Recovery efforts continue Sunday across Georgia’s 159 counties after Helene barreled through the state, causing catastrophic damage, flooding and at least 17 deaths.
More than 400,000 people were still without power statewide after Helene entered South Georgia as a Category 2 hurricane around 1 a.m. Friday. Homes were destroyed, and neighborhoods were flooded across the state. Operations at dozens of United States Postal Service facilities throughout Georgia have also been disrupted.
While Atlanta escaped the brunt of the damage, flooding woes have persisted after the city experienced the most rainfall over a 48-hour period since the 19th century.
[11 a.m.]: FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell arrived in Valdosta on Sunday, where she will meet with local officials and emergency response personnel after Helene battered the area with hurricane-force winds.
The city’s downtown was littered with twisted sheet metal, bricks and tree limbs after the storm passed through, which Gov. Brian Kemp said was like a “250-mile tornado.”
As of 11 a.m. Sunday, Georgia Power said more than 27,000 of its customers were without power in the Valdosta area. Criswell will tour Valdosta and provide an update on the Helene response efforts at the Lowndes County Emergency Operations Center Sunday afternoon before she travels to North Carolina on Monday.
[10:40 a.m.]: It was a sunny Saturday for the annual peanut festival in Plains, Georgia, three days shy of the 100th birthday of former President Jimmy Carter, the town’s most famous resident.
But this year, amid the celebration, there was also a somber feeling among some attendees. Less than 48 hours earlier, Hurricane Helene crossed into Georgia. While this rural southwest Georgia town escaped major damage, the historic storm triggered power outages, leveled trees and damaged crops across swathes of the state.
The 26th Plains Peanut Festival was a temporary reprieve from the likely financial woes that waited at home for many of the farmers who traveled here and typically rejoice in the harvest season at the gathering.
“It’s a catastrophe,” said Tommy Holland, who co-owns H&H Farm near Vidalia with his brother. “We’ve been completely wiped out.”
Read the full story by staff writer Michelle Baruchman here.
[9:55 a.m.]: Augusta Utilities on Sunday announced it is temporarily shutting off water service for “all of Augusta - Richmond County,” due to Helene. The water is expected to be restored within the next 24 to 48 hours, the utility said, noting the trash and debris caused by the storm blocked their ability to pump water.
“We are working closely with emergency services and local partners to monitor the situation and provide safe drinking water alternatives until normal services are restored,” Augusta Utilities added. “While repairs are underway, we are working to establish temporary water distribution sites throughout the community.”
[9:45 a.m.]: Swimming in floodwaters? Think again.
Drivers are advised to stay clear of flooded areas, even when seeking supplies or checking on someone. In fact, more than half of flood victims are in vehicles swept away by moving water, according to the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA).
But officials say walking through flooded waters could also put you in danger, not only from the drowning risk, but from infectious diseases, downed power lines, or chemicals that could be in the water. In some cases, wild animals could be lurking beneath the surface.
“Apart from the fact that hazardous objects may float along the stream of a flood, floodwaters may also conceal sharp objects, such as wood, glass or metal fragments, and even large holes created by collapsed buildings and roads,” stated the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “Floods can also lead to an abundance of various specific hazards comprising biological and chemical (or even radiological) contaminants.”
[9:25 a.m.]: While Georgians continue to deal with Helene’s devastation, other states in the Southeast also are grappling with the aftermath.
Massive rains have left people stranded, without shelter and awaiting rescue, as the cleanup is underway from a tempest that killed at least 64 people, caused widespread destruction across the U.S. Southeast and knocked out power to millions of people, according to the latest Associated Press reports.
Western North Carolina was isolated because of landslides and flooding that forced the closure of Interstate 40 and other roads.
The storm, now a post-tropical cyclone, was expected to hover over the Tennessee Valley today, the National Hurricane Center said. It unleashed the worst flooding in a century in North Carolina. One community, Spruce Pine, was doused with over 2 feet of rain from Tuesday through Saturday.
[9:15 a.m.]: The United States Postal Service said that retail and delivery operations for its facilities in the 304, 308 and 209 3-digit ZIP code areas will be suspended until further notice due to Helene. In addition, officials said they suspended operations at more than three dozen facilities across the state. No alternative sites were available.
Adel PO, 1009 S Hutchinson Ave., 31620.
Alapaha PO, 22261 Main St., 31622.
Alma PO, 523 W 12th St., 31510.
Argyle PO, 6427 Main St., 31623.
Baldwin, 1090 Willingham Ave., 30511.
Barney PO, 13841 GA Highway 122, 31625.
Blackshear PO, 327 Main St., 31516.
Blackshear Sta., 3297 US Highway 84, 31516.
Bristol PO, 1983 GA Highway 121, 31518.
Carnesville, 9581 Lavonia Rd., 30521.
Cecil PO, 51 Main St., 31627.
Danielsville, 44 General Daniel Ave. S., 30633.
Douglas PO, 600 Madison Ave. S., 31533.
Fargo PO, 700 US Highway 441, 31631.
Hahira PO, 112 N Church St., 31632.
Hoboken PO, 4850 Main St. E., 31542.
Hortense, 4779 GA-32, 31543.
Kingsland, 310 S Grove Blvd., 31548.
Lakemont, 17 Lakemont Industrial Dr., 30552.
Martin, 3819 Historic Highway 17, 30557.
Mershon PO, 2547 GA Highway 32, 31551.
Moultrie PO, 215 N Main St., 31768.
Nahunta PO, 10119 Main St. N., 31553.
Nashville PO, 301 S Bartow St., 31639.
Norman Park PO, 113 E Broad St., 31771.
Odum PO, 219 S Church, 31555.
Offerman PO, 7203 US-84, 31556.
Patterson PO, 6469 US-84, 31557.
Pavo, 2028 Harris St., 31778.
Poulan PO, 120 Broad St. SW., 31781.
Quitman PO, 410 E Screven St., 31643.
Ray City PO, 8122 Main St., 31645.
Screven PO, 117 W JL Tyre St., 31560.
Tallulah Falls, 235 Main St., 30573.
Tunerville, 1083 Thacker Rd., 30580.
Valdosta PO, 3698 Inner Perimeter Rd., 31602.
Waresboro PO, 4308 Albany Ave., 31564.
Washington, 215 E Court St., 30673.
Waycross PO, 601 Tebeau St., FL 1, 31501.
Waynesville PO, 25380 US-82, 31566.
Welsey Chapel, 2724 Wesley Chapel Rd, 30034.
West Green PO, 9978 US-221, 31567.
[8:30 a.m.]: Georgia Power said more than 445,982 customers were without power Sunday morning after Helene left a train of destruction across the state.
Nealy 150,000 of those customers were from the southeast Georgia areas of Savannah and Brunswick amid fierce winds and flooding from the powerful storm. In South Georgia, officials said 20,000 people were still without power in the areas of Valdosta and Waycross. Thousands of customers near Dublin, Statesboro and Vidalia were also looking to get their power restored. In metro Atlanta, only a few dozen outages were reported on Sunday morning after Helene left thousands of customers without power over the previous two days.
[8:05 a.m.]: Atlanta received 11.12 inches of rain over a 48-hour period as Helene barreled through the area, the most recorded since 1878, according to Georgia’s Office of the State Climatologist.
The rainfall in the city beat out the previous record of 9.59 inches in 1886, the office stated. It comes after August tied for the third driest month in Atlanta since 2002.
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