Helene aftermath in Georgia: What we know about deaths, damage and more (2025)

HITCHENS WITH THE GEORGIA STATE PATROL AND DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY WITH US UP HERE TODAY. AS YOU HAVE SEEN OVERNIGHT, THE STORM ACTUALLY MOVED A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WAS PREDICTED ON A PATH FROM VALDOSTA TO AUGUSTA, WHICH IF YOU WERE IN THAT PATH OR CERTAINLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DIRTY SIDE OF THAT STORM, IT WAS A VERY HARD HIT. THE REST OF THE STATE ON THE WEST SIDE OR LEFT SIDE OF THE STORM, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE NOT UNSCATHED, THEY WEREN’T TAKING THE BRUNT THAT A LOT OF OTHER FOLKS DID WITH THE HIGH WINDS. EVEN THOUGH WE’VE HAD A LOT OF FLOODING IN METRO ATLANTA AND OTHER PLACES AROUND THE AROUND THE STATE, BUT WE CAUGHT A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK FOR SOME PARTS OF THE STATE IN THAT REGARD. EARLY THIS MORNING WE HAD WIND GUSTS OVER 90 MILES AN HOUR THAT WERE MEASURED IN SOUTH GEORGIA. A CAT TWO HURRICANE, ACTUALLY A 100 MILE AN HOUR WIND GUSTS WERE MEASURED IN ALMA, GEORGIA, AND BACON COUNTY AT THIS TIME, THIS HAS BEEN A DEADLY STORM. WE’VE HAD 11 CONFIRMED FATALITIES. I WOULD ASK ALL GEORGIANS LIKE THE KEMP FAMILY. IS DOING, TO KEEP THESE FOLKS IN THESE COMMUNITIES IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. WE KNOW THAT ONE OF THOSE WAS A FIRST RESPONDER. WHEN WE ASKED PEOPLE TO STAY OFF THE ROADS AND BE PATIENT IS BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO GET TO PEOPLE. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT AND ONE OF OUR FINEST HAS LOST HIS LIFE TRYING TO SAVE OTHERS. WE’RE ALSO TRYING TO GET THE MULTIPLE STRUCTURES RIGHT NOW THAT WE KNOW HAVE INDIVIDUALS INSIDE THAT WERE UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH. WE’LL HAVE TO LITERALLY CUT OUR WAY INTO SITUATIONS LIKE THIS. A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE MARYLAND SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM. WHO’S HERE WITH US? I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THAT IN VALDOSTA. HAVE. IDENTIFIED 115 STRUCTURES THAT ARE HEAVILY DAMAGED, THAT WE KNOW THERE ARE MULTIPLE PEOPLE TRAPPED INSIDE. AGAIN, WE JUST WANT TO URGE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN THOSE AREAS, TO BE PATIENT. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE CALLING US BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE A TREE ACROSS THEIR ROAD AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD MAY BE MAY BE, IT MAY BE BLOCKED. BUT OUR PRIORITY IS GETTING TO MEDICAL EMERGENCIES AND FACILITIES LIKE HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES AND OTHERS THAT NEED CRITICAL HELP AND DON’T HAVE POWER. GEORGIA DOT IS REPORTING 152 ROAD CLOSURES ACROSS THE STATE, AND AT LEAST TWO INTERSTATE CLOSURES CURRENTLY, I-16 IN LAURENS COUNTY AND THEN I-20 JUST OUTSIDE OF AUGUSTA AND MCDUFFIE COUNTY. WE HAVE 1300 TRAFFIC SIGNALS THAT ARE OUT. CREWS ARE ACTIVELY ASSESSING THE DAMAGE AND WORKING TO RESTORE, RESTORE ACCESS WHERE IT’S SAFE AND CERTAINLY COMMISSIONER MCMURRAY CAN ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, BUT THEY ARE STILL ASSESSING AT THIS POINT. SO WE KNOW WE’LL GET MORE INFORMATION LATER IN THE DAY. WE ARE DEPLOYING GENERATORS, ESPECIALLY IN THE VALDOSTA AREA, TO HELP POWER TRAFFIC SIGNALS FROM DOT’S PERSPECTIVE, SOME OF THE NORTHWEST GEORGIA CREWS THAT THE DAMAGE WASN’T QUITE AS BAD ON THE ROADS THERE. NOW, SHIFTING TO SOUTH GEORGIA TO