AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - While some in our area are still waiting on power or water, those numbers are now much smaller than those waiting for internet.
Two weeks after Helene, so many of you still can't get online.
The number one question we're getting is "When will my internet be restored?"
Some businesses have gotten creative. We went to a local restaurant that was cash-only because, like a lot of places, their card machines are internet-based. We've seen other businesses accept Venmo.
But what happens if you work from home? A lot of people do, and they're running out of vacation days.
It's tough to say for sure how many people here locally work from home. However, the latest numbers from the Pew Research Center estimate that 22 million Americans work full-time from home.
We did a Facebook poll on Thursday, asking our viewers about their service. More than 500 people answered in a short amount of time. And not just those frustrated, and unable to work from home.
We heard from a lot of students, too.
We reached out to all the companies they listed -- Comcast-Xfinity, AT&T, WOW, Breezeline, Carolina Connect, Verizon, HughesNet and T-Mobile. Vyve was a late add.
AT&T says 97% of their wire-line customers here have service back.
SEE RESPONSES FROM INTERNET COMPANIES:
Comcast-Xfinity estimates everyone will have service in the Augusta area by October 19.
Comcast-Xfinity has opened up additional free wi-fi hotspots, and they're not just for their customers.
There are thousands in our area from Aiken to Augusta, Waynesboro, Louisville, Blythe and Trenton.
People will have to use cellular data to find them, but at least it's a start.