AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – After being postponed due to Hurricane Helene, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources hosted the 78th annual Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Conference on Wednesday.

The fish and wildlife agencies cover 15 states and two territories with more than 600 hundred people attending the conference.

Georgia DNR has been on the ground assisting with the recovery from Hurricane Helene as well.

“Hurricane Helene was an unprecedented storm for Georgia. DNR was starting and preparing for the storm before it made landfall, following the storm, deploying people in all. We touched about 25 counties in Georgia and deployed 335 personnel that were involved. To this day, we are helping clean debris from roads and offering critical assistance with supplies,” said Trevor Santos, deputy commissioner for Georgia DNR.

During the meeting, they also discussed a new initiative, “Outdoors Beyond Barriers”

It is focused on removing barriers for people looking to get outdoors and dealing with issues including mobility issues, living in more urban areas or those who just have not been able to experience the outdoor areas in Georgia.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – For many, the holiday season is one filled with joy and making memories.

But for others, the holiday season brings on stress and fear as leaders see an increase in domestic violence cases.

When the phone rings at Safe Homes of Augusta, it’s not just a call for help.

It’s a call for action.

“Safe Homes is the only nonprofit domestic violence center, and we service 10 counties. And so, therefore, we see a lot of different types of calls that come in,” said Safe Homes Executive Director Aimme Hall.

Hall says hundreds of calls come directly to this line each month.

“Last year, we took over 1,900 calls. Through those calls, you know, we see a lot of different types of abuse,” said Hall.

There are calls ranging from emotional and financial abuse to physical abuse.

During the holidays, the calls get worse. Hall says they increase by 30%.

“We do get a lot of calls, but it could be, you know, not so much for shelter maybe, but just for outreach services because during those times, you know, domestic violence can worsen. Then maybe we’re getting calls for temporary protection or assistance,” she said.

But Hall says more calls don’t always mean the shelter fills up during the holidays.

“Not everybody’s ready to leave during the holidays. And we can’t, as, you know, the community, social workers, advocates, we can’t push them to leave. Because, again, they know when it’s the best, when it’s the most dangerous,” said Hall.

You may not realize you or someone you love could be at risk.

But she says there are things to look out for.

“Isolation is a huge one. Of course, the emotional abuse, you know, we see a lot of that with the intimidation. If you see that your loved one is being intimidated by their partner,” said Hall.

Even though most are off for the holidays, advocates at Safe Homes are not.

They are open 365 days a year with a 24-hour emergency unmarked shelter ready to help you on the first ring.

Safe Homes of Augusta has a 24/7 crisis hotline if you or someone you know needs help.

If you need help, call 706-736-2499.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has given Augusta and other communities in Georgia and South Carolina 30 more days to clean up Helene debris and still get reimbursed 100% for the costs.

Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson announced Wednesday that the 100% reimbursement period for Hurricane Helene has been extended to 120 days.

Documents from FEMA showed the deadline was extended in both Georgia and South Carolina.

Previously, communities had a 90-day deadline to clean up the debris and get fully reimbursed for the costs.

The extension is crucial in Augusta, because with only a couple of weeks left under the original deadline, contractors haven’t even finished their first pass through the city.

Residents were asked to pile hurricane debris along the roadsides, and crews plan to make at least two and possibly three passes along every street in the city to pick up the debris.

On Tuesday night, Johnson updated the community at a town hall meeting on cleanup efforts in Richmond County.

MORE FROM NEWS 12

Hurricane Helene: CSRA continues on path to recovery

1. 2 months after Helene, FEMA continues to open recovery centers
2. Everything you need to know about applying for FEMA aid
3. What FEMA can and can’t do for victims of Hurricane Helene
4. Pace of Helene cleanup frustrates many across the CSRA

The extension comes even as FEMA Director Deanne Criswell testified last month to senators that the money available to help communities like Augusta has shrunk after back-to-back hurricanes Helene and Milton.

She said the country’s emergency checkbook is down to less than $5 billion.

She and Sen. Jon Ossoff for an infusion of money during a hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations.

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