HELP OUR HARDEST HIT AREAS. WE ARE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE ON BRIDGES AROUND THE STATE, WHICH IS GOOD, AND OUR PORT, WHILE IT HAS LIMITED OPERATIONS, IT IS IT IS OPERATIONAL AND HAS BEEN THE ENTIRE STORM. ONE THING TO NOTE UP IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA IN RABUN COUNTY, THERE’S GOING TO BE A WATER RELEASE OUT OF LAKE RAYBURN BECAUSE OF THE FLOODING THAT’S HAPPENING. WE ARE EVACUATING FOLKS DOWNSTREAM FROM THAT. SO THEY’RE NOT CUT OFF FROM THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY. IF THEY DON’T LEAVE NOW, THEY’RE GOING TO BE STUCK THERE FOR AT LEAST A DAY OR MULTIPLE HOURS. AND DIRECTOR STALLINGS CAN GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION ON THAT. BUT JUST BE AWARE THAT THERE’S GOING TO BE A WATER RELEASE IN LAKE RAYBURN. WE’VE HAD SOME 911 DISRUPTIONS. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THERE’S A LOT OF 911 FACILITIES, EVEN THE STATE OPERATIONS CENTER HERE EARLIER HAS HAD ISSUES WITH POWER, AND WE KNOW THAT’S THE CASE AROUND THE STATE. POWER OUTAGES. WE HAVE 1 MILLION CUSTOMERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY OR 1,000,000M, MUCH MORE CUSTOMERS. BUT 1,000,000M THAT ARE WITHOUT POWER. OUR UTILITY COMPANIES ARE WORKING AS WE SPEAK. THEY LITERALLY STARTED GOING IN BEHIND THE STORM AS SOON AS DAY BROKE. WE REMAIN IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH OUR UTILITY PROVIDERS IN THAT REGARD, GEORGIA POWER HAS ROUGHLY 10,000 PERSONNEL RESPONDING, AND OUR EMC HAVE LITERALLY THOUSANDS THAT ARE DOING THE SAME. AND WE THANK THEM FOR THAT. WE HAVE 17 SHELTERS OPEN ACROSS THE STATE, HOUSING 1100 PEOPLE A SHELTER IN COFFEY COUNTY LOST ITS ROOF. RESOURCES ARE BEING DEPLOYED TO ASSIST THEM TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY. SOUTH GEORGIA MEDICAL CENTER IN VALDOSTA, THE HOSPITAL DOWN THERE IS WITHOUT POWER, THEIR EMERGENCY GENERATOR HAD A TREE FALL ON IT, SO IT KNOCKED OUT THEIR GENERATOR CAPACITY. WE ARE WE AND GEORGIA POWER ARE BOTH RESPONDING WITH AN EMERGENCY GENERATOR AND GEORGIA POWER IS WORKING HARD TO GET THE POWER BACK ON THERE. WE’VE HAD A SEVERE AGRICULTURE IMPACT THAT IS STILL BEING ASSESSED. COMMISSIONER HARPER IS GOING TO SPEAK TO THAT SHORTLY, BUT WE KNOW WE’VE HAD FLATTENED POULTRY HOUSES AND CERTAINLY A LOT OF ROAD CROP DAMAGE. AND NUT TREE DAMAGE. SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS. OUR TEAMS ARE CURRENTLY IN THE FIELD AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO ASSISTANCE TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT WERE HIT HARDEST BY THE STORM, JUST TO RECAP, RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, I MENTIONED A LOT OF THIS YESTERDAY, BUT WE AUTHORIZE UP TO 500 OF THE GEORGIA NATIONAL GUARD. GENERAL WILSON, TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT HERE. IN JUST A SECOND. WE DEPLOYED 250 OF THEM BEFORE HELENE MADE LANDFALL EARLIER TODAY. AS YOU KNOW, AUTHORIZED A FURTHER 1000 GUARDSMEN. AND WE’VE DEPLOYED ALREADY AN ADDITIONAL 250 OF THOSE. AND SO WE HAVE 500 IN THE FIELD AS WE SPEAK. AND WE’LL CALL THE REST AS NEEDED. AND AS REQUESTED. THEY HAVE 20 MOBILE CUT TEAMS, EIGHT HEAVY EQUIPMENT TEAMS AND WE’RE ALSO MOVING PODS AROUND FOR SUPPLY, DISTRIBUTION. