The latest on Irma’s local impact: Power outages around Aiken County amid wind warning, flood watch

Sept. 11--Winds and rain from Hurricane Irma have moved into Aiken County, and officials warn residents to be very careful throughout the day.

At 7:20 p.m.

The National Weather Service in Columbia issued a tornado warning for northwestern Barnwell County that will be in effect until 7:30 p.m.

At 5:10 p.m.

Aiken County Council Interim Chairman Andrew Siders posted the following update from the Aiken County Emergency Operations Center on Facebook:

The biggest thing that appears to be left to deal with are the power outages. SCE&G has about 16,000 without power and Aiken Electric has about 5,000 out for a total of 21,000. We have one report of a house with a tree/limb through the roof and another that a falling tree pulled the meter off the house. A number of power lines down. Roads and Bridges has, or is in the process of, removing 7 downed trees. Hope to complete that work before nightfall.

There are currently 166 individuals in shelters. We did have to close one shelter due to power loss, but have been able to accommodate those in need thus far. Seems to be a couple more hours of bad weather in front of us and then it should start to calm down some. Winds should settle down somewhat by mid to late evening.

As of now, we will probably not have full staff overnight in the EOC, but will keep limited staff. Full staff will remain at least for several more hours. Roads and Bridges and Shop personnel will be available tonight as needed, but hopefully they will not have to work all night. EMS calls remain lower than normal/expected.

At 5:09 p.m.

SCE&G was reporting outages affecting 13,992 customers in Aiken County, 2,552 in Edgefield County and 162 in Barnwell County. Aiken Electric Cooperative was reporting outages affecting 8,736 customers in all, including 5,651 in Aiken County, 1,336 in Edgefield County and six in Barnwell County.

At 4:35 p.m.

SCE&G was reporting outages affecting 18,628 customers in Aiken County, 2,232 in Edgefield County and 158 in Barnwell County. Aiken Electric Cooperative was reporting outages affecting 8,125 customers in all, including 5,697 in Aiken County, 1,272 in Edgefield County and six in Barnwell County.

At 4:17 p.m.

Barnwell County is included in tornado watch that is in effect until 10 p.m.

At 4:12 p.m.

SCE&G was reporting outages affecting 17,067 customers in Aiken County, 2,534 in Edgefield County and 190 in Barnwell County. Aiken Electric Cooperative was reporting outages affecting 8,773 customers in its service area. Those affected included 6,269 in Aiken County, 1,422 in Edgefield County and six in Barnwell County.

At 3:40 p.m.

SCE&G was reporting outages affecting 12,932 customers in Aiken County, 2,026 in Edgefield County and 182 in Barnwell County. Aiken Electric Cooperative was reporting outages affecting 7097 customers in its service area. Those affected included 4,750 in Aiken County, 1,376 in Edgefield County and six in Barnwell County.

At 3:30 p.m.

National Weather Service in Columbia reporting that strongest wind gusts in this area from Irma are expected over the next three to four hours. There are already multiple reports of wind gusts of more than 50 miles per hour.

At 3:02 p.m.

SCEG&G was reporting outages affecting 8,328 customers in Aiken County, 384 in Edgefield County and 149 in Barnwell County. Aiken Electric Cooperative was reporting outages affecting 4,106 customers in Aiken County, 776 in Edgefield County and six in Barnwell County.

At 3 p.m

It was reported during a press conference involving S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster and other state officials in Columbia that there had been no fatalities in South Carolina so far related to Irma.

At 2:51 p.m.

According to the National Weather Service in Columbia, the following wind gusts had been recorded today through 2 p.m.: 49 mph at 11:55 a.m. at Aiken Municipal Airport, 52 mph at 11:43 a.m. at Daniel Field in Augusta, 48 mph at 12:22 p.m. at Bush Field in Augusta, 48 mph at 12:15 p.m. at Barnwell Regional Airport, 40 mph at 12:21 p.m. 3 miles west of North Augusta, 40 mph at 12:07 p.m. 8 miles southeast of New Ellenton.

At 1:25 p.m.

According to our reporters in the field, traffic lights out at the intersection of Richland Avenue and Laurens Street. Fallen tree on Colony Parkway has been cleared from road.

