Augusta, GA
Hurricane Helene debris removal gets started early in Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Hurricane debris removal has gotten underway early.
It was scheduled to start Monday, but officials said they decided to start Sunday night, when crews moved about 20 loads.
Augusta officials gave an update on the process Monday afternoon during a news conference.
They said they’re starting with about 15 trucks that will visit every street in the city to pick up debris scattered by Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27.
In some areas, they’ll pass two, three or four times in an effort to pick up all the debris people have left for them to pick up.
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The city has a deadline of 90 days to make a good-faith effort to get the mess cleaned up. In return, the federal government will reimburse Augusta for 100% of the cost.
City officials say it took 47 days to clean up the 870,000 cubic yards of debris from an infamous ice storm a decade ago.
Right now, the crews are starting in areas south of Gordon Highway and in heavily hit areas, then they’ll radiate outward from there.
One priority will be clearing routes that lead to hospitals. Also on the list are trees leaning over a road.
Heavily treed central parts of Augusta could be a challenge.
“It’s hit hard, and we’re gonna be busy,” said Steve Castle with contractor ISM.
Officials say there are two debris management sides, and they want folks to stay away from them because of the number of trucks going in and out.
Officials say the debris pickup is free.
You’ll need to leave it by the curb, on the right-of-way but not in the street.
And make sure you leave space for your garbage and recycling carts.
Don’t mix household garbage or construction debris with the vegetation waste from the storm, officials say.
And officials say not to burn the debris – not just for safety reasons but also for air quality.
The contractor will make multiple passes through the city, and GPS tracking will ensure every street is driven.
So if they don’t get everything on the first pass in front of your house, don’t worry.
If it wasn’t for the kindness of neighbors, Augusta resident Paulette Edery and her family would still be trapped in their home.
“You couldn’t get out,” said Edery.
This left Edery stopped in her tracks
“We had all these trees on the street here, then all the trees of the other house on the street and the one across was horrible. You couldn’t see anything, absolutely nothing. Just trees, one on top of the other,” she said.
The same story is told street after street.
“We were trapped from right, left, back and front,” said Edery. “Thankfully our neighbor and his wife had been helping us the next morning to start chopping just to be able to get out.”
There’s a lot to clean up, but Edery says that is the least of her worries.
“Listen, I’m a fighter. I’m not a quitter. At this point, we cannot let Mother Nature put us down, and we need to keep on going and moving and make the best of what happened to us,” she said.
Even with all of the devastation, Edery says she’s thankful.
“I say, thank you, God, the most important for me. Even if my house had got damaged, as long as I’m alive with my family the next morning, I’m very thankful,” she said.
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EVANS, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Multiple areas of Columbia County are reporting flash flooding Monday evening with more rain on the way.
Viewer video shows significant water on William Few Parkway near Windmill Plantation Neighborhood Park in Evans.
One resident said the flooding near West Lake Country Club swallowed their yard entirely — “Lost our dog fence to our new river,” they said.
Flooding has also been reported on Fury’s Ferry Road.
A stalled front parked over the region is bringing excess moisture and slow-moving storms, creating an elevated flooding threat — especially in areas already prone to flooding.
Steady rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue throughout the evening.
Drivers are urged to use caution and avoid flooded roadways. Turn around, don’t drown.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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AUGUSTA, Ga (WJBF)- A new Georgia law that took effect this month is aimed at helping drivers and passengers with autism during traffic stops.
Rio’s Law, already active in South Carolina, provides a special license plate for drivers and extra training for law enforcement with the goal of making traffic stops involving people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) smoother.
“Our deputies deal with hundreds and hundreds of people every single day. And that’s face to face contact,” said Major Andy Shedd, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
Rio’s Law went into effect in Georgia on July 1st.
According to Major Shedd, since 2025, law enforcement officers across the Peach State have been training on how to interact with people with ASD, which the new law will expand.
“And it’s also been embedded in our community oriented policing training that we take online. And the beauty of that is some of the far reaching agencies in Georgia, some of the more rural police officers and deputies that that work in the rural areas, the online training gives them that format to where they can receive it also.”
Rio’s Law was created when a mother in California was pulled over for a traffic stop with her autistic son as a passenger. The officer wasn’t well versed in how people with ASD can react to stressful situations.
“They have reactions to specific types of sensories, whether they’re sound or lights or patterns that that can trigger some uncomfortable feelings, especially for people who are neurodivergent or living with things like autism,” explained Dr. Vijay Nagpol, a physician at ER Doctors Hospital Evans.
More noteworthy than the additional training is the access to a special license plate.
“That way, if law enforcement deals with you in the form of a traffic stop or a traffic accident, the deputy knows as soon as he sees that tag that he’s dealing with someone within the vehicle, either driver or passenger that may have autism,” Major Shedd explained.
This knowledge will allow the officers to use tools from training to keep the situation from escalating or to de-escalate if the person is already extremely upset.
“It may be hard for them to react in a way that would be expected from the police who are pulling them over law enforcement. They may have trouble focusing on the task at hand, which is conversing and cooperating with law enforcement,” said Dr. Nagpol.
Experts say that when law enforcement interacts with someone with ASD, awareness and education are key to keeping everyone calm.
“I think it all boils down to communication. The deputy should have good communication with whatever this person is going through,” said Major Shedd.
“I think it’ll be great once it’s rolled out is definitely going to take some training and awareness on the side of law enforcement,” said Dr. Nagpol. “But I know it’ll be something that’s relieving to people who are living with autism and also their loved ones.”
You can find out more about Rio’s Law HERE.
To find more information on getting an Autistic/Neurodivergent license plate in Georgia visit the Department of Revenue’s website or go to your local DMV.
In South Carolina you can go to the DMV website or visit your local DMV office.
Doctor’s Hospital treats and helps people with any health related problem at any of their location.
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