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. (WRDW/WAGT) – A woman was killed in a dog attack Wednesday in Augusta, according to deputies.
At 10:29 a.m., the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 3500 block of Ira Road in reference to a dog attack.
The victim was walking on Ira Road when she was attacked, Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen said.
Upon arrival, deputies located a female victim who had been attacked by two dogs, according to deputies.
She died at the scene, according to Bowen.
The victim won’t be identified until next of kin have been notified, Bowen said.
An autopsy has been scheduled.
The investigation is in its early stages and no further information is available, deputies said.
The attention seemed to be focused on a grayish house.
Animal control officers appeared to be inside one of the homes on the street, and they brought out two dogs.
The last fatal dog attack in memory in the CSRA happened on March 22, 2202, in the 3700 block of Columbia Drive in Martinez. Serenity Rose Garnett, who was 7 months old, was killed by a dog while her great-grandmother was watching over her at a home where she rented a room.
Another dog attack in January 2023, also in Columbia County, severely injured Justin Gilstrap, then 11, leading to a long series of surgeries.
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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – On Tuesday night, the City of Augusta leaders including Mayor Garnett Johnson provided updates on Hurricane Helene recovery.
Mayor Johnson says if you need help cleaning your property, you can call 311. Crews will be here until February to help.
Commissioner Sean Frantom says there will be no debris pickup from Dec. 22 until Jan. 2.
Frantom says Eisenhower Park is being phased out for a debris site. He also says the city is working with telecom companies to pick up wires.
The city will be sending a letter to have all non-utilized wires removed by Jan. 10.
Officials also say starting Jan. 1 you will pay credit card fees on water bills.
On Wednesday night, the mayor and commissioners are hosting another Helene recovery town hall meeting.
There will be a reception for commissioners at 5 p.m. and then the town hall meeting at the municipal building from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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