Augusta, GA
‘We have to come together’: Augusta leaders hold press conference after Hurricane Helene
Air mattress becomes raft in Atlanta’s Hurricane Helene floodwaters
Multiple water rescues took place across Georgia after Hurricane Helene made landfall, prompting Atlanta’s mayor to declare a flash flood emergency.
From loss of power and water to blocked roads, Hurricane Helene had a big impact on Augusta. That’s what its leaders looked to address Friday.
Several of them held a press conference outside the Augusta Utilities building on Friday afternoon. The first to speak was Mayor Garnett Johnson.
“Our community has been deeply impacted,” Johnson said. “We didn’t anticipate this to happen, but it did. Just know that we have a great team that’s working with us to make sure we restore Augusta the way we expect it.”
School closures: Augusta schools extends closure after Helene. Here are the latest from local K-12, college
Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree said they started bringing in additional resources to help them at about 2 a.m. While there is no curfew, residents are asked to shelter in place as much as possible.
“If there’s not a necessary reason for you to leave your home, please stay in place,” Roundtree said. “First responders will try to get to you as quick as we can….but we have multiple vehicle accidents, trees down through out the city. This was a very impactful storm.”
Augusta Fire and EMA Chief Antonio Burden said they have requested additional resources like water for those without it and those resources are on the way. Tree crews are out trying to assist the fire department. Residents can place their yard debris on the curb and it will be picked up.
To address outages, Georgia Power is sending 1,000 workers who will be staged in the parking lot of the James Brown Arena. According to USA Today’s “Off the Grid” Outage tracker, more than 96,000 outages were reported on Friday.
Because of a heavy increase in call volume to 911, residents were encouraged to use 311 for non-life threatening emergency needs like a fallen tree. Welfare checks are being provided for concerned residents.
Georgia State Representative Brian Prince highlighted how the cleanup is going to require collaboration between different agencies and individuals.
“We have to come together in a time like this,” Prince said. “We’ll make sure we get through this, but we can only do it together.”
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.
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