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. ALL TROOPERS AND OFFICERS REMAIN AVAILABLE CURRENTLY. RIGHT NOW, WE’RE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING TO PLACES, SO WE’VE GOT TO GET OUR CHAINSAW CUT TEAMS TO CONTINUE WORKING TO FREE UP ROADS, BUT WE’LL HAVE THOSE RESOURCES MOVING AS SOON AS IT SAFELY TO DO SO, WE’RE MOVING TROOP DEPLOYMENTS FROM NORTHWEST GEORGIA AGAIN TO SOUTH ONCE MORE. ROADS ARE CLEAR. WE’RE CURRENTLY ASSESSING BY AIR. IT TOOK US A LITTLE WHILE TO GET THE CHOPPERS UP AND DRONES UP BECAUSE OF THE BECAUSE OF THE WINDS. AND THEN ALSO A LOW CEILING. THIS MORNING. SO WE’LL CONTINUE TO GET MORE INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO THAT. WITH THAT I’M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO GENERAL WILSON, AND THEN WE’LL HEAR FROM COMMISSIONER HARPER. AND THEN WE’LL TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS, GENERAL. OKAY, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. WELL GOOD MORNING. THE SO A LOT OF A LOT OF HARD WORK HAPPENING ACROSS THE, ACROSS THE STATE AT THE LOCAL STATE AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL AS THE GOVERNOR STATED, CURRENTLY WE HAVE ABOUT 500 SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN ACROSS THE STATE THAT ARE PROVIDING RESPONSE AFTER THE HURRICANE. SOME OF THE MISSIONS THAT WE’RE CURRENTLY DOING INCLUDE DROUGHT AND DEBRIS CLEARANCE TEAMS, AND WE’RE DOING THAT IN AN EFFORT TO TRY TO GET THE THE PATHWAYS CLEARED SO THAT WE CAN GET THE POWER TURNED BACK ON AS, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND WE’RE DOING THAT WITH WITH LOTS OF ENGINEERS. WE’VE GOT HIGH WATER VEHICLES THAT ARE PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THAT MISSION AS WELL. WE’VE GOT LIAISON TEAMS THAT ARE EMBEDDED IN NUMEROUS COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE HELPING TO ASSIST WITH COORDINATION EFFORTS FOR FURTHER RESPONSE. WE’RE TRANSPORTING CRITICAL SUPPLIES ALSO ACROSS THE STATE. SOME OF THOSE MISSIONS INCLUDE GENERATORS, WATER AND FOOD, AND WE’LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT AS LONG AS WE NEED TO. AND THEN REALLY, FOR THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS, WE’RE GOING TO BE DOING A LOT OF ASSESSING JUST TO DETERMINE WHAT OTHER RESPONSE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND TO THE STATE. SO. FROM AN AGRICULTURAL PERSPECTIVE, OUR TEAM OBVIOUSLY WITH OUR SISTER AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE, HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN IN ASSESSING, BEGINNING THE ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGE THAT WE’VE SEEN. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE REMARKABLE LEADERSHIP OF OUR TEAM HERE AT GMA, HOMELAND SECURITY AND OUR STATE AGENCIES AND OUR FRIENDS AT THE NATIONAL GUARD FOR WORK THAT’S BEEN DONE SO FAR. BUT THERE’S A LOT OF WORK STILL LEFT TO BE DONE. THERE’S A LOT OF ASSESSMENTS STILL LEFT TO BE DONE. BUT I CAN TELL YOU EAST OF I 75, WE’RE SEEING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO AGRICULTURE AND ALL COMMODITIES, ROW CROPS, TREE NUTS AS THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED, PECANS, POULTRY HOUSES, TIMBER, AGRICULTURAL FACILITIES, A LOT OF WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES IN THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY AS WELL. AND A LOT OF LOT OF FACILITIES, DAIRIES, FOOD PROCESSING FACILITIES WITHOUT WITHOUT POWER, POULTRY FACILITIES. WE’RE IN THE PROCESS OF ASSESSING ALL OF THIS DAMAGE. WE’RE GOING TO BE DOING THIS OVER THE NEXT DAY, A COUPLE OF DAYS, TO GET A BETTER GRASP OF WHERE WE ARE, A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE OUR LICENSED FACILITIES ARE, SUCH AS GAS STATIONS AND GROCERY STORES, AND MAKING SURE THEY’RE BACK