County declares emergency, extends curfew amid recovery after Helene batters SC

A county in the South Carolina Midlands has extended a mandatory curfew for residents after Hurricane Helene blew through the state Thursday evening and Friday morning .

Under an emergency declaration, Aiken County Sheriff Michael Hunt announced that Aiken County’s curfew, first implemented on Friday, would extend through Sunday morning.

Curfew will begin again on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. until 7:30 a.m.

Essential workers for local businesses and services working scheduled hours are an exception, as are first responders. Those who are traveling to predetermined locations and events and traveling to and from work are also exempt.

“It is important (sic) we keep the roadways clear of any unnecessary vehicle and pedestrian traffic, especially in our heavily damage areas,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release. “We encourage everyone to avoid areas that have been impacted by the storm and if possible stay off the roadways so utility services and responders can continue helping those in the greatest needs.”

Helene made landfall in Florida late Thursday night as a category 3 hurricane, and then traveled inland into Georgia and North and South Carolina. Helene was listed as a tropical storm as of 6 a.m. Friday, but the damage she left in her wake classified her as one of the strongest storms on record. The National Weather Service in Columbia clocked winds at 67 mph at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport at 6:12 a.m. Friday. More than a million South Carolinians were still without power as of Saturday afternoon.

Violaters and looters, officials said, will be arrested.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.