Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson declared a state of emergency for Augusta-Richmond County Friday after storm damage left several dead and caused widespread flooding and downed trees and power lines.
“Our community has been deeply impacted,” Johnson said.
Johnson announced a curfew ordering all bars and places of amusement to close at 10 p.m. and remain closed through 6 a.m. Saturday. The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office will also enforce a curfew starting Saturday from 7 p.m. through 7 a.m. until further notice.
Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen confirmed five deaths involving fallen trees. Bowen said the damage had made responders’ jobs more difficult.
“It’s hard to get to these places because trees are down. It’s just a chaotic mess,” Bowen said.
Credit: Charmain Brackett
Credit: Charmain Brackett
A person died in Grovetown in Columbia County after a tree fell on a mobile home, Augusta-area news station WRDW reported.
Near Thomson, a 27-year-old mother and her 1-month-old twin boys died when a tree crashed through their mobile home, according to McDuffie County Coroner Paul Johnson. All three were in bed together when they were killed, Johnson said.
An 89-year-old woman also died in Dearing when a tree landed on her home, Johnson said.
In Washington County, a 7-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl died after a tree fell on their home, WRDW reported.
Aiken County, South Carolina, across the state line from Augusta, had four deaths, coroner Darryl Ables told WRDW.
Credit: Charmain Brackett
Credit: Charmain Brackett
Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree, who confirmed the fatalities in his area, urged people to stay off roads to allow emergency responders to pass. Shawn Granato, director of the Columbia County Emergency Management Agency, echoed the plea to motorists.
Columbia County instituted a curfew from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. on Saturday.
“We understand that curfews can be inconvenient, but the safety of our residents is our top priority,” said County Manager Scott Johnson. “We urge everyone to comply with this curfew to help us protect our community and first responders and ensure a swift response to any emergencies that may arise.”
Johnson said they expect to be without power for “several days.”
Augusta Fire Chief/EMA director Antonio Burden said crews have stayed busy responding to multiple calls and that officials were in contact with the National Weather Service to determine whether a tornado touched down during the storm.
Augusta Regional Airport closed Friday and will remain closed for most of Saturday for outbound flights. The airport will receive four inbound commercial flights - two from American Airlines and two from Delta - Saturday night before expecting to resume normal operations Sunday morning.
Credit: Charmain Brackett
Credit: Charmain Brackett
The airport lost primary power and is using its auxiliary power, with other critical systems and processes also impacted as well. Airport personnel was also dealing with power outages, road accessibility and damaged to property.
“The suspension of Saturday day time operations will hopefully allow for the restoration of primary power and recalibration of normal operations,” the airport said in a statement.
The annual Ironman 70.3 event scheduled to take place in Augusta over the weekend was canceled.
“As things worsened overnight, it became very clear that this was the only decision that could be made in the interest of the safety of our athletes, volunteers, staff, and the wellbeing of the Augusta community,” event organizers said in a statement.
Hotels are being made available for displaced residents in Augusta. Shelters are also opening up across the city.
Wellstar MGG and Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia were on emergency power Friday morning, The Augusta-Chronicle reported.
Credit: Provided by Tonya Bonitatibus
Credit: Provided by Tonya Bonitatibus
Savannah Riverkeeper Executive Director Tonya Bonitatibus said the Savannah River reached flood stage and expected it would take weeks, if not months, for the area to get back to normal.
“There is a tremendous amount of damage,” Bonitatibus said. “It is an active and ongoing very dangerous scene. There is still a lot of downed trees, natural gas leaks and a community that is reeling with a new reality today.”
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