ONLINE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. MY MESSAGE IS THE SAME AS IT ALWAYS IS TO OUR FARMERS, OUR OUR FARM FAMILIES, OUR RANCHERS AND PRODUCERS ACROSS THIS STATE. DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT. WE NEED AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN GET THE NEEDED RESOURCES AND THE NEEDED HELP DEPLOYED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN GET BE STRONGER ON THE BACKSIDE OF THIS. DEFINITELY. PRAYERS FOR ALL OF THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED. THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOST LOVED ONES IN THIS STORM. PRAYERS FOR OUR FARM FAMILIES AS THEY DEAL WITH THE DEVASTATION. THE SIGNIFICANT DEVASTATION IN THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY AND PRAYERS FOR ALL GEORGIANS AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO GET THROUGH THIS. THERE’S A LOT TO DO ON THIS SIDE NOW. ON THE RECOVERY SIDE, WE’VE ALREADY STARTED THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATIONS TO WORK TOWARD FEDERAL ASSISTANCE. BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS HERE TO ASSIST OUR FARM FAMILIES, OUR PRODUCERS, OUR RANCHERS, AND ALL GEORGIANS AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS STORM. AND I’LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AFTERWARDS. THANK YOU, GOVERNOR, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE’RE ALL AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. IF Y’ALL GOT THEM ARCHED. GOVERNOR KEMP, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE DEATHS. DO WE KNOW WHERE OR IN TERMS OF WHAT PARTS OF THE STATE THESE ARE AND HOW PERHAPS. YEAH, I REALLY DON’T WANT TO SAY TOO MUCH ABOUT THAT. RIGHT NOW. THEY’RE STILL DOING NOTIFYING NEXT OF KIN, OBVIOUSLY, BUT I CAN JUST TELL YOU IT’S ALONG THE PATH THAT THE HURRICANE WENT. GOVERNOR, WE ARE HEARING REPORTS THAT NOW THAT THE STORMS HAVE PASSED, THAT YOU DO HAVE PEOPLE OUT AND ABOUT GETTING BACK ON THE ROADWAY, YOU REALLY DON’T NEED TO BE OUT THERE. YOU DO HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. WHAT’S YOUR MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC TODAY? YEAH, I MEAN, LOOK, JUST, YOU KNOW, TRY TO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF SPACE OUT THERE. I MEAN, WE GOT A LOT OF LOT OF PEOPLE MOVING, A LOT OF TRUCKS, A LOT OF EQUIPMENT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF STILL TRYING TO GET TO PEOPLE. SO CERTAINLY IN PLACES ALONG THE STORM’S PATH AND THAT KIND OF VALDOSTA TO AUGUSTA REALLY HARD HIT AREA. IF YOU CAN JUST STAY OFF THE ROADS, IF YOU’RE NOT HELPING, IF YOU’RE WANTING TO HELP AND YOU’RE WANTING TO VOLUNTEER, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO SPEAK TO YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AT THE COUNTY AND LET THEM HELP COORDINATE THAT. SO WE’RE NOT HAVING PEOPLE GET IN THE WAY OF US TRYING TO GET TO PEOPLE THAT MAY BE BE TRAPPED FOR PEOPLE IN THE METRO AREA, IT IS STILL VERY DANGEROUS OUT THERE. THE LOSS OF LIFE THAT WE’VE SEEN A LOT OF IT HAS BEEN BY FALLEN TREES BECAUSE THE SATURATED GROUND, AND EVEN THOUGH THE WINDS ARE STARTING TO DIE DOWN, THERE ARE STILL TREES LITERALLY FALLING. ONE FELL AT THE MANSION ACROSS THE DRIVEWAY AFTER WE LEFT THIS MORNING, AND BASICALLY BEFORE WE GOT HERE TO THE STATE OPERATIONS CENTER. WE’RE CONTINUING TO SEE THAT IN THE METRO AREA, AND I KNOW WE’LL SEE THAT IN NORTH EAST GEORGIA AS WELL. WE ALSO HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING, AND THE