North country native among 23 storm-related deaths from Hurricane Helene

AIKEN COUNTY, S.C. (WJBF/WWTI) – A 29-year-old Northern New York man has passed away as a result of Hurricane Helene in Aiken County, S.C.

Nexstar-affiliated station WJBF reported that Michael Roukous of Dexter was pronounced dead around 10 a.m. Friday, September 27.

This was after after a tree crashed through the roof of a Bread and Breakfast home he was renting on Casnettie Road in Beech Island.

Three other storm-related deaths have been confirmed in Aiken County, according to the Coroner.

• According to the Aiken County Coroner’s Office: Jerry Savage, 78, and Marcia Savage, 74, were pronounced dead at 11:40 P.M. after a tree crashed through the roof of their home landing on the couple.
• 70-year-old man was pronounced dead at 8:50 A.M. Friday morning after a tree crashed through the roof of his home on Metts Park Circle in Aiken.

The Richmond County Coroner has confirmed five storm related deaths. According to the Richmond County Coroner’s Office, authorities responded to five different locations in reference to a death at each residence in which a tree had fallen through the residence.

The locations were:

• 5000 Blk. Old Waynesboro Road – Stephen Donehoo, 72 years old was pronounced dead on scene after a tree fell on the residence; Izaak Donehoo, 10 years old was transported to Wellstar / MCG by EMS and died shortly after arrival.
• 2100 Blk. Lake Ave – Uyen Xuan Le, 36 years old was pronounced dead on the scene after a tree fell on the residence.
• 2200 Blk. Morningside Dr. – Katherine McCall, 62 years old was pronounced dead on scene after a tree fell on the residence.
• 4500 Blk. Windsor Spring Rd – Andrea Warner, 62 years old was pronounced dead on the scene after a tree fell on the residence.
• 3300 Blk. Wedgewood Dr. – Daverio Carter, 50 years old was pronounced dead on scene after a tree fell on the residence.

Four people have been killed in McDuffie County, including a mother and twin infants, per the coroner.

Saluda County has tragically experienced four fatalities since early this morning as a result of Hurricane Helene.

According to the press conference that South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster that was livestreamed on SCETV, two firefighters have been confirmed dead in Saluda County in a single-vehicle crash while responding to a structure fire on West Creek Road at 6:10 a.m. According to Saluda County authorities, two other individuals were killed at their residences, one due to a fallen tree.

This brings the total number of deaths due to Hurricane Helene:

• Florida 2
• Georgia 11, including a 1st responder
• North Carolina 1
• South Carolina 7, including 2 1st responders

This is a developing story.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWTI - InformNNY.com.