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The remnants of what was once Hurricane Helene in Florida barreled through Georgia, then battered South Carolina before inundating North Carolina. (Video above: 11 p.m. update on Helene damage)Here you will find updates throughout the day on how it’s impacting the Carolinas and Georgia. >>For the very latest forecast, radar, and map images, click here.11:30 p.m.Out of approximately 277,000 customers in Greenville County, 260,000 are without power. Out of approximately 175,000 customers in Spartanburg County, 171,000 are without power.Out of approximately 127,000 customers in Anderson County, 104,000 are without power.For information on power outages in other South Carolina counties, click here.4 p.m. 4 storm deaths reported in Greenville County | Total in SC is 13 at this time3:45 p.m.:”ALL PARKS ARE CLOSED INCLUDING FALLS PARK. Downtown Greenville remains unsafe due to rising flood waters and downed trees. The presence of the public hinders clean-up efforts. Police are asking residents to avoid the area around the Reedy River. The area is barricaded.”3:30 p.m.:The Peace Center and Disney Theatrical Group announce that the performance of Disneys The Lion King in Greenville at the Peace Center tonight, Friday, September 27, is cancelled due to widespread power outages, flooding, and other storm-related issues. Currently, all other performances will play as scheduled.Patrons who purchased tickets to the cancelled September 27 performance will receive an automatic refund to their original method of payment. Patrons who purchased tickets through unofficial third-party sellers should contact them directly for refund information.For any additional questions about The Lion King refunds, customers should contact their original point of purchase. 3:25 p.m.:2:25 p.m.: 2:25 p.m.: SC Gov. Henry McMaster speaking live above. 2:15 p.m. update 2:05 p.m. update:The Oconee County Coroner’s Office reported there is currently no fatalities from Tropical Storm Helene in Oconee County, South Carolina.2:00 p.m. update:Governor Roy Cooper and state leaders continue to urge North Carolina residents to monitor dangerous conditions from Hurricane Helene, stay off roads in the western part of the state except in cases of emergency and listen to local officials.For western North Carolina, do not travel unless there is an emergency, said Governor Cooper. Because conditions are worsening, people in western North Carolina should consider all roads closed unless you are seeking higher ground. I urge people to stay informed and listen to local emergency response officials. More than 359 North Carolina roads have been reported closed in Western North Carolina and the NC Department of Transportation is working to respond to closures and damage, according to officials.1:30 p.m. update:McDowell County officials said swift water rescues and emergency responses to people trapped in houses continues. Nearly all locations in McDowell County are without power. Emergency personnel are unable to access multiple areas. McDowell County Emergency Management has requested air support from NC Emergency Management to rescue trapped citizens who emergency personnel can’t reach. Air support will not be available until weather conditions improve. Every available first responder is working to respond to emergency calls. Numerous cell towers are down and major infrastructure damage has occurred. 12:55 p.m. update:President Biden approves Emergency Declaration for South Carolina12:45 p.m. update:12:30 p.m. update:Rutherford EMC, is an electric cooperative that serves 75,000 homes and businesses in 10 western North Carolina counties. The company announced Helene caused power outages for more than 56,000 Rutherford EMC customers, which is nearly 80% of all homes and businesses served by Rutherford EMC.12:20 p.m. update:12:15 p.m. update:Spartanburg County has declared a State of Emergency. Officials said 911 is down for an indefinite amount of time. Until it is restored, please call (864) 596-2076 for life safety needs.12:10 p.m. update:The city of Asheville, North Carolina said water consumers in Buncombe County are experiencing periods of low pressure and outages in the distribution system due to weather conditions generated by Tropical Storm Helene. This increases the potential for back siphonage and introduction of bacteria into the water system. There is also potential for temporary loss of water service.Therefore, when water service is restored consumers who have electric power are advised to boil all water used for human consumption (including drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation). Those without power are advised to use bottled water for the purposes mentioned above.12:05 p.m. update:Georgia Governor Brian Kemp held a press conference regarding the state’s situation.12:00 p.m. update:Falls Park in Greenville, South Carolina has announced immediate closure until further notice.11:40 a.m. update:Officials in Oconee County, South Carolina announced a sewer overflow near Wells Highway east of Seneca near Martin Creek due to impacts from Tropical Storm Helene. The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services has been notified.The volume of wastewater spilled has not been determined.Officials stated the storm surge and floodwaters also impacted the ability to store and treat wastewater at Coneross Creem Water Reclamation Facility.The treatment plant continues to operate normally.Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority advised people and pets should avoid all floodwaters and waterbodies in the area due to potential wastewater contamination.11:40 a.m. update on 2 deaths reported in Anderson County, South Carolina11:35 a.m. update:WYFF 4’s Destiny Chance reports refrigerated items are taped up so they stay insulated and dont go bad as power is not fully on at the Publix in Five Forks, South Carolina. Reportedly, Publix cannot sell anything cold, no coolers are allowed to be open. Freezers either. This means no milk, eggs, cheese, some fruits and vegetables, meat, and anything frozen that would normally be easy to whip up during an outage with a generator. 11:15 a.m. update:Henderson County officials announced Interstate 40 at Old Fort Mountain (Exit 67) is closed. All lanes at mm 51 in Henderson County on Interstate 26 is closed.11:10 a.m. update:North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and other NC officials held a press conference discussing the situation of the state.11:00 a.m. update:According to Rutherford County officials, residents below the Lake Lure Dam need to evacuate to higher ground immediately as dam failure is imminent.10:55 a.m. update:The McDowell County Emergency Management Division announced Lake Tahoma dam is spilling 7.2 feet over the dam. Officials said there are no signs of structure damage or compromise at this time.10;45 a.m. update:Reportedly hundreds of giant, full propane tanks floating down the French Broad River near Biltmore Avenue.10:40 a.m. update:The Laurens Electric Cooperative announced Helene may be the worst storm in LECs history as Helene caused massive damage to electric infrastructure throughout the state. The utility company said, “At its peak, approximately 98% of our service territory lost power, including outages at the transmission level. The recovery will be long and challenging. Many members will be without power for hours or days.”10:30 a.m. update:10:24 a.m. update:Abbeville County officials have declared a State of Emergency in response to the significant damage caused by Tropical Storm Helene. The storm has led to widespread power outages, flooding, and road closures throughout the county, leaving many residents and businesses affected. Emergency services are currently responding to the situation and working to restore essential services.The County urges all residents to avoid any non-essential travel, as many roads remain hazardous or impassable. Heavy rains and high winds have created dangerous conditions, including downed trees and power lines. Public safety officials stress that unnecessary travel increases the risk to both individuals and emergency responders.9:50 a.m. update:9:50 am update: Greer CPW reporting 90% of Greer is out of power. 9:30 a.m. update:Mandatory evacuations have been issued for residents below the Lake Lure Dam in Rutherford County.Lake Lure officials have advised Rutherford County Emergency Management officials water is topping the lake lure dam. A mandatory evacuation has been announced to the residents below the dam in low lying flood prone areas. Mass notification sirens have been activated. A secondary shelter has been setup in the town of Rutherfordton at Rutherfordton Presbyterian church, at 252 North Washington street. This is the second time this has happened in the last two days. Highway 64 flooding is expected.9:20 a.m. update: Both directions between West Georgia and Fairview Road. Power lines are down across all lanes and a tree is down on Capewood Drive in Greenville County.9:30 a.m. update:The Laurens Electric Cooperative announced Helene may be the worst storm in the utility company’s history as the hurricane caused massive damage to electric infrastructure throughout the state. The company said,”At its peak, approximately 98% of our service territory lost power, including outages at the transmission level. The recovery will be long and challenging. Many members will be without power for hours or days.”9:08 a.m. update:Video shows water over the entire roadway on Glassy Road in Northern Greenville County near Tigerville.8:48 a.m. update:Greenwood County Manager Toby Chappell has declared a State of Emergency in Greenwood County.Trees are down throughout the County and power outages are widespread. Crews are assessing damage. We will provide updates as they become available.8:23 a.m. update:Anderson County Office of the Coroner is enroute to a death due to a tree down on a residence on West Whitner Street in Anderson. More on the story here.8:10 a.m. update:8:05 a.m. update:Henderson County and the city of Hendersonville have issued a Do Not Drive Alert for any non-emergency travel during this time. Consider all roads in Henderson County as closed until storm impacts subside and the threat of falling trees and flooded roadways has subsided. Henderson County has hundreds of active calls in our dispatch system, and it is currently unsafe to travel. Do not enter flooded roadways or try to drive. The only reason you should be travelling is if you are evacuating to higher ground due to flooding. 