Augusta, GA

Helene live updates from Augusta: Charities teaming up to help Augustans in need

Published

1 year ago

October 6, 2024

Press Room

Helene live updates from Augusta: Charities teaming up to help Augustans in need

Staff Reports
| Augusta Chronicle

Recovery efforts continue into their second week after Hurricane Helene devastated the Augusta area on Sept. 27.

Though thousands remain without power heading into this week, Georgia Power said that by Saturday, Oct. 5 80% of its Augusta customers had their power restored.

The Category 4 storm made landfall Sept. 26 along Florida’s Big Bend coast. The Augusta area saw isolated tornadoes and hurricane-force wind gusts exceeding 80 mph, downing trees and powerlines.

Below is the latest information on Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in Augusta and east Georgia. The Augusta Chronicle staff will update regularly.

Aiken County Public School System announced on Saturday that Paul Knox Middle in North Augusta and Aiken High School in Aiken will serve as shelters. But this was later updated to only Paul Knox serving as a shelter. Those sheltering at Paul Knox should enter at Wells Road and Pisgah Avenue.

Aiken County schools continue to be closed as they are currently on fall break through Oct. 11.

Many residents in communities surrounding Augusta remain without power as the area heads into its second week of recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene.

“It’s going to be a multiple-week-long process,” Wayne Gossage Jr., president of Jefferson Energy Cooperative, last week said of efforts to restore power in more rural areas. “I was here during the ice storm of 2014 and I never thought we’d see anything close to that, but this is much worse for multiple reasons. The transmission that’s out, the damage to our distribution system is going to take time to repair. The ice storm was isolated more or less, but this is all over.”

Here’s a look of remaining power outages in some of the communities outside Augusta as reported by Dataminr on Sunday morning. The data is presented by electric utility, county affected and the number of remaining outages.

Jefferson Energy

Mcduffie County, GA: 3,153
Jefferson County, GA: 3,105
Columbia County, GA: 2,691
Richmond County, GA: 1,795
Burke County, GA: 1,116
Warren County, GA: 826
Glascock County, GA: 465
Emanuel County, GA: 435
Johnson County, GA: 229
Washington County, GA: 89

Aiken Electric

Aiken County, SC: 6,033
Edgefield County, SC: 4,126
McCormick County, SC: 535
Saluda County, SC: 146
Barnwell County, SC: 40

Dominion Energy

Aiken County, SC: 8,305
Edgefield County, SC: 1,418
Saluda County, SC: 1,008
Mccormick County, SC: 719
Richland County, SC: 91
Gloucester County, VA: 16
Abbeville County, SC: 11
Fairfax County, VA: 9
Petersburg County, VA: 8
Lexington County, SC: 8

United Way of the Central Savannah River Area, its 211 Helpline and the crowdsourced internet charity site GoFundMe.org are collectively raising funds for families harmed by damage from Hurricane Helene.The fund will offer unrestricted cash grants of $200 to help people pay for food, water, clothing, diapers and other critical supplies. “Additional grants will become available as new funds are raised through this impactful partnership,” according to Madison Jones, a communications manager with GoFundMe.United Way CSRA’s 2-1-1 is helping to identify grantees, and GoFundMe.org will issue the grants. GoFundMe has made an initial $50,000 contribution to begin immediately helping 250 people in Augusta.Tax-deductible donations also will be granted to support those in need.

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Augusta, GA

Georgia Lt. Gov candidate Rep. David Clark visits Augusta

Published

10 hours ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

Georgia Lt. Gov candidate Rep. David Clark visits Augusta

Georgia Lt. Gov candidate state Rep. David Clark made a stop in Augusta Saturday. He says that some of his priorities if he wins include expanding school choice, eliminating the state income and property taxes, and reaching out to younger voters.

Clark is also an Army veteran, who served overseas. He hopes to represent all Georgians.

“Before politics and parties we’re Americans, we’re Georgians. That’s the biggest thing. People want someone who stands up and listens to people,” said Clark.

“I’m not saying we’re always going to agree, but in the end—we’re the American family, we’re the Georgian family.”

The Georgia primary will take place on May 19th, and the general election will be on November 3rd.

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Augusta, GA

Car enthusiasts meet to talk rides and drink coffee

Published

22 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Car enthusiasts meet to talk rides and drink coffee

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Car enthusiasts met Saturday morning at the Augusta Richmond County Judicial Building to show off their cars and meet others.

It was also an opportunity for these people to network with others.

One of the group leaders spoke about the event.

“So we like to be a community-oriented club. We give back to charities with the money that we make off the car shows. So we just like to come hang out and just look at other cars, and talk to other car enthusiasts,” said Mike Anchor, CSRA Mustang and Ford Club.

There are get-togethers like this every month.

They’re normally the first Saturday of the month and start at 9 a.m.

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Augusta, GA

Structure fire blocks multiple lanes on Peach Orchard Road

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Structure fire blocks multiple lanes on Peach Orchard Road

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and Augusta Fire Department responded to a structure fire early Saturday morning in the 3600 block of Peach Orchard Road.