Hold tight, have patience, and most importantly, be safe. This was the key message of South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster's Hurricane Helene press conference, held at the Greenville Downtown Airport on Sunday, Sept. 29.

As South Carolina prepares for the impacts of heavy rain, strong winds, and flooding risks, here's what issuing a state of emergency does

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster says the storm has dealt a major blow to the state. McMaster says one of the biggest challenges cleanup crews are dealing with is downed power lines wrapped in all the debris.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster gives an update on Hurricane Helene. title=”LIVE: Governor McMaster with an update on the recovery updates in South Carolina” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer;

Governor Henry McMaster has formally requested an Expedited Major Presidential Disaster Declaration to support state and local recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene. If granted, the declaration would activate FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program to help residents in multiple South Carolina counties affected by the storm.