Augusta, GA
Georgia residents are still experiencing effects of Hurricane Helene one week later. Here’s what you can do to help
Since Hurricane Helene’s devastating appearance in Georgia last week, thousands of state residents are trying to pick up the pieces and mitigate its effects on their homes, incomes and supplies.
Throughout the metro Atlanta area, various businesses, churches and organizations have provided new opportunities to donate and give back to Peach State residents in need.
The Ameris Bank Amphitheatre will be collecting donations for Helene victims outside of their entrance gates from Oct. 4 to Oct. 6. Suggested items include non-perishable food and pop-top canned food, bottled water, diapers, hygiene products, flashlights, blankets and hand sanitizer.
Food Security for America are currently asking for financial donations that will go towards assisting low-income families within the Augusta area.
On their website, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security has offered points of distribution for essential items to help victims throughout the state. Current locations are listed below.
County
Locations
Atkinson
Willacoochee City Hall, 33 Fleetwood Ave. West, Willacoochee, GA
Atkinson Co. Fire Station, 33 Austin Ave. West, Pearson, GA
Ben Hill
Ben Hill County Health Dept., 251 Appomattox Rd., Fitzgerald, GA 31750
Berrien
800 Tifton Rd., Nashville, GA 31639
Brooks
400 E. Courtland Avenue, Quitman, GA 31643
178 Second Street, Morven, GA 31638
Candler
555 W. Lytell St., Metter, GA 30439
Echols
Community Center, 148 Church of God St., Statenville, GA 31648
Evans
613 W. Main Street, GA
Jeff Davis
31 Pat Dixon Rd, Hazlehurst, GA
Jefferson
1200 School Street, Louisville, GA 30434
101 Griffin St., Wrens, GA 30833
138 Church St., Wadley, GA 30477
Lanier
28 South Valdosta Hwy, Lakeland, GA 31635
Laurens
1794 Hwy 117, Rentz, GA 31075
930 East Hwy 80, East Dublin, GA
Lowndes
First Baptist Church Lake Park, 601 W. Marion Ave, Lake Park, GA 31636
Five Points, 3103 N. Ashley St., Valdosta, GA 31602
Flying Tiger Storage, 4036 Bemiss Rd., Valdosta, GA 31605
Hahira Train Depot, 220 W. Main Street, Hahira, GA 316302
Lowndes County Civic Center, 2102 E. Hill Ave., Valdosta, GA 31601
McDuffie
229 Knox River Rd., Thomson, GA 30824
Montgomery
701C Dobbins St Mount Vernon, Georgia 30445
Richmond
4335 Windsor Spring Rd., Hephzibah, GA 30815
1631 Gordon Hwy, Augusta, GA 30906
535 Telfair St., Augusta, GA 30901
Screven
Screven County Elementary School, 1333 Frontage Rd. East, Sylvania, GA 30467
Telfair
181 East Oak St, McRae-Helena, GA 31055
65 Main St Lumber City GA, 31549
Toombs
First Baptist Church, 107 E Second Street, Vidalia, GA 30474
Southeastern Technical College, 3001 East 1st Street, Vidalia, GA 30474
Treutlen
4145 Fowler St., Soperton, GA
Ware
Ware County Fire Station, 3411 Harris Rd., Waycross, GA 31503
Warren
169 SR-80, Warrenton, GA 30828
Wheeler
16 West 4th Ave., Alamo, GA 30411
The Georgia Red Cross is asking for online donations to Georgia residents in need, which will go towards helping the organization in managing shelters and providing essential resources.
“Across the Southeast, hundreds of people are still reported missing,” said a release on the Red Cross website. “Entire communities were destroyed by fast-moving water and tens of thousands of homes have been affected. People need shelter, water, food and health care.”
Kingswood United Methodist Church in Dunwoody is accepting donations for critical supplies to be sent Friday to the residents of McDuffie County, located within the central eastern border of the state. The initiative is in partnership with New Thomson United Methodist Church in Thomson, Georgia.
