Augusta leaders give Helene update at third town hall meeting

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – On Wednesday, the city of Augusta held their third Hurricane Helene Recovery town hall meeting at the Augusta Municipal Building.

During the meeting, officials announced that the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) has launched HEARTS Georgia, a temporary shelter program for Hurricane Helene survivors whose homes were significantly damaged, destroyed or deemed uninhabitable.

The program provides emergency shelter in hotels or motels for individuals and families unable to secure rental housing, officials say.

“That’s major because we have people living in homes that shouldn’t be but they can’t afford to go anywhere else or they may not have had any insurance but our governor has made sure to see fit to make sure there’s a program that those people can actually get help and stay somewhere in a nice place,” said Augusta City Administrator Tameka Allen.

HEARTS Georgia is temporary, with a duration of up to six months, offering a critical resource for those in need.

You can apply by visiting the HEARTS Georgia page on the GEMA website.

Also at the meeting, city officials announced…

• City officials also mentioned they have issued notices to all telecommunications providers, requesting the removal of non-utilized wires by January 10. The effort aims to streamline recovery and ensure safety across our community.
• There will be no debris pickups from December 22 through January 2 as contractors celebrate the holidays. Regular services will resume on January 3.
• The Augusta Canal towpath will be closed until May, according to Augusta Utilities.

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