COLUMBIA, S.C. — The City of Columbia is opening up a temporary shelter to residents affected by the widespread power outages and damage left by Tropical Storm Helene.
The city said Saturday the shelter would open up at Greenview Park, located at 6700 David Street, starting at 6 p.m. They said it will remain open until further notice.
Officials said the park is set up to accommodate 50 people but has the ability to expand. The city will provide 50 cots with a pillow, blanket, emergency hygiene kit, and water. People are asked to bring their own toiletry items, additional pillows and blankets, and and medications or other necessary items they may need.
The city wants people to pass this information on to any elderly neighbors or people with medical needs that require electricity.
Residents are encouraged to contact Customer Care at (803) 545-3300 if they have any questions about the shelter and to check if there is space available.
The city in an effort to make sure the site is safe and secure, public safety officials will be on site.
On Thursday, Helene dumped flooding rains in South Carolina ahead of coming ashore in Florida. It then made landfall just before midnight as a Category 4 hurricane on Florida's Big Bend region before pushing into Georgia. The storm tracked along the eastern side of Georgia and into the Upstate of South Carolina. That path then brought high winds to the western half of South Carolina, leading to thousands of downed trees and powerlines. At the peak of the problems Friday morning, there were almost 1.4 million people without power, but even with crews working around the clock, that number had only dropped to about 1.06 million early Saturday afternoon.