Seneca Tornado Confirmed

Borg Warner Plant, Seneca
Photo credit @DavidRogersNews - Twitter

9:51am 4/13/20 - Latest from Master Deputy Jimmy Watt with the Oconee County Sheriff's Office:

Clean up is underway in Seneca.

Master Deputy Jimmy Watt with the Oconee County Sheriff's Office is requesting folks avoid the Seneca area as clean up is under way due to severe storm damage.

Deputy Watt reports trees are down, power lines are down and some roads and streets are blocked. 

Crews are working to restore power to homes and businesses. 

Watt also says "The Sheriff’s Office has been answering calls for service and assisting and checking on citizens and homes that did receive damage due to the severe weather."

Press Release from the OCSO:

(Walhalla, SC)---The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is asking citizens this morning to avoid the Seneca area as a result of damage sustained due to severe weather that occurred earlier this morning.

Numerous tress and power lines have been reported down and some roads and streets remain blocked at this time. 

The reduction in traffic volume and pedestrian traffic in these areas will allow crews to safely clear the roadways and restore power to homes and businesses currently without electricity. 

Due to the current Home or Work Order due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sheriff’s Office asks that citizens maintain appropriate social distancing guidelines and only travel in the Seneca area for essential purposes and/or emergency reasons only as the cleanup continues. 

The Sheriff’s Office has been answering calls for service and assisting and checking on citizens and homes that did receive damage due to the severe weather. 

 

8:15am 4/13/20:

Violent weather last night caused severe damage, one person has died in Oconee County.

A tornado was confirmed to have touched down in Seneca.

A second tornado possibly in the Slater area of Greenville County. 

Duke Power is reporting widespread power outages. 

Trees are down across the Upstate according to the SC Highway Patrol, including Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson and Laurens Counties. 

Multiple reports of trees down along Highway 81 in Anderson.

One Twitter user, David Rogers, shared a photo of a severely crippled Borg Warner plant.

Borg Warner Plant, Seneca

We'll keep you updated as information comes in.

If you have photos you would like to share please send to:

Email: Stacie.Bartro@entercom.com with Subject Line: Storm Damage

River Road in Piedmont blocked

David Hammond shares via Facebook River Road in Piedmont blocked due to fallen tree.

The Weather Channel is also reporting major damage from storms in Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.

 

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