WATERS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO RISE FOR THE NEXT 24 TO POTENTIALLY 48 HOURS, ESPECIALLY ON THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE. SO IF YOU’RE OUT, YOU NEED TO BE WEATHER AWARE. IF YOU DON’T HAVE TO GET OUT, I WOULD JUST TELL YOU TO TRY TO HUNKER DOWN AT THE HOUSE OR, YOU KNOW, LIMIT YOUR ACTIVITIES. IF YOU CAN. BUT IF YOU ARE OUT, YOU NEED TO BE WEATHER AWARE. LOOK FOR DOWNED TREES, LOOK FOR, YOU KNOW, TREES THAT ARE LEANING OVER ROADS. BE CAREFUL THERE. IF YOU’RE IN YOUR HOUSE, BEING A PART OF YOUR HOUSE, IT CAN BEST TAKE THE BRUNT OF A BIG TREE FALLING ON YOU. IF YOU HAVE THOSE AROUND YOUR HOME. GOVERNOR CAN SOMEBODY TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON AT LAKE RAVEN AND HOW MANY PEOPLE MIGHT BE BEING EVACUATED? CHRIS, YOU WANT TO DO THAT? YES, SIR. SO BECAUSE OF THE FLOODING THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT THE STREAMS AND RIVERS THAT FEED INTO LAKE RAVEN, WE’VE GOT TO GET WATER OUT SO IT DOESN’T CAUSE DAM FAILURE. AND SO THE HOMES BELOW HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. THERE’S A PRETTY LARGE COMMUNITY DOWN THROUGH THERE. AND EVERYBODY’S BEEN NOTIFIED THAT IF YOU DON’T EVACUATE, WE DON’T EXPECT YOUR HOMES TO BE FLOODED. HOWEVER, THE ROADS AND BRIDGES THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO ACCESS TO LEAVE THOSE COMMUNITIES WILL BE OVERTOPPED. AND SO UNTIL THEY CAN BE INSPECTED FOR SAFETY, THAT CAN BE 24 TO 36 HOURS. ONCE THOSE WATERS RECEDE, HOW LONG DO YOU EXPECT THAT WATER RELEASE TO LAST? IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT THE DNR AND THE DAM SAFE DAMS COMMITTEE DEEMS NECESSARY. CAN YOU TALK MORE ABOUT THE FLASH FLOODING AND WHAT PLACES ARE YOU LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW? AND IS THIS A THREAT THAT’S GOING TO TAKE SEVERAL DAYS AND HAS THIS YOU KNOW, THE PUSH OF WATER MOVED SOUTH? YES, SIR. WE’VE GOT A LOT OF STREAMS AND RIVERS ALL OVER THE STATE. ANYTHING THAT FEEDS INTO OUR MAJOR LAKES AS ALWAYS, THE CHATTAHOOCHEE IS A CONCERN. ANYTHING THAT COMES OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS IS GOING TO FEED DOWN. THAT FEEDS TO THE CHATTAHOOCHEE. THAT LEADS TO SOME OF OUR BIGGER LAKES. IT’S AMAZING THE AMOUNT OF TIMES WE HAVE TO DRAIN WEST POINT SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE WATER THAT FLOWS OUT OF FULTON, THAT GETS DOWN THAT DIRECTION. SO EVERYWHERE A SWEETWATER CREEK HERE ON I-20 IS ALWAYS A CONCERN FOR US. SO THERE’S A LOT OF CREEKS THAT FLOW UNDER INTERSTATES THAT RIGHT NOW, WITH ALL THE WATER RUNNING, THEY CAN OVERTOP THOSE INTERSTATES. AND SO ALL AROUND METRO CERTAINLY ALONG THE PATH, BUT NORTHEAST GEORGIA IS SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS FOR US RIGHT NOW. GOVERNOR KEMP, IS THERE ANY PLAN TO VISIT SOME OF THE AREAS IN THE COMING DAYS? I KNOW IT’S EARLY ON, EITHER VALDOSTA, AUGUSTA, SOME OF THE HARDEST HIT AREAS. YEAH, WE’RE STILL ASSESSING THAT. I MEAN, I WOULDN’T WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT RIGHT NOW. WE DON’T NEED TO BE DISTRACTING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR SMALL TEAMS. YOU KNOW, UTILITY WORKERS. SO WE’RE GOING TO THANKFULLY, THE STORM MOVED FAST AND CLEARED OUT FAST. SO THEY’RE WORKING NOW. AND THEY’LL GET A GOOD BIT DONE TODAY JUST FROM GETTING ROADS CLEARED. IT’S GOING TO TAKE THEM A WHILE. ON THE POWER AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, BUT WE’VE GOT TO GET TO THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE TRAPPED IN HOMES. AND YOU KNOW,