Local utility employees travel upstate to assist in hurricane relief

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) – Six Mount Pleasant Waterworks employees have left to assist with Hurricane Helene relief in South Carolina’s upstate.

The utility company said the team, which includes Zack Akinjobi, Shannon Richardson, Alex Dupree, Jeremy Norris, Oliver Lawton, and Graham MacDonald, left Sunday morning after the South Carolina Water Agency Response Network put out a help notice.

Crew members set off in vehicles packed with first aid kits, bleed control kits, chainsaws, and tire plug kits.

The team will remain on the road, helping in different areas as needed. According to MPW, the main items needed are generators and fuel.

On the first day, responders provided three generators to Spartanburg Water and more to rural communities near Aiken, utility officials said.

Belton and the Valley Public Service Authority will receive help from team members on Monday, and others will receive help on an as-needed basis.

MPW General Manager Allan Clum said, “MPW is fortunate to be able to lend personnel during natural disasters.”