In Jefferson County, law enforcement leaders are relieved that the damage from Hurricane Helene was less than they’d expected. They started clearing the roads at 3:00 a.m. Friday so that the power company trucks could get through -- and as of Sunday evening, they were expecting the lights to be back on soon.
Sheriff Mac McNeill says Jefferson County was on the west side of Helene’s eyewall and saw winds of 80 to 87 mph. So, the northeast part of the county experienced some damage.
“I think right now we have about 40 homes that we have identified that were damaged, pretty well damaged that trees went through ‘em, fell into the structures," he said. "Power-wise, I think we’re at 60 percent with Duke right now that’s been restored. They’re saying that tonight they’re going to start flipping some of their switches. And that will probably bring us up into the 90s, the mid-90s, so we’re pretty excited about that.”
On Sunday evening, McNeill said Tri-County Electric, which is in the part of Jefferson that took the brunt of the storm, is about 70 percent out, but hoping in the next 48 hours to see a big change.
Like McNeill, Monticello Police Chief Fred Mosley, Jr. was breathing a deep sigh of relief.
“We were hit very hard, but by the grace of God and this praying community, we were spared," said Mosley. "We were so blessed by the grace of God. No loss of life. We just had some downed power lines, but overall, we are a blessed community.”
Both men praised state, local and national agencies for arriving quickly and helping the power trucks and other aid to get through.
