I awoke the morning of Oct. 2, 2024, at our house in Greenville County, South Carolina, grateful and comfortable with electricity after 3½ days without, no major damage from Helene, and our daughter and her sons safe with us.

They had moved in as their house in Greenville still had no power.

This was real life in Helene’s aftermath: The Upstate and other parts of South Carolina struggling to return to normal. Schools out, long lines to buy gas, and downed trees and widespread property damage. It reminded me of living in Charlotte during Hugo’s devastating impact in September 1989.

But this also is real life after Helene: Dozens of people losing their lives and families grieving the loss. For others, it offered an uncertain future and a struggle to find hope in the face of losing almost everything. 

Yet as divisive as current times are, and how deeply at odds we can be, human nature has shown there can be goodness all around:

In response to the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene, Duke Energy Foundation announced a $1 million commitment to nonprofits providing vital assistance to affected communities across the Southeast.

"Our hearts are with the communities devastated by Helene's deluge and damage," said Amy Strecker, president, Duke Energy Foundation. "At Duke Energy, we are working tirelessly to respond to the storm, addressing both power restoration and immediate and long-term community support."

Funding will aid a variety of organizations providing food, shelter, and other urgent needs, ensuring that relief efforts reach those who need it most.

The American Red Cross has been on the ground across Helene's footprint since before the storm, providing shelter, food, and critical relief.

In response to the urgent needs created by Helene’s impact, United Way of Greenville County established a special relief fund to help individuals and families struggling to access necessities such as food, shelter and utilities.

The United Way of Greenville County Community Relief Fund was to provide immediate assistance to those who have been hardest hit by the storm, as well as additional support to local nonprofits responding to the crisis. One hundred percent of every contribution was to directly fund efforts to help Greenville County recover and regain stability.

Publix Super Markets Charities (PSMC) was donating $1 million to support relief efforts in areas affected by Helene. Additionally, Publix was activating a companywide donation campaign to allow customers and associates to help people affected by the storm. 

TD Bank announced that it was offering financial assistance to its customers impacted by Helene in the Gulf Coast and Big Bend of Florida, Upstate and Midlands of South Carolina, and Western North Carolina, through TD Cares, a temporary program that includes support such as fee refunds for eligible consumer and business customers.

Bon Secours Wellness Arena was operating as a 24-Hour South Carolina Department of Public Health Emergency Medical Needs Shelter for those who had electricity-dependent medical needs and their caregivers. 

United Ministries issued an urgent call for all non-expired unopened “pop-top” food items for its food pantry. That included items you don’t need a can opener to open. These items, such as canned meats, crackers, and ready-to-eat meals, were crucial for individuals, families, and seniors who may not have access to food or cooking facilities.

In light of the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene on the Asheville community, Earth Fare partnered with several of its vendors, including Inland Foods, to provide several truckloads of frozen food to local citizens and organizations, free of charge. 

More than $500,000 worth of frozen meat and fish, including individual meals, bulk boxes, burger patties, fish portions, and more, was available.

And in email messages, scores of people told of the difficulties they faced at work and at home:

“My family and I are safe; however, like many in our community, we are without electricity and have limited internet access.  Due to the severity of the hurricane's impacts, we anticipate regaining access to power and internet by the end of the week.”

“Please be patient with me as we are working to help our community address immediate needs, rebuild and recover.”  

“Our region was heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene which struck our region early Friday morning 27 September. Much of our region is without power. Our team is working remotely with limited Wi-Fi and cell service. We will respond to you as soon as we can, but we ask for your patience and understanding as well as your prayers.”

“Our offices are currently operating on limited staff due to the effects of Hurricane Helene. We hope all are safe and well. Please be patient with us as we work to return to normal operations to help you and your families.”

“Due to power outages and challenging road conditions in some areas, our office will be closed Monday, September 30th and Tuesday October 1st.  If we have power, we will re-open on Wednesday, October 2nd. Wishing all impacted by this storm peace and hope!" 

In 1989, the year of Hugo, my wife’s parents had evacuated to Charlotte from Beaufort, South Carolina, which was forecast to take a major hit from the storm.

Instead, Hugo tore inland and hit Charlotte with such force that my wife, her parents, and our three children re-evacuated back to Beaufort, where they would stay for two weeks.

Helene conjured up images of that test, the catastrophic damages, the struggles we endured, and the misery so many faced.

Yet, the city rebounded, its residents came together, moved forward and survived.

It will be that way again.   

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Boeing South Carolina's Economic Impact

There is a long history of U.S. state and local governments using subsidies to attract employers and stimulate economic activity, but research suggests that these industrial recruitment policies can have high costs per job generated. 

In a recent research article published in Economic Development Quarterly, Adam Scavette, a regional economist at the Baltimore branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, evaluates the economic impact of South Carolina's $1 billion deal to recruit Boeing's 787 Dreamliner assembly plant to North Charleston that opened in 2011. 

The research investigates how the Boeing plant impacted South Carolina's burgeoning aerospace industry, the Charleston Metropolitan Area's labor market, and the deal's overall cost effectiveness.

Scavette found that the Boeing plant had a substantial impact on the state's aerospace sector in the ensuing decade resulting in employment, wage, and establishment growth within the industry. His results suggest that the state's aerospace industry gained 6,000 jobs after the plant opening, exceeding Boeing's 3,800 promised jobs and achieved good value for South Carolina taxpayers compared to other contemporary aerospace industrial recruitment deals. 

Furthermore, his local multiplier analysis indicates that each promised job generated 2.6 other jobs within the Charleston Metro Area in the five years after the plant opened.

At Boeing South Carolina, teammates fabricate, assemble and deliver the 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 to customers all over the world. 

In addition to the Dreamliner assembly, Boeing South Carolina also is home to Boeing Research & Technology, IT Center of Excellence, Propulsion Systems, Interiors Responsibility Center, and Engineering Design Center. 

BSC also partners with more than 300 suppliers across the state.