At 1:18 p.m.

SCE&G is reporting power outages affecting 2,923 customers in Aiken County, 968 in Barnwell County and 190 in Edgefield County. Aiken Electric Cooperative is reporting outages affecting 4,711 people in Aiken County, two in Barnwell County and 605 in Edgefield County.

At 1:14 p.m.

Aiken County Council member and interim chairman Andrew Siders posted the following report on Facebook about an hour ago: The EOC (Aiken County Emergency Operations Center) is fully staffed this morning following a skeleton crew staffing it overnight. We will be in the EOC until the end of the event and have elevated our status to the highest level.

As you know, the storm weakened substantially overnight, but still packs substantial winds. The biggest threat is coastal flooding and potential flash floods throughout the state. We still could get some heavy gusts, but probably not as strong as predicted yesterday.

We have Roads and Bridges personnel at the shop prepared to respond to downed trees and other road hazards as needed. We will have additional crews report at 6:00 p.m. and work through the night if needed. We have already had two downed trees on Highway 278 and SCDOT has been dispatched to take care of that. EMS is staffed at 140% today and will remain at that level through the night. Thankfully, EMS call volume is actually down at the moment. Sheriff Hunt has suspended all leave and all personnel are available if needed. Buildings and Grounds has personnel in the Government Center in support of EOC operations and several are checking other County facilities to insure the security of the buildings since our operations are closed today. The County Shop is also fully operational to support the operations of field personnel. We have split that crew as well and will have folks working tonight to address any vehicle issues that may arise in response to the event.

Currently there are about 1800 power outages in the County with more expected. We have 8 community shelters open in local churches and 139 folks are in those various shelters. The shelters with locations and contact information is below:

Full Gospel Redemption Center (803-593-2425)

365 Piney Heights RD,

Warrenville, SC 29851

Belvedere First Baptist (803-279-0415)

421 Edgefield RD

Belvedere, SC 29841

Clearwater Baptist Church (803-593-3195)

17 Belvedere RD,

Beech Island, SC 29842

Heights Baptist Church (803-593-3054)

4631-A Jefferson Davis HWY

Beech Island, SC 29842

Sweetwater Baptist Church (803-426-1860)

198 Sweetwater RD

North Augusta, SC 29841

Friendship Baptist Church (803-292-3987, contact: Dr. Denise Newman)

124 Clairmont DR

Belvedere, SC 29841

Windsor First Baptist Church (803-648-5103 , contact Wesley 522-6475 or Dale 803-640-6737)

539 Middleton DR

Windsor, SC 29856

We have about 70 animals at the pet shelter located at the fairgrounds. Those are from folks that came to area from outside the County and could not take their pets to shelters.

At 12:48 p.m.

According to our reporters in the field, there is a tree down on Sawyer Lane in Aiken Estates and power lines are down near the intersection of Sawyer Lane and Wheeler Drive. Traffic light is out at intersection of Boardman Road and Whiskey Road.

At 12:05 p.m.

According to the National Weather Service in Columbia the following wind gusts have been recorded today: 44 mph at 11:15 a.m. at the Aiken Municipal Airport, 30 mph at 10:11 a.m. 3 miles west of North Augusta, 30 mph at 10:11 a.m. 8 miles southeast of New Ellenton, 52 mph at 10:41 a.m. at Daniel Field in Augusta, 46 mph at 10:15 a.m. at Barnwell Regional Airport, 45 mph at 10:05 a.m. at Bush Field in Augusta.

At 11:55 a.m.

SCE&G reporting power outages affecting 4,404 customers in Aiken County, 551 in Barnwell County and 161 in Edgefield County. Aiken Electric Cooperative reporting outages affecting 2,643 customers in Aiken County, one in Barnwell County and 617 in Edgefield County.

At 11:49 a.m.

According to our reporters in the field, there is a tree down across Powderhouse Road in Aiken and the Aiken Department of Public Safety is working to restore power at the intersection of Whiskey Road and Berrie Road near Rye Patch.

At 10:45 a.m.

According to the National Weather Service in Columbia, there was a wind gust of 46 mph at the Barnwell County Airport at 10:15 a.m.

At 10:40 a.m.

