Helene spawns curfews in Augusta, elsewhere across CSRA

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta joined other local communities in ordering a curfew as the city grapples with hazards from a direct hit by Category 1 Hurricane Helene early Friday.

Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson declared a state of emergency Friday after the storm swept through the CSRA as a Category 1 storm, knocking down trees, tossing power lines and debris across roads and causing widespread flood flooding.

Augusta announced the curfew at 9:59 p.m. Friday – and it began one minute later at 10.

All bars and places of amusement must close at 10 p.m. and remain closed through 6 a.m. Saturday, the order states.

Beginning Saturday, there will be a curfew enforced by Richmond County Sheriff’s Office from 7 p.m. through 7 a.m. until further notice.

It came after the mayor and other local officials on Friday urged people to stay at home because roads and some other public areas aren’t safe, with storm debris, trees and power lines blocking thoroughfares or teetering on the brink of falling.

Columbia County imposed a curfew from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

“This decision comes as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and well-being of our community during ongoing efforts to remove debris, downed trees, and downed powerlines with community partners from the major thoroughfares throughout the county,” the Columbia County government said in a statement.

Under an emergency declaration, Aiken County Sheriff Michael Hunt instituted a curfew for Aiken County from 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. Essential workers for local businesses and services and responders will be exempt from this curfew.

“This act is being used as a deterrence for anyone who would want to take advantage of our citizens who have been greatly impacted by the storm,” Hunt said. Violators and looters will be arrested, he said.

There’s also a curfew in Saluda County from 6:30 p.m. Friday until 8 a.m. on Saturday. That’s because there are so many highways and secondary roads with downed trees and power lines.

Jefferson County had a curfew overnight Thursday, expiring at noon Friday.

Although it stopped short of a curfew, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office issued an advisory for everyone to avoid leaving their homes for any reason.

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Helene came ashore overnight in the Big Bend of Florida as a Category 4 storm, then cut a path due north through Georgia.

It was expected to veer westward toward Atlanta but instead headed straight for Augusta, which got a direct hit.

The CSRA felt the worst of the storm between 4 and 6 a.m.

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