By Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Last week, Hurricane Helene swept through Craig County, leaving behind a trail of destruction and widespread power outages. As of Sunday afternoon, Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative reported that 330 members in Craig County were still without power, part of a larger outage affecting nearly 1,600 customers across the region, according to the cooperative.
Crews from the cooperative have been working tirelessly around the clock to restore power and address the damage. Their efforts involve repairing broken poles, clearing fallen trees, and navigating challenging terrain, much of which is located within the National Forest. Many crews have resorted to locating outage causes on foot, often carrying necessary equipment to remote areas. “We understand the frustration of our member-owners who have not yet had their power restored,” said a spokesperson for the cooperative. “While the number of outages continues to improve, the rugged landscape poses significant challenges for our teams,” according to the cooperative.
Tragically, reports indicate that one person lost their life due to a storm-related tree fall and building collapse, highlighting the severe impact of Hurricane Helene on the community, according to local reports.
Residents are urged to remain patient and vigilant. The cooperative advises that if a power restoration notice is received but service has not yet been restored, to report the issue directly to them. They also encourage those affected by outages to consult their home insurance providers regarding potential claims for food spoilage, according to the cooperative.
For those who depend on medical devices, the cooperative emphasizes the importance of having a backup plan during such interruptions. Local emergency management agencies are available for assistance for those in need, according to the cooperative.
In the midst of the destruction, Craig County has seen acts of bravery and resilience, particularly from local law enforcement. Deputy May of the Craig County Sheriff’s Office was gravely injured while responding to emergency calls during the storm. He sustained severe injuries, including a fractured jaw and lacerations to his throat and face. After undergoing surgery, he is expected to make a full recovery, according to reports.
In light of these circumstances, the community has come together to support Deputy May and his family. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist with their needs in the coming months, with 100% of the funds raised going directly to the family.
The page notes, “His community will rally together to help his family in this time, but we hope the extended law enforcement community will help as well.” Those wishing to contribute can find the campaign at [Support Deputy May’s Recovery Journey](https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-deputy-mays-recovery-journey?attribution_id=sl:361f6b7a-2dfb-4a7c-807a-e167eb9bcd0c&utm_campaign=pd_ss_icons&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link).
