Power being restored to SC customers after storm

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Power is being restored to coastal areas of South Carolina where electric customers were left in the dark by Hurricane Irene.

Derrec Becker of the state Emergency Management Division said more than 8,000 people lost power during the storm but that number was down to about 1,800 late Saturday morning.

Becker says some roads flooded but all are now opened and all bridges on the coast are open. County emergency offices around the state have resumed normal operations.

Becker says it will take several days to compile a damage estimate from the storm, but he expects most damages will be minor.

The most noticeable signs of damage on the north coast are tree limbs down and damaged signs.

Irene made land fall near Cape Lookout, N.C.