8:01 a.m. update:North Carolina Education Lottery officials say adverse weather conditions from Tropical Storm Helene will impact operations of the N.C. Education Lotterys regional offices and claim centers in Asheville and Charlotte on Friday, Sept. 27.The Asheville regional office and claim center in Asheville will be closed on Friday. The opening of the Charlotte regional office and claim center will be delayed until noon on Friday.At this time, the lotterys Raleigh headquarters and its other regional offices and claim centers in Greensboro, Raleigh, Greenville, and Wilmington are operating on a normal schedule.All lottery drawings will be held as scheduled.8 a.m. update:The South Carolina Department of Transportation is encouraging drivers to avoid travel as wind speeds associated with Tropical Storm Helene have caused downed trees and other debris in roadways. SCDOT crews will begin clearing roadways as it becomes safe to do so.If you must travel, SCDOT asks that you use caution and report any downed trees or debris to us directly at 855-467-2378.7:55 a.m. update: The Spartanburg Police Department posted the following:PLEASE STAY OFF THE ROADS UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY.Road closures: W. O. Ezell inbound from Vanderbilt Rd and 1 lane outbound is blocked East Main at Ivey Street Beechwood Drive7:51 a.m. update:From McDowell County Emergency Management:”Life-threatening conditions exist throughout McDowell County due to severe flooding, hundreds of downed trees, and swift water. Many roadways are impassable, and some communities are isolated.”Stay off the roads, shelter in place, and avoid floodwaters. Emergency responders are working hard to ensure safety. If you are in immediate danger or need to evacuate, call 911.”7:50 a.m. update: Easley Police Department is currently working to resolve a technical issue with our 911 phone line. Please call 864-859-4025 as it is operational.7:45 a.m. update:Travelers Rest City Offices are on a delayed opening. Offices will open at noon, weather permitting. Complete list of closings here.7:35 a.m. update: Grabiela Pineda shared this photo of a fallen branch on fence, a trampoline that flew from a neighbor’s house and tree that fell down across the street from her home on Chipley Avenue in Greenwood.7:30 a.m. update:Rutherford County Emergency Management issued this statement:”It is no longer safe to leave your home, please do not attempt to travel the roadways if it is not an emergency. Multiple roads are blocked by trees and powerlines are down throughout the county. Too many to list. A large majority of the county is impassable. Trees and powerlines are falling faster than we can clear them. A day at work is not worth your life.Fire departments have had to suspend road clearing operations due to numerous trees falling around them while working. These operations will not resume until wind conditions improve and they can be conducted safely. Emergency services will only respond to immediate life threats until further notice and services may be severely delayed. Stay home!”7:26 a.m. update:Greenwood County emergency officials have issued a shelter in place lockdown.They released this statement:”Please shelter in place. If you have an emergency, dial 911 for assistance. Get to a safe place and take precautions until given an “all clear”. It is unsafe to be out on the roads at this time. Please remain in your home.”7:15 a.m. update:Latest outages:Upstate South Carolina – 220,414Western North Carolina – 117,962Check the latest outages in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina here.7 a.m. update: The death toll from Helene has risen to four. More on that story here.6:50 a.m. update: Some flights are being delayed at Greenville-Spartanburg International AirportCheck flight status here.6:45 a.m. update:Dangerously strong winds are picking up across South Carolina.The Columbia Metropolitan Airport recorded a tropical-storm-force wind gust of 67 mph at 6:12 a.m. as Helene’s remnant eye wall approaches.Winds in Augusta, Georgia, were recorded at 79 mph just before 6 a.m.The video below was recorded just after 6:30 a.m.6:30 a.m. update:More mandatory evacuations issuedThe city of Asheville is reporting the North Fork Reservoir auxiliary spillway has been activated due to the catastrophic rain in the area. The dam is performing as designed, and the volume of water flowing downstream will increase as the storm intensifies. Due to the high risk, a MANDATORY EVACUATION of the Swannanoa