“Augusta’s smaller neighbor to the west, McDuffie County, is also hurting and receiving far less support than greater Augusta,” said Kingswood on the church’s website.
Critical items listed on the church’s website include water, peanut butter, bread, canned fruit, crackers, granola bars, trail mix, applesauce and Ensure. The supplies will delivered to New Thomson on Friday, Oct. 4.
Located in Avondale Estates, the Little Tree Art Studios is collecting goods up until Oct. 4 for that will benefit disaster victims statewide.
Desired supplies include personal items such as baby formula, washboards and toilet paper, as well as clean up supplies such as brooms, safety goggles and trash bags.
Mission Georgia have set forth a fundraiser for Helene victims through their website.
“In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, your Georgia neighbors are in need of friends to help their churches and communities recover while sharing the hope of Christ,” said Mission’s website.
The organization is offering 100% of the donations that they receive to Mission Georgia, Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief and other partners.
Salvation Army locations statewide are accepting donations that will help benefit those affected by Helene in Georgia and other states where the hurricane struck.
“Your donation will fund immediate emergency assistance, food and water supplies, emotional and spiritual support, and long-term recovery services for survivors,” read a message on the organization’s website.
Serv International is currently working alongside selected churches and organizations in South Georgia affected by the natural disaster.
“Power in South Georgia has widespread outages, and many locations are not expected to have power for 10 days or more,” said the organization on their website. “Join us in donating to this situation.”
Monetary gifts will go towards “purchasing food and supplies for distribution.” Donations for shelf stable food items are available to be dropped off at Serv’s Canton offices.
Florida, Georgia wildfires prompt evacuations, travel chaos
Fast-moving Florida, Georgia wildfires prompt evacuations, travel chaos
Scripps News
Firefighters are battling wildfires in two southeastern states, prompting officials in one to issue its first ever burn ban, authorities said on April 22.
The blazes, created by “extreme drought,” are burning across parts of southern Georgia and northeast Florida, forcing road closures and destroying homes and buildings in their path, officials said.
In Georgia, the state’s Forestry Commission reported more than half of the state’s 159 counties had burn bans in effect. At the same time, burn bans were in effect for more than 40 counties in the Sunshine State, according to the Florida Forest Service.
“My office and I are working closely with the Georgia Forestry Commission to respond to the increasing threat of wildfires in South Georgia,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp wrote on X April 21. “If you are in a directly affected area, please adhere to guidance from your local officials to keep you and your family safe.”
The burn ban order prohibits the outside burning of trash and yard debris and agriculture material in the affected area. Campfires, fireworks and burn barrels are also not permitted.
The commission reported it marked the first time in the agency’s history that a mandatory ban on outdoor burning has been issued.
Slated to remain in effect for at least 30 days, the Georgia Forestry Commission said the ban includes regions below Atlanta and covers Harris County to Columbia County, south to the Florida line.
As of April 22, there were about a half dozen wildfires burning in the Peach State, USA TODAY data showed.
The Pineland Road fire, discovered on April 18 in Clinch County, about 13 miles northwest of Fargo, also continues to burn. As of the early afternoon of April 22, the fire had spread to nearly 9,000 acres and was 10% contained.
Where are wildfires burning in Georgia? See map.
The Georgia Forestry Commission reported 98% of Georgia’s total land area is experiencing moderate to exceptional drought conditions, and the number of wildfires statewide has now risen above Georgia’s five-year average.
The chance of rain is unlikely for most of the affected area in the coming days, the Georgia Forestry Commission said.
“The extreme drought conditions across Georgia are putting agriculture and forestry at significant risk, and I want to strongly encourage all Georgians to do the right thing and adhere to the Georgia Forestry Commission’s burn ban while these conditions persist,” Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J. Harper said in a news release.
Where are wildfires burning in Florida? See map.
At the same time, there were 135 wildfires burning almost 21,000 acres in Florida, the Tallahassee Democrat, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.