SCE&G reporting power outages affecting 4,388 customers in Aiken County, 464 in Barnwell County, and seven in Edgefield County. Aiken Electric Cooperative reporting outages affecting 1,528 customers in Aiken County and one in Edgefield County.

At 9:57 a.m.

SCE&G reporting outages affecting 2,076 customers in Aiken County and six in Barnwell County. Aiken Electric Cooperative reporting outages affecting 1,408 customers in Aiken County and three in Edgefield County.

At 9:06 a.m.

SCE&G is reporting seven incidents causing outages in Aiken County and affecting 197 customers. There is one incident causing an outage in Edgefield County that is affecting six customers.

At 9:01 a.m.

Aiken Electric Cooperative is reporting nine power outages, affecting 252 customers.

At 8:54 a.m.

According to the National Weather Service in Columbia, the Barnwell County airport reported a wind gust of 44 mph at 7:55 a.m. Augusta Bush Field reported a wind gust of 40 mph at 7:48 a.m.

At 8:38 a.m.

Irma has been downgraded to a tropical storm as it continues to move through Florida.

At 8 a.m.

A high wind warning and flash flood watch began at 8 a.m. today in Aiken, Edgefield and Barnwell counties as Hurricane Irma continued to move northward in Florida as a Category 1 storm.

They will continue until 2 a.m. Tuesday.

In Aiken, sustained winds of 26 to 36 mph are expected during the daytime, with tropical storm force gusts up to 55 mph.

Isolated tornadoes are possible.

Tonight, winds of 27 to 32 mph are predicted, and they will decrease to 15 to 20 mph after midnight.

There could be tropical storm force gusts of up to 48 mph.

Rainfall amounts of two to three inches are possible during the day. Two to three inches are possible tonight.

At 6:30 a.m. Monday

A high wind warning and a flash flood watch are scheduled to take effect at 8 o'clock this morning in the Aiken area and continue through 2 a.m. Tuesday.

Locally, it is breezy, and there is a light rain as a weakening Hurricane Irma continues to move northward in Florida as a Category 1 storm while heading toward the state's eastern Panhandle and southern Georgia.

Sustained winds of 26 to 36 mph are expected today in this part of South Carolina, with gusts up to 55, according to the National Weather Service in Columbia. Gusts near 40 mph are predicted before 9 a.m. in the CSRA.

Tonight winds will be 27 to 32 mph, and they will decrease to 15 to 20 mph after midnight. Gusts could be as high as 48 mph.

Two to three inches of rain are possible during the day. There might be two to three more inches tonight.

The high temperature will be near 73 degrees Fahrenheit. Tonight's low will be close to 66 degrees Fahrenheit.

LOCAL CLOSURES

City of Aiken offices are open Monday, and a City Council meeting will be held at 7 p.m.

There won't be any City of Aiken garbage, recycling and yard waste pickups Monday. All of those services will be delayed one day this week.

City of North Augusta offices are open Monday.

Aiken County government offices and drop-off centers are closed Monday.

Edgefield County government offices and the Town of Johnston's offices are closed Monday.

There are no classes Monday at public schools in Aiken and Edgefield counties. The schools in both counties are expected to reopen Tuesday with a two-hour delay in their schedules.

No classes are being held Monday and Tuesday at USC Aiken. The school's offices are closed Monday.

Aiken Technical College is closed Monday.

The Savannah River Site is closed to non-essential personnel Monday.

STATEWIDE

Winds and rain from Hurricane Irma have moved into South Carolina and officials warn residents to be very careful throughout the day.

A hurricane watch is in effect Monday from Edisto Beach into Florida. A storm surge warning and a tropical storm warning are in effect from near Georgetown into Florida.

A flash flood warning is in effect along the southern coast of South Carolina, where more than 40,000 were ordered to evacuate barrier islands.

The storm surge could reach 6 feet, especially from late morning to mid-afternoon. Up to 6 inches of rain is also possible.

Wind gusts of up to 60 mph are expected along the South Carolina coast. Forecasters say tornadoes are also possible.

South Carolina Electric & Gas reported more than 13,000 customers without service Monday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Dede Biles is a general assignment reporter for the Aiken Standard and has been with the newspaper since January 2013. A native of Concord, N.C, she graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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