Augusta, GA
Augusta groups see growing need for help weeks after Helene
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – We’ve visited several distribution sites across Augusta this week, and on Thursday, we were at the HUB.
Even two weeks later, many people are still in need of help getting ahold of the basic necessities.
The need is far from over.
United Way says their call volumes have doubled since the storm. They say a lot of the calls are first-timers needing help.
United Way says this hurricane impacted everyone in our entire community.
It doesn’t matter what zip code you live in. Everyone has experienced it in some way.
“Our plan was to canvass Harrisburg and to do wellness checks and get them the resources that they need food wise, you know, small scale,” said Christy Beckham, volunteer at the HUB.
The scale broke as the need for food, water and basic necessities exploded across the area.
The HUB is just one of several distribution sites in our area.
Those in charge say the more than 100 volunteers serve more than 500 cars a day.
“Storm did not choose the rich and the poor and the rural or the city. It hit us all. And it was a huge community undertaking and it’ll be years before the city recovers in lots of different ways. But if people could jump in and help, they could and they did. I mean, it’s unbelievable who is here,” said Beckham.
Everyone is impacted in some way.
Brittany Burnett, United Way president and CEO, said: “With over half of our community struggling before the hurricane, now we’re looking to see how much more of our community is actually going to be struggling after this disaster has passed. And so, it’ll take a while for us to assess that. But we’re here to help support again, not that just the immediate needs, but those long-term needs as well.”
Burnett says they have people calling to offer help, and then calls from people who need help.
“There’s a lot of great resources up front, but as time goes on, some of those resources go away. And so, people want to be here for the short-term recovery, but they’re also here to help in the long term and really realize that it’s important to continue to give back to your community, not just immediately after the storm, but in the days and weeks and months to come,” she said.
Burnett says United Way has launched a disaster response fund on their website.
She says that will help not only the immediate needs but the long-term needs as well.
She says the best way people either need help or they want to give help is to call 211.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The second annual Juneteenth trail ride took place on Old Waynesboro Road in Augusta on Saturday.
The event featured trail rides with horses and ATVs, a mechanical bull contest and music.
People shopped at vendors, and there was entertainment for kids, including a petting zoo, inflatables and games.
“It’s really a privilege just to be able to have the opportunity to share my space, to share my area, and to share for an event with so much value, to give back to my community and a place to celebrate,” said Davon Wallace, chief of operations at Crimson Hills.
Wallace said they will be hosting more events, with a haunted trail coming in October.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) — The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has made multiple arrests in a deadly shooting that left one teenager dead and another injured early Saturday morning.
According to deputies, the incident happened June 20, at approximately 12:50 a.m. in the 200 block of Warren Road, where authorities responded to reports of shots fired involving two gunshot victims.
When deputies arrived, they located two 18-year-old men from Augusta.
Officials identified the victims as Eric Markquis Bartley Miller and Joseph Lamar Thomas.
Investigators say Miller sustained at least one gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Thomas was also found with at least one gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under active investigation.
As of Saturday afternoon, three teenage suspects have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident.
18-year-old Dmihjay Collins, 17-year-old Tayshaun Thomas, and 17-year-old Joseph Thomas have all been arrested and charged with Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of Machine Guns. They are all currently being held at the Webster Detention Center.
A fourth teenager, 17-year-old Reante Byrd was also arrested, but investigators have not linked him to the murder case. Byrd has been charged with Possession of a Pistol or Revolver by a Person Under the Age of 18. He is also being held in the Webster Detention Center.
No further details in the investigation have been released.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Students showcased drones they built during a two-week summer camp at Augusta Regional Airport on Friday.
12 junior and high school students attended the camp, where they learned to fly and build drones designed to help others.
Anderson Puryear, a student, said the camp focused on delivering small medical supplies.
“It was focused on delivering small medical supplies like an EPI pen or glucose packet for like diabetics and for people with allergies in need in the real world that could obviously help save lives, and if people are like in a place in a boat or like in the desert or in the forest where they can’t easily access those supplies it can save their lives,” Puryear said.
The airport partnered with Georgia Tech, state troopers and the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Department for the Air Edu Summer Camp.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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