Roads in Franklin and Levy counties remained closed there due to smoke, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The law enforcement agency was urging motorists to use caution.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
Two Augusta-area Walmarts are among 13 Georgia locations that the retail giant plans to remodel and modernize in 2026.
In the past five years, the company said it has spent $961.5 million to upgrade its stores statewide.
Now, the company plans to change store layouts and services in its Augusta and Grovetown locations to make shopping faster and more convenient.
The locations are the Augusta Walmart Supercenter at 3338 Wrightsboro Road, near Augusta Mall, and the Grovetown Walmart Neighborhood Market at 5303-A Wrightsboro Road, where Wrightsboro and Harlem-Grovetown roads meet.
The Augusta location has been undergoing renovations since last fall.
The stores, when completely renovated, will include updated pharmacies offering vaccines, free delivery and clinical services such as basic health screenings and same-day testing for strep, the flu and COVID-19. Vision Centers also will be redesigned for improved privacy.
Also, computer apps will help customers better navigate stores, scan products’ prices and find exclusive app-only shopping deals.
Augusta, GA – Entered into rest Sunday, April 19, 2026. Mr. James Byron Duncan, 80, was the loving husband of Estelle Mulherin Duncan as well as devoted father, doting grandfather, and lifelong friend to many.
Byron was born and raised in Augusta, GA, the son of W.B. and Kathleen Duncan. After graduating from Butler High School in 1965, Byron’s kind heart called him into Social Work. He earned his Bachelor of Sociology from Augusta College in 1969. After 34 years of dedicated service to the State of Georgia, Byron retired in 2003 as Director of Jefferson County Family and Children Services. He devoted his life wholeheartedly to both service to others and dedication to his family, working in the tough field of social work while remaining a fiercely loving, spirited and unwaveringly passionate man.
His deepest commitments were to his wife, children, granddaughters, siblings, church, the Knights of Columbus and the Georgia Bulldogs.
Byron was deeply rooted in his faith and community. He was an active member of St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church, where he had served as an usher, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and finance committee member. He was also a proud member of the Knights of Columbus, Patrick Walsh Council 677 and Assembly 174, the Irish American Heritage Society and the Rotary Club of Louisville, GA. A true Georgia Bulldog at heart, Byron never missed an opportunity to cheer for his Dawgs, whether they were playing football, basketball, baseball or any other sport. He loved the simple joys of life – days at the beach, Jimmy Buffett, beach music and shagging, and a house full of family and friends. For many years, Byron delighted young and old alike by donning the red suit and playing Santa Claus at various events as well as visiting the classrooms at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School as St. Nicholas.
Byron possessed the gift of gab! He never met a stranger and could often be observed enthusiastically carrying on a deep conversation with old friends or a stranger he just met on the street. No conversation with him was brief!
Family meant everything to him. He is survived by his beloved wife of 40 years, Estelle Mulherin Duncan; his children Sean M. Duncan (Jennifer), Matthew M. Duncan and Megan E. Duncan; his bonus daughter, Allison Crow (Joe), and his treasured grandchildren Riley, Emma and Harper Duncan, who brought him endless joy. He is also survived by his brother Keith Duncan; sisters Sheryl Werrick and Marcia Golden; brothers-in-law Dr. Joe Mulherin, Robert Gibson and Tom King; sister-in-law Janet M. Gibson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 1:00 P.M. at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church with Fr. Mark Ross as celebrant. Interment will follow at Westover Memorial Park. A Rosary service will be held Thursday evening at 6:00 P.M., followed by visitation from 6:30 until 8:00 P.M. at Thomas Poteet & Son.
Memorial contributions may be made to Aquinas High School, 1920 Highland Ave., Augusta, GA 30904 or St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church, 1420 Monte Sano Ave., Augusta, GA 30904 for the Our Faith Our Future Capital Campaign.
Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Road, Augusta, GA 30907, (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at thomaspoteet.com
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