AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – For many, the holiday season is one filled with joy and making memories.

But for others, the holiday season brings on stress and fear as leaders see an increase in domestic violence cases.

When the phone rings at Safe Homes of Augusta, it’s not just a call for help.

It’s a call for action.

“Safe Homes is the only nonprofit domestic violence center, and we service 10 counties. And so, therefore, we see a lot of different types of calls that come in,” said Safe Homes Executive Director Aimme Hall.

Hall says hundreds of calls come directly to this line each month.

“Last year, we took over 1,900 calls. Through those calls, you know, we see a lot of different types of abuse,” said Hall.

There are calls ranging from emotional and financial abuse to physical abuse.

During the holidays, the calls get worse. Hall says they increase by 30%.

“We do get a lot of calls, but it could be, you know, not so much for shelter maybe, but just for outreach services because during those times, you know, domestic violence can worsen. Then maybe we’re getting calls for temporary protection or assistance,” she said.

But Hall says more calls don’t always mean the shelter fills up during the holidays.

“Not everybody’s ready to leave during the holidays. And we can’t, as, you know, the community, social workers, advocates, we can’t push them to leave. Because, again, they know when it’s the best, when it’s the most dangerous,” said Hall.

You may not realize you or someone you love could be at risk.

But she says there are things to look out for.

“Isolation is a huge one. Of course, the emotional abuse, you know, we see a lot of that with the intimidation. If you see that your loved one is being intimidated by their partner,” said Hall.

Even though most are off for the holidays, advocates at Safe Homes are not.

They are open 365 days a year with a 24-hour emergency unmarked shelter ready to help you on the first ring.

Safe Homes of Augusta has a 24/7 crisis hotline if you or someone you know needs help.

If you need help, call 706-736-2499.

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has given Augusta and other communities in Georgia and South Carolina 30 more days to clean up Helene debris and still get reimbursed 100% for the costs.

Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson announced Wednesday that the 100% reimbursement period for Hurricane Helene has been extended to 120 days.

Documents from FEMA showed the deadline was extended in both Georgia and South Carolina.

Previously, communities had a 90-day deadline to clean up the debris and get fully reimbursed for the costs.

The extension is crucial in Augusta, because with only a couple of weeks left under the original deadline, contractors haven’t even finished their first pass through the city.

Residents were asked to pile hurricane debris along the roadsides, and crews plan to make at least two and possibly three passes along every street in the city to pick up the debris.

On Tuesday night, Johnson updated the community at a town hall meeting on cleanup efforts in Richmond County.

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4. Pace of Helene cleanup frustrates many across the CSRA

The extension comes even as FEMA Director Deanne Criswell testified last month to senators that the money available to help communities like Augusta has shrunk after back-to-back hurricanes Helene and Milton.

She said the country’s emergency checkbook is down to less than $5 billion.

She and Sen. Jon Ossoff for an infusion of money during a hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – It’s been more than two months since Hurricane Helene hit the area leaving behind a path of destruction.

Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson updated the community at a town hall meeting Tuesday night on cleanup efforts in Richmond County.

City leaders are encouraging people to stay patient as crews are weeks away from completing their first pass-through of the county.

Contractors say they’re about 90% done and are getting ready for the next phase, which will start in the new year.

Deborah Jones says she feels like everyone else sees crews picking up debris, but not in her neighborhood.

“They don’t come up the street, they stop at one location, and then they’re gone, and you don’t see them again,” says Jones, an Augusta citizen. “So, I guess I’m like everybody else. When is it going to happen?”

With 1.9 million cubic yards of debris collected and only weeks from completing an entire pass-through of the county, residents like Sheila Spivey say they see the progress.

“I see them go up and down, Walter Way up and down, Heard Avenue up to south Augusta,” says Spivey, an Augusta citizen. “They’re doing what they can, but it is a big job.”

City leaders say the plan is more than just debris removal, they’re now making bids toward a long-term recovery contract to rebuild Augusta.

“That means everything that’s been going on, from degree to mitigation to rebuilding, to all our respective agencies that we can discuss our HUD applications, our funding that’s going to be there to oversee to make sure that we can get Augusta back to where it originally was,” says Tameka Allen, Augusta city administrator.

A plan residents say they’re ready to see the other end of as many just want normalcy back on their property lines.

“My front yard is covered in debris, so I can’t see out of my front yard,” says Jones. “We can’t do anything in our yard because of the debris. So, I’m trying to be patient, but it’s kind of hard.”

City leaders say the next phase will involve removing larger debris normal trucks can’t pick up as well as getting rid of construction-based debris.

They say although there are about 15 days left on the FEMA deadline, they will continue the work until everything is done.

If you missed this town hall meeting, another will take place on Dec. 17 at Diamond Lakes at 6 p.m.

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.