assignments in Greenwood and the Lakelands. She can be reached
at 223-1811, ext. 3306, or: spotts@indexjournal.com.
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