AUGUSTA, Ga. – As highway crews prepare roadways for a winter storm that’s approaching the Peach State, Georgia Power is getting ready, too.

“We are ready to help where needed,” said Alicia Brown, spokesperson for the utility that’s just come off Hurricane Helene, the must destructive disaster in the company’s history.

In the CSRA, a wintry mix is possible Friday into Saturday for areas near and north of Interstate 20. A FIRST ALERT has been issued to give proper preparedness for potential minor winter impacts.

Brown said Georgia Power is also closely monitoring the forecast to be ready to respond should the storm cause widespread power outages.

“We have continued to invest in our grid to make sure during times like these that we can get the power back on as quickly as possible,” Brown said.

The upside of the winter storm coming after Helene – and disaster that wiped out electric service across Augusta for days, and weeks in some cases – is that many of the weaker trees were brought down.

The downside is that there are still many trees with perilously hanging branches that could come down without much effort.

MORE FROM NEWS 12

CSRA cold snap: A survival guide

1. Protecting your pets during extremely cold weather
2. What can renters do if pipes burst due to winter weather?
3. Don’t get burned by cold-weather home repair scams
4. Local fire crews warn of heating hazards in cold weather
5. How to spot warning signs of frostbite, hypothermia
6. Protecting your most precious plants from winter’s wrath
7. Stay inside if you can during cold snap, experts say
8. Winter weather myths debunked to keep you safe
9. If your pipes freeze or break, follow this advice from experts
10. How to get help with your heating bill in the CSRA
11. What to know if you’ll be driving in subfreezing weather
12. How to protect your heating system during freezing temperatures
13. How to stay warm on a budget and beat the cold weather
14. Trouble from burst pipes can linger well beyond a freeze
15. Keep your pipes from bursting in freezing weather
16. How to prepare your home for major freeze

Stay informed

• Outage Alerts – Customers subscribed to our free Georgia Power Outage Alert service will receive personalized notifications and updates via text message. Check that your contact number is up to date to receive the latest information.
• Outage and storm center – Available at https://www.georgiapower.com/about/safety/outages-storm-center.html?cid=redirect_vanity_storm, customers can visit this site to check their contact information is updated to receive Outage Alerts, report and check the status of outages, and access useful safety tips and information. Customers can also report and check the status of an outage 24 hours a day by contacting Georgia Power at 888-891-0938.
• Outage map – Housed within the Outage & Storm Center, Georgia Power’s interactive Outage Map provides near real-time information, allowing users to see where outages are occurring across the state and track estimated restoration times.
• Georgia Power mobile app – Download the Georgia Power mobile app for Apple and Android devices to access storm and outage information on the go.
• @GeorgiaPower on X – Follow @GeorgiaPower on X for storm tips, outage updates, customer service and more.

Tips

• Optimize heating – Heating can account for 50% of a home’s typical winter energy usage. Enhance the efficiency of your heating unit by changing filters monthly, or every three months for pleated filters. Make sure heating vents and return air registers are unobstructed by furniture or drapes.
• Check your insulation – Keep heat where it belongs by ensuring proper insulation in attics and walls. Replace any cracked or peeling caulk or weatherstripping around doors and windows to save up to 10 percent on energy usage and reduce cold air infiltration into your home.
• Adjust your thermostat – Set your manual thermostat to 68 degrees or lower. Each degree lower can result in a 3-4% decrease in energy consumption. Or take advantage of programmable thermostat features if available to save energy throughout the day.
• Utilize natural heat – Open blinds and shades on sunny days to naturally warm your home at no cost. Close them at night to minimize the chill from cold windows.

Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office safely located a missing runaway after she went missing in October, authorities told us Tuesday.

Authorities say Brianna Smith, 16, was safely located after being last seen on Oct. 29 in the 3100 block of Leaflet Way.

Back in November, Authorities released a photo of her and told us she frequents the area of Allen Homes off Laney Walker Boulevard, Jennings Homes off Olive Road and Wooten Road.

She has run away before, according to previous news reports.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office announced they safely located two of the three runaways that went missing last month.

Deputies said they safely located De’Aundre Jones and Elijah Johnson and returned them to their families on Dec. 31.

However, authorities did not give an update on the third runaway, Donovan Tanksley.

Authorities are now looking for four missing people.

Phillip Thomas, 58, Berina Dalton, 50, and Azariel Williams, 14, are still missing in the area.

If you have any information or have seen any of these people, please contact the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at 706-821-1000.

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.