Red Cross Sends Help to Storm Damage Victims in Laurens County

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**Thursday 1:30pm Update**

The Red Cross is sending volunteers to help storm damage victims in Laurens County.

**Thursday 5am Update**

By early Thursday morning, Duke Energy restored power to customers in Laurens County. The National Weather Service said Tuesday night's damage was caused by straight line winds.

**Wednesday 10pm Update**

Trees are down along with powerlines after strong storms moved through Laurens County late Tuesday night.

Duke Energy reports there are about 400 power outages in Laurens County. Some service outages are reported in Greenville County as well, and a few hundred are still without power in Cleveland County, North Carolina, where a Tornado was reported.

Laurens was the hardest hit area of the Upstate, with residents and crews hard at work cleaning up debris late into the night Wednesday.

Laurens District High School sustained storm damage for the second time in recent years.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol website reported 16 trees in roads in Laurens County between close to midnight and 2:30am Wednesday.

Laurens Police chief Robin Morse advises drivers to be careful of downed trees, limbs and especially powerlines following the stroms.

As of 9:45am Wednesday, Duke Energy reported more than 2,600 outages in Laurens County. You can keep up to date with Duke Energy outages in both Carolinas by clicking here.

An expert from the National Weather Service at GSP International Airport is going to Laurens County Wednesday morning to assess the damage and determine what kind of storms caused it.

A Laurens woman was killed when a tree crushed her car during Tuesday night’s storms.

Kimberly Taylor Alexander, 29, of North Lake Road in Laurens died from blunt force trauma according to Laurens County Coroner Nick Nichols.

Kimberly Taylor Alexander

The deadly accident happened around 11:30pm Tuesday night at U.S. Highway 221 South and the Highway 127 bypass in Laurens County.

Troopers told News Channel 7, Alexander’s 1992 Pontiac Bonneville was headed south on U.S. 221 when a tree came crashing down from the right side of the road on the sedan.

The vehicle was crushed by the impact. Nichols says it took several hours for crews to move the tree and remove her remains from the vehicle.

The SCHP reports the road is blocked and will likely remain closed until Wednesday night. Troopers say detours are posted to get around this area.

Chief Morse tells News Channel 7 that Laurens County Councilman Ed McDaniel was injured when a tree crashed through his house during the storm. The tree struck McDaniel in the head and left him with a broken ankle.

McDaniel's home was the target of a reported home invasion a week ago. Five suspects have been arrested and charged in that case.

Storm Damage in Laurens

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