Across 23 counties, more than 3,500 homes have been reported damaged, with 196 considered destroyed by the tropical storm that hit early on Sept. 27

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Power outages in South Carolina are extensive due to Tropical Storm Helene's track through the southeastern U.S. The storm's those tropical storm force winds, coupled with rain that soaked the ground a day earlier, toppled trees and power lines in some of the most widespread damage the central South Carolina area has ever seen.