Augusta, GA
Local Red Cross volunteers provide Debby aid in Savannah
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – It’s been a little more than two weeks since Hurricane Debby swept through Florida and then hit Georgia and the Carolinas as a tropical storm.
While we got nearly a foot of rain in some of our southern counties, places along the coast like Savannah got hit the hardest.
Augusta became a hub for relief organizations to ship out supplies in the aftermath of Debby.
Now, Augusta volunteers are heading south as well to help with recovery efforts.
It’s been more than a few weeks, but people are still feeling the impact like it was yesterday.
“I know that we have a couple of Augusta people that are in the Savannah area right now, and what they are doing is that recovery type of stage. So, they’re doing disaster assessment, so literally driving down all the streets, looking at the houses, seeing what houses have been damaged or destroyed, so that we can help them recover,” said Susan Everitt, executive director of American Red Cross of East Central Georgia.
Since Tropical Storm Debby, more than 500 volunteers have passed through Augusta to help along the coast, passing out meals, clean-up kits and more.
Frank Spears lives in Augusta and arrived in Savannah Tuesday night.
“200 hundred households have been affected in the Richmond Hill area. I’m gonna walk you around a bit here. Red Cross volunteers are here now doing intake and as we are doing the intake we are meeting with the people that have the greatest need and serving them with financial assistance,” said Spears.
He is also helping assess the damage.
The Red Cross says at least 420 homes have been damaged or destroyed overall, but that number could increase.
“They’ve given us lists of people that have destroyed houses or major damaged houses, and they’re the ones that were immediately helping. But we’re discovering, is it, there’s a lot more flooding here than we knew, and we’re trying to assist and help them in every single way. So, what we’ve seen is just amazing damage from the floods,” said Spears.
Augusta was ready for any sort of impact but stepped up where the impact was greater.
“There’s still water in some of the streets, but you can’t imagine what’s been left in those houses. It’s not good. It’s not good. Most of them did not have flood insurance, so homeowners’ insurance doesn’t cover it,” said Spears.
Spears says he’s helping in any way he can and encouraging others to also.
Everitt said: “At this point, we would love for people to volunteer to be prepared for the next disaster that comes because we know it’s going to be a very intense disaster season this year.”
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says 2024 could be one of the busiest hurricane seasons on record.
If you want to volunteer to help with disaster relief through the Red Cross, visit
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) — The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has made multiple arrests in a deadly shooting that left one teenager dead and another injured early Saturday morning.
According to deputies, the incident happened June 20, at approximately 12:50 a.m. in the 200 block of Warren Road, where authorities responded to reports of shots fired involving two gunshot victims.
When deputies arrived, they located two 18-year-old men from Augusta.
Officials identified the victims as Eric Markquis Bartley Miller and Joseph Lamar Thomas.
Investigators say Miller sustained at least one gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Thomas was also found with at least one gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under active investigation.
As of Saturday afternoon, three teenage suspects have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident.
18-year-old Dmihjay Collins, 17-year-old Tayshaun Thomas, and 17-year-old Joseph Thomas have all been arrested and charged with Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of Machine Guns. They are all currently being held at the Webster Detention Center.
A fourth teenager, 17-year-old Reante Byrd was also arrested, but investigators have not linked him to the murder case. Byrd has been charged with Possession of a Pistol or Revolver by a Person Under the Age of 18. He is also being held in the Webster Detention Center.
No further details in the investigation have been released.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Students showcased drones they built during a two-week summer camp at Augusta Regional Airport on Friday.
12 junior and high school students attended the camp, where they learned to fly and build drones designed to help others.
Anderson Puryear, a student, said the camp focused on delivering small medical supplies.
“It was focused on delivering small medical supplies like an EPI pen or glucose packet for like diabetics and for people with allergies in need in the real world that could obviously help save lives, and if people are like in a place in a boat or like in the desert or in the forest where they can’t easily access those supplies it can save their lives,” Puryear said.
The airport partnered with Georgia Tech, state troopers and the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Department for the Air Edu Summer Camp.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The 10th annual Juneteenth Augusta Festival brought families to the Augusta Fairgrounds on Friday despite the muggy heat.
Cultural and community-focused events, live music performances and food trucks were available at the celebration.
Tonia Hill, attending the Juneteenth celebration, said she loves the holiday and is supporting the community, though she acknowledged the weather conditions.
“I love Juneteenth. And I’m supporting everybody. It’s hot. It’s hot. It’s hot,” Hill said.
The festival runs until 10 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
-
Kentucky6 minutes agoKentucky Colonels executive to speak at Florence Rotary Club on Monday, public welcome to register
-
Louisiana9 minutes ago
Louisiana Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for June 20, 2026
-
Maine14 minutes agoYou drew a Maine moose permit. Here’s what to do right now.
-
Maryland21 minutes agoMaryland Gov. Moore champions the spirit of Juneteenth and togetherness at AFRAM 50
-
Michigan24 minutes agoInsider: Shaky polls cause uproar in Michigan Senate, governor races
-
Massachusetts29 minutes agoSwimmer pulled from Houghton’s Pond after search
-
Minnesota36 minutes agoAurora clinches division championship with 4-1 win over River Light
-
Mississippi39 minutes agoMississippi Lottery Mississippi Match 5, Cash 3 results for June 20, 2026
