Augusta, GA
Augusta community in shambles after Hurricane Helene
‘This storm literally spared no one’: Kemp in Augusta
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp surveyed Hurricane Helene’s damage across Augusta, vowing to get everything cleaned up for residents.
AUGUSTA, Ga. – From the air, the view of Hurricane Helene’s toll in Augusta is staggering. Neighborhoods were left in disarray from the storm’s strong winds, which toppled trees and knocked down power lines.
“That’s my house, I lived here for my daughter’s entire life,” said Crystal Watson, who has lived in the home for about a decade.
As Hurricane Helene tore through, four trees came crashing down, narrowly missing two bedrooms where people were sleeping.
“Just looking at my house, I just feel thankful because we’re all okay,” Watson said. “We’re all okay. We’re able to stay here. We’re able to sleep here at night and I know that it’s probably a lot worse for other people.”
Around the area, damage can be found everywhere; on Monday morning, Governor Brian Kemp got a bird’s-eye view.
“This hurricane looks as if a 250-mile-wide tornado has hit,” he said.
SEE ALSO: Death toll rises to 25 in Georgia, Biden asked to approve disaster declaration
Gov. Kemp says the death toll in Georgia stands at 25, including a 27-year-old mother and her one-month-old twin boys who died when a tree fell onto their mobile home just west of Augusta.
Kemp says he is working with federal partners to get help where it is needed.
“This storm literally spared no one,” he said.
The governor stated that at the height of the storm, 1.3 million people were in the dark; however, in the days since, hundreds of thousands have had their power restored. For Georgia Power service areas alone, company officials say more than 7,000 power poles had to be repaired or replaced, more than 700 miles of new wires had to be strung, more than 1,200 new transformers installed, and more than 3,000 trees had to be removed from lines.
For the Watson family, recovery will take some time, but they have insurance. They said their community has really come together during this difficult time.
“We’ve become really close with our neighbors of ten years because of this. It sucks that it takes that kind of disaster to make it happen,” Watson said. “I am glad that communities are helping each other out, and we still have some good humanity left out there.”
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Augusta election leaders met Monday to discuss a lawsuit filed by a former mayoral candidate.
Dr. Lori Myles is suing the Augusta Commission, as well as state and local voting leaders.
Myles alleges those involved with the May 19th primary destroyed absentee ballots and eliminated from the overall vote count.
“So the Board of Elections received a lawsuit from Lori Myles contesting the election asking for a recount, said Travis Doss, the Board of Elections director. “The Board discussed in executive session and when they came out of executive session they voted to authorize the county attorney to file an answer to that lawsuit basically that answer will be asking a judge for a dismissal on that lawsuit and it will be filed tomorrow.”
WJBF NewsChannel 6 will keep you updated on the next steps of the lawsuit as that information becomes available.
Photojournalist credit: Regynal McKie
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Augusta will welcome community leaders to its Legislative Day on Monday.
The event will provide an inside look at the impact of the organization’s summer programs and year-round youth development initiatives.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Augusta becomes an even more critical resource for local families during the summer. The organization provides supportive environments where local youth continue learning, building relationships and preparing for their futures.
During Legislative Day, community leaders will meet with staff and Club members, and experience how Boys & Girls Clubs is helping young people succeed through workforce readiness programming, academic enrichment, mental health support, nutritious meals and snacks and caring adult mentorship.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Augusta serves youth throughout the region by providing high-quality programming focused on academic success, healthy lifestyles, character and leadership development and career readiness.
The event will start at 11:30 a.m. at E.W. Hagler Boys & Girls Club, 1903 Division Street.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga (WJBF) — One person is dead following a crash in Augusta
It happened on the 4600 block of Mike Padgett Highway around 8:50 p.m. Saturday, June 20.
According to the coroner, Charles Cummings, 70, from Augusta was pronounced dead on scene at 9:52 p.m. An autopsy has been scheduled.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.
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