LEXINGTON, S.C. — Stores and gas stations in Lexington County are hopping as Georgia residents seek gas, groceries and supplies.
“You know I thought everyone was overreacting at first, but then I realized people were filling up cans for generators and so its not an overreaction, it’s a necessity," said one Augusta, Georgia, resident.
That is the same account many are reiterating as lines at gas stations in Lexington County continue to grow just days after Tropical Storm Helene left devasting damage to the Midlands.
News19 was at the Circle K gas station located at 1100 South Lake Drive Sunday morning speaking with those in line to get gas.
Aiken resident Tim Barton tells us he traveled all the way to Lexington to fill up a gas tank for his generator and power is yet to be restored in his home.
“I’m getting enough fuel to run my generator because Dominion Power is telling us we are going to be out of power for at least a week and so I'm running everything on a generator,” Barton said.
Others traveled from Augusta, Georgia, in need of gas and other basic necessities like food, water and ice at local supermarkets like Wal-Mart and Lowes Home Improvement.
“Gas isn’t for maybe an hour down the road, it's hard to get gas," said Aiden Hager from Augusta.
"There are lines all the way down to the interstate," Hager said. It's hours - three hours, five hours wait times most places."
“We lived two minutes away from a Kroger and we waited in line for for hours yesterday and even when we went in there, there was no cold food or anything," Augusta residents Cierra and Baylor told us. "It was just the bare necessities, so that’s why we ventured out because we needed something.”
Many others out shopping Sunday morning, like Ashley and Brandon McClain, say power companies have notified them that power is expected to be back on October 5th. They say they are worried for their kids and overall well-being.
"We don’t have any power, no gas, no water, very limited groceries in Augusta right now, and they we are going to be out of power until at least next Saturday, October 5th, and then the city of Augusta is having to shut off," Ashely said.
Lowes Home Improvement store in Lexington says the demand for generators is high. Right now, there are none in stock, but they say they are working to re-stock them.
