FOREST ACRES, S.C. — Dozens of trees fell across Forest Acres leading to two injures and several homes and cars being damaged. The high winds from Tropical Depression Helene brought them down late Thursday night through Friday morning.
Power crews were facing massive outages, with Trenholm Plaza and Forest Drive being without power for much of the day, while some neighborhoods have no idea when power may come back on.
Chuck Cornwell says he heard transformers blowing in the night and extreme winds. His power is still out.
"Stepped out my door just in time to watch a large pine tree fall between my house and my neighbors house and it’s still there because it’s on electrical wire," said Cornwell.
There were trees all over his neighborhood blocking roads and filling yards. Neighbors say Cornwell spent all day helping them remove debris and clear up roadways.
"When something happens in the neighborhood we come together, that’s just the way it is," said Cornwell,
According to a message from Mayor Thomas Andrews, there were over 100 reported trees down in the area, with the real number likely being much higher. Two girls were treated at the hospital after they were hit by a falling tree outside their home on Furman Ave. Both have been released from the hospital with minor injures, according to Forest Acres spokesperson Lynnsey Baker.
"{Residents} say this is the most substantial tree event that we have seen in Forest Acres in decades," said Baker.
She says she saw residents coming together to help each other out across the city. Trees on several streets, including one blocking the road by Citadel Park.
One resident heard a tree fall on her neighbor's house early Friday morning, she said it was so loud she thought a tornado was ripping through the neighborhood.
"I think it was around 5:30 or 6:00 AM, the power went out and I think we heard a tree crash and you could definitely tell it came from that side so we knew it was something big for sure," said Baker. "The sound of the wind intensified. It died down but then it picked up really strong again."
The tree has almost covered the neighbor's house. Baker says the neighbor wasn't harmed.
Some of the other areas hit hard include Lakeshort, Spring Lake, Forest Lake, and Rockbridge, according to the City. Lynnsey Baker also said that power crews were brought in from North Virginia, and that they told officials from the city to be prepared for a "multi-day event."