EDGEFIELD, S.C. (WIS) - Efforts for clean-up and relief efforts have continued across the state following Helene's impact.
However, rural communities in the southern part of the state are facing unprecedented challenges from the severity of Hurricane Helene.
According to first responders, some areas in Edgefield County are still inaccessible.
The county has seen tremendous damage and massive power outages.
For some, there's a race against the clock to get power restored before food spoils and other resources are lost. Residents are facing thousands of dollars just to clear trees from their yards. Powerlines are still laying in the street.
Heading out of the town limits and into more rural areas of the county, people are still living in their homes with trees sticking through the roof and flatting their cars.
Aiken Electric Cooperative said 50% of its total grid is still without power.
The Edgefield Emergency Management Director said 80% of the county is still without power.
Residents said the loss of power is taking a toll on them in several ways.
One resident, John Ryans, said it's important for him to have his refrigerator because of the medication he takes.
"I'm personally a diabetic," he said. "So my medications need to be refrigerated. And you know there's an ice shortage here. You can't find a bag of ice anywhere. You know we're just trying to take one day at a time."
Aiken Electric said most of their crews are all-hands-on-deck at substations. They said this is not a restoration effort, but a complete build of the power grid.
6,000 customers got power back yesterday and 26,000 people have got their power back since Friday, the company said.
According to reporting from WRDW, Edgefield County officials have imposed a curfew from 9 p.m. until 6 p.m. daily until further notice.
WRDW reported electric companies have been out since Friday to restore the power.
Most major highways are open, but secondary roads are still a work in progress. Crews are working on getting lanes open for those.
A shelter has opened at Johnston-Edgefield-Trenton Middle School located at 1095 Columbia Road.
Water is being given out to those bringing their own containers at Edgefield Water Authority's water department.
Updates from the county are being given to those who text "edg alerts" to 91896.