River Valley area is in place. All residents within the designated area downstream of the reservoir are required to move to higher ground. If you need assistance to evacuate, please call 911.Shelter is available at Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville (87 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801) Explore Asheville has worked with local hotels to make rooms available for residents who are seeking shelter from the storm. Those rates are available here.6 a.m. update:5:45 a.m.The Travelers Rest Police Department is reporting numerous large trees and power lines down.3:20 a.m. update:Trees Down in the city:Lipscombe DriveHillside DriveParis View DriveDuncan Chapel RoadSevere flooding:Tubbs Mountain ExtPoplar Rd ExtTraffic lights out:276 Poinsett Hwy and Roe Ford Road 5:30 update:The Mauldin Fire Department is reported that Miller Road is closed between Old Mill Road and Corn Road, down at the bridge due to flooding. Drury Lane is also closed between Bon Air Street and Rowan Street after a power line and a tree fell across the road.5 a.m. update:Hundreds of thousands of power outages have been reported in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.Georgia: 683,000South Carolina: 19,870North Carolina: 698964:30 a.m. update: The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood emergency for Waynesville, Canton, and Lake Junaluska North Carolina until 10:15 a.m.4:20 a.m. update:The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a flash flood warning for Burke County and McDowell County in western North Carolina until 10:15 a.m. At 4:14 a.m., doppler radar indicated increasing rainfall rates, with 1 to 2 inches per hour expected. County officials reported ongoing road closures and flooding of structures across the county. Many locations had already received 5 to 9 inches of rain over the last 24 hours, saturating the ground and priming things for the next round. Significant flooding appears likely, resulting in road closures, first-floor inundation, and damage to some structures. The risk of life-threatening landslide activity continues to increase. 4 a.m. update:A mandatory evacuation order has been issued for Ponderosa Park off US 221 Business in Marion. Ponderosa Park is in imminent danger of being surrounded by the Catawba River. Emergency personnel will not be able to access the park based upon projected river levels. Now is the time to move to higher ground. Take immediate action to protect your life!An emergency shelter is open at Glenwood Baptist Church located at 155 Glenwood Baptist Church Rd. in Marion. Call 828-652-3241 if you need transportation to the shelter. 3:45 a.m. update:A flash flood warning is in effect for Greenville County until 8 a.m. This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing and area subject to flooding or under and evacuation order.3:20 a.m. update:The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a flash flood warning for Henderson County, Polk County and Transylvania County in western North Carolina until 8:15 a.m.Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 6 and 9 inches of rain have fallen. Significant flooding appears likely across much of the warned area, with numerous road closures and water rescues likely, damage to even well-built structures, and standing in low-lying areas.3:10 a.m. update:Thousands of power outages are being reported across our area. At least 11,000 in across the Upstate and 20,000 in Western North Carolina. Keep track of outages here.2:40 a.m. update: The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has extended the flash flood warning for Henderson County in western North Carolina until 6 a.m. Moderate to heavy rain continues to move across the area where between 4 and 7 inches of rain has fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 1 to 2 inches in 1 hour. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.2 a.m. update: Greer police say that due to flooding, East Suber Road at Sweetbriar Court will be closed until further notice. 1:30 a.m. update:Flash flood warning issued for McDowell County in western North Carolina until 4:45 a.m. Friday. As of 1:33 a.m. persistent moderate to heavy rainfall today has resulted in between 4 and 7 inches of additional rainfall across the area. A band of moderate to at times heavy rain will move into the area with rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches around 2:30 a.m.1:15 a.m. update:Flash flood warning issued for Henderson County in western North Carolina until 3 a.m.At 1:12 a.m., moderate to heavy rain continues to move across the area where between 4 and 7 inches of rain has fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 1 to 2 inches in 1 hour. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the warned area. Life-threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, low-water crossings, urban areas, highways, streets, and underpasses is expected.12:20 a.m. update: Duke Energy reports about 1,000 customers without power in Greenville County.