Augusta, GA

Harris and Biden surveyed damage wrought by Hurricane Helene in 2 swing states

Published

2 years ago

October 3, 2024

Harris and Biden surveyed damage wrought by Hurricane Helene in 2 swing states

Vice President Harris consoles a woman as she toured damage from Hurricane Helene in the Meadowbrook neighborhood of Augusta, Ga., on Oct. 2.

Brendan Smialowski/AFP

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Brendan Smialowski/AFP

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Vice President Harris took a pause from the campaign trail on Wednesday to visit a neighborhood ravaged by Hurricane Helene where more than half of residents don’t have power and many don’t have running water, consoling a woman who she said had lost her husband.

In this photo, Tony J. Daniel is holding a case of bottled water and is handing out bottles through the open back window of a yellow SUV in Old Fort, N.C., in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Sunday.

“There is real pain and trauma that has resulted because of this hurricane,” Harris said.

Meanwhile, President Biden spent about an hour flying over Asheville, N.C., by helicopter. “You can see homes that are moved, clearly, from one side of the river, down the river to another side,” he said. “Communities like Chimney Rock are reduced to piles of wood and debris.”

Vice President Harris speaks about damage caused by Hurricane Helene in Augusta, Ga., on Oct. 2.

Bendan Smialowski/AFP

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Bendan Smialowski/AFP

Biden and Harris are trying to reassure residents hurt by the massive storm that the federal government will help the region recover. Making good on that promise is a critical test for the administration in this election year, particularly in the swing states of North Carolina and Georgia, where Biden and Harris visited.

A helicopter lands in a yard near Black Mountain, N.C., in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Monday. The photo shows trees standing in the background and debris from fallen trees in the foreground.

But Biden said it wasn’t about politics. “At a moment like this, we put politics aside — at least, we should put it all aside, and we have, here,” Biden said at a briefing at an emergency operations center in Raleigh, N.C.

“There are no Democrats, Republicans — only Americans — and our job is to help as many people as we can, as quickly as we can, and as thoroughly as we can,” he said.

President Biden talks with state officials at an emergency operations center in Raleigh, N.C., with a map of the area hit by Hurricane Helene behind him.

Mandel Ngan/AFP

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Mandel Ngan/AFP

Biden announced that the federal government would cover 100% of the costs of debris removal and emergency protective measures for six months for North Carolina, as requested by its Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.

He also directed up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers to be deployed to help the North Carolina National Guard deliver food, water and medicine.

In Georgia, Harris said the federal government would cover 100% of the costs of debris removal and emergency protective measures for three months for the state, as requested by its Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. Kemp was not with her for the tour.

President Biden surveyed storm damage on Marine One near Asheville, N.C. on Oct. 2.

Mandel Ngan/AFP

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Mandel Ngan/AFP

The White House also announced that Biden had authorized 100% of the costs of debris removal and emergency protective measures for three months for Florida — a state he plans to visit on Thursday.

Biden will also make a stop on Thursday in Georgia. That’s where former President Donald Trump was on Monday, where he, too, said that disasters transcend politics.

Former President Donald Trump visitsa furniture store damaged during Hurricane Helene in Valdosta, Ga., on Sept. 30.

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

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Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

“As you know, our country is in the final weeks of a hard-fought national election. But in a time like this, when a crisis hits, when our fellow citizens cry out in need, none of that matters. We’re not talking about politics now. We have to all get together and get this solved,” Trump said.

Map of the French Broad River watershed and Asheville, North Carolina

But during his stop, Trump falsely said Gov. Kemp had not been able to reach Biden. “He’s been calling the president, hasn’t been able to get him. But they’ll come through, I’m sure,” Trump said. Biden later that day angrily criticized Trump.

“He’s lying, and the governor told him he was lying,” Biden said, noting he had spoken with Kemp. “I don’t know why he [Trump] does this. And the reason I get so angry about it — I don’t care about what he says about me, but I care what he communicates to the people that are in need. He implies that we’re not doing everything possible. We are,” Biden said.

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Augusta, GA

Documentary premiere sheds light on Augusta homelessness, poverty

Published

2 hours ago

May 31, 2026

Press Room

Documentary premiere sheds light on Augusta homelessness, poverty

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A red carpet premiere was held for a documentary examining homelessness, poverty and economic hardship.

The premiere for the documentary “Season of Drought” took place at the First Presbyterian Church on Telfair Street on Saturday.

The film includes experiences from people facing economic hardship in America, including in Augusta.

Attendees included Nomi Stanton from GAP Ministries and Jackson Drumgoole of Bridge Builder Communities.

Lia Barnes, a boom operator on the production, said working on the film was a great experience.

“My major at Augusta University is digital and visual storytelling so this is perfect for my field of work,” Barnes said. “I was more of an assistant boom operator. I helped but everyone on the set taught me a lot about what it means to be on a set, not just what it means to be a sound operator on set but everything else that has to do with it.”

The event also included an awards presentation and networking reception.

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Augusta, GA

Volunteers come together to clean up Augusta neighborhood

Published

12 hours ago

May 30, 2026

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Volunteers come together to clean up Augusta neighborhood

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Volunteers came together Saturday to help clean up an Augusta neighborhood.

The cleanup took place on Wheeless Road and Dorn Road.

Jeremiah Atkinson started the event as a way to clean up trash dumped in the area and help the community.

He said they had at least 30 bags picked up as of Saturday morning.

“My message is if you see one piece of trash, pick it up and help Augusta clean it up because I feel like that would be more efficient, just pick up one piece of trash a day, just one to help out the community,” Atkinson said.

Organizers also provided snacks for volunteers.

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Augusta, GA

What is the cheapest place to buy a home in GA? This city ranks 8 in US

Published

22 hours ago

May 30, 2026

Press Room

What is the cheapest place to buy a home in GA? This city ranks 8 in US

Housing costs are often the biggest Georgians deal with every month, so it’s important to try and save money where possible.

Last week, WalletHub released its ranking of the most affordable cities to buy a home. It analyzed 300 cities based on 10 metrics, with the biggest weight going to housing affordability and cost per square foot.

Best city to buy a home in Georgia?

Augusta ranked the highest among Georgia cities, ranking 8th overall and 3rd best in the midsized cities list.

Augusta real estate prices

According to Zillow, as of March, the median list price for a house in Georgia is $205,000 with a median sale price of $187,283. About 57% of sales are under the list price.

The average rent, as of April, is $1,365 per month.

Augusta cost of living

The MIT Living Wage Calculator reports the hourly pay needed to support yourself and/or your family, assuming full-time employment. For Richmond County (Augusta), it’s $20.31 for one adult, $28.16 for a two-adult household with one working, and $14.08 for a two-adult household with both working.

Children obviously increase the wage needed. Depending on how many adults are working, the necessary pay figures may increase by up to $13 for just one child, with more needed for additional children.

Worst city to buy a home in Georgia?

The Georgia city with the lowest ranking on the list overall was Sandy Springs. However, with 300 cities, landing at No. 151 doesn’t make it nearly the worst in the nation. Sandy Springs was No. 56 on the small cities list.