Kamala Harris coming to Augusta to see hurricane damage

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Georgia to tour the damage Hurricane Helene left across the Peach State.

The vice president will be in Augusta on Wednesday, where she will be briefed on recovery efforts.

Harris will also give updates on federal actions that are being taken to support emergency response and recovery efforts in Georgia and several other states.

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On Monday, Harris visited Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters where she received a follow-up briefing on the ongoing impacts of Hurricane Helene and thanked federal personnel and first responders for their work to support impacted communities.

During her remarks, she made it clear that the Biden-Harris administration “will continue to do everything we can to help you recover and to help you rebuild – no matter how long it takes.”

President Joe Biden, meanwhile, will visit storm-hit areas of North Carolina on Wednesday. He’ll “engage with first responders and state and local officials in South Carolina en route to North Carolina.”

Early Friday, the Category 1 storm hit Augusta, knocking out power to most of the city, toppling trees onto homes, killing nearly 25 people across the CSRA and leading to a more than two-day shutdown of Augusta’s water system.

Harris’ visit will come just a day after President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for Richmond, Columbia and Jefferson counties.

The White House said Harris has spoken with Georgia leaders, including Gov. Brian Kemp and Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, ahead of her planned visit to the state.

The Augusta visit comes after ones Monday by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga.

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