City officials, crews work to clear tornado damage

'Cleanup could take up to a month'

(Release: April 15, 2019)

Simpsonville, S.C. — Simpsonville officials and work crews are addressing the damage from the EF1 tornado that swept through the City of Simpsonville and other parts of Greenville County Sunday night and early this morning.

The Simpsonville Fire Department has been working on clearing downed power lines and assisting the Public Works Department in removing trees and limbs from roadways. Properties in the Westwood area were hardest hit by the storm, while residents in Poinsettia also saw damage.

A significant amount of damage is concentrated in the area surrounding Alder Park, leaving Alder Drive and other roads closed as of early afternoon. About 800 residents inside city limits are without power.

Simpsonville Fire Chief Wesley Williams said to expect power outages for at least one to two days.

"The power will be out for a while," Williams said. "Fire crews are working to make sure everything is safe and roadways are clear of power lines, so the power in those areas has to be cut off. People should avoid downed power lines and call 911 if they come across any."

The National Weather Service and the Greenville County Emergency Management Division surveyed the damage Monday afternoon and determined an EF1 tornado touched down in Simpsonville Sunday night. Wind speeds reached 100 mph, and the path width of the tornado was about 100 yards, according to the National Weather Service. The length of the path was 6.82 miles.

Public Works Director Jay Crawford said crews are prioritizing clearing roadways today and Tuesday and will start removing limbs and other debris that residents set on the roadside Wednesday. The cities of Greenville and Mauldin have volunteered to help with the cleanup, bringing the total number of works to about 30.

"Westwood damage is the worst," Crawford said. "There is damage in other areas, too. Trees have fallen on houses, and roofs have been torn off. Cleanup could take up to a month. Addressing storm damage is our top priority, while picking up leaves and yard waste remain secondary concerns."

Crawford encouraged residents to bag their leaves for ACE Environmental to pick up on trash day. Crawford plans to ride around the City today and Tuesday to pinpoint the hardest hit areas.

Williams and City Administrator Dianna Gracely surveyed the damage this morning to ensure city leaders and staff have a full understanding of the impact of the storm and what residents and city workers are up against. Gracely said the City is prepared to meet the challenge of the cleanup process.

"The City of Simpsonville is mobilizing its resources to employ the most efficient, effective and safest response to the storm damage as possible," Gracely said. "We greatly appreciate the hard work that Simpsonville firefighters, police and Public Works crews are putting in and equally appreciate the help that Simpsonville is getting from neighboring cities."

Mayor Janice Curtis is being given regular updates on the progress of the storm cleanup.

"Those residents who were affected by the storm are in our thoughts and prayers, and our hearts go out to them," Mayor Curtis said. "The safety of our roadways and necessity for motorists to travel their normal routes are of the utmost concern to city officials."

In the one case of a reported minor injury, the resident declined medical treatment.

Visit the following link for a list of resources if you have been affected by the tornado: Resources for those affected by the tornado.