Hurricane Helene: 17 deaths reported in the state of Georgia

ATLANTA - Hurricane Helene isn’t only expected to damage homes and vehicles; it has already resulted in at least 17 deaths and one injury, with more fatalities and injuries anticipated.

Gov. Brian Kemp was in Valdosta on Saturday to tour damage from Hurricane Helene and provide an update on the state's response.

"It has been unlike any other storm I think we've ever faced because of the size of the wind field that this storm brought through and how it literally is affecting 159 counties, not just 20 or 30 counties in south Georgia," Governor Kemp said.

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency is currently in 32 counties across the state. Gov. Kemp believes the damage will cost more than what the state saw with Hurricane Michael in 2018.

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"It looks like a tornado went off. It looks like a bomb went off. And it's not just here, it looks like this here all the way to Augusta," Kemp said.

Helene moved into Georgia late Thursday as a Category Two Hurricane. Valdosta was one of the first cities in the state to feel the brunt of the impact. 100 mph winds knocked down trees and caused parts of some historic buildings to collapse.

Kemp said there have been 17 deaths statewide, including at least one person in Valdosta. Many deaths statewide were from fallen trees, including the Assistant Fire Chief in Blackshear killed while responding to an emergency. The storm claimed the lives of at least 40 people from Florida to North Carolina.

As recovery begins, a big focus is getting critical roadways open.

"Our priority right now is roadway clearance to emergency locations. We have to get our hospitals available, we've got to get our emergency rooms available," GEMA Director Chris Stallings said.

"We're going to throw every asset that we have at this storm. We're very well-prepared. The problem that we're having is that I would just urge our citizens to have patience with us," Kemp said.

"We literally have dozens and dozens of counties that got hammered just like you do," he added.

Power crews are out in force in many areas working to get power restored. Much of Lowndes County remains in the dark.

Georgia Power representatives say they have about twice as much damage to their system compared to Idalia's impact on the area last year.

Gov. Kemp on Helene response

After Kemp’s news conference Friday, he spoke one-on-one with FOX 5’s Deidra Dukes on the state's rescue and recovery efforts following a powerful storm that swept through the state, leaving 15 dead and trapping residents in their homes.  

"We've got a significant amount of damage all across the state," Kemp said. "Right now, we've just got our first responders out there. We've got our chainsaw cut teams out there trying to clear a path where we can get to people that are trapped in buildings and certainly get our power company trucks in to start restoring power." 

The storm, which hit Georgia overnight, brought widespread devastation, particularly in areas from Valdosta to Augusta, Kemp noted. "The line from Valdosta to Augusta, and anything to the right or east of that, was very hard hit. But even counties on the left side of that storm still took a lot of high winds. It was a Category 2 hurricane when it hit Georgia — that's really unprecedented for us."

In addition to wind damage, heavy rains caused flash flooding, particularly in north Georgia. Kemp warned that saturated ground could lead to more trees falling and urged residents to remain cautious. "There's potential for trees to fall with a saturated ground... we’ve got flash flooding in the northeast corner, but really in many parts of our state throughout the day and tomorrow," Kemp said. 

As first responders work to clear roads and restore power, the governor asked residents to stay off the roadways, particularly in areas with power outages or downed trees. "Just be patient on the roadways, especially for trucks that are responding to the storm — our lineman trucks, Georgia National Guard, and other first responders," Kemp said. "If you can, just try to stay off the roads." 

Biden statement on Hurricane Helene

Two days after declaring a state of emergency, President Joe Biden released a statement saying he and Vice President Kamala Harris were dedicated to restoring Georgia post-Helene.

Biden said that FEMA was given the green light to travel through the Peach State to assess the damage and come up with a plan to allocate resources to residents, schools, hospitals and more.

Here's a copy of his statement:

"I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation caused by Hurricane Helene across the Southeast. As the storm continues to track north, Vice President Harris and I remain focused on life-saving and life-sustaining response and recovery efforts. I am being regularly briefed by my team on the ongoing response efforts, and my Administration is in constant contact with state and local officials to ensure communities have the support and resources they need. At my direction, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is traveling throughout the Southeast to assess the damage alongside other state and local officials.

"The road to recovery will be long, but know that my Administration will be with you every step of the way. We’re not going to walk away. We’re not going to give up. As we turn toward recovery efforts, we will make certain that no resource is spared to ensure that families, businesses, schools, hospitals, and entire communities can quickly begin their road to rebuilding. Jill and I are praying for those who lost loved ones from Hurricane Helene, and for those whose homes, businesses, and communities were impacted by this terrible storm."

2 killed in south Georgia

Two people were killed by a possible tornado in south Georgia shortly before 11 p.m., according to WXGA News. The Wheeler County Sheriff's Office told WXGA that the likely tornado picked up a mobile home near US 19 and Adams Cemetery Road. A man and woman were in the mobile home at the time. An occupant of a vehicle was also injured after the mobile home hit their vehicle. 

Injury in Spalding County

A woman was injured in Griffin when a tree fell on a home in the 400 block of Hammond Drive, according to the City of Griffin. Neighbors heard the noise and called for help. Spalding EMS responded, entered the home, and extricated the woman. She was taken to Spalding Regional Hospital and was reportedly stable at the time of transport.

Deputy injured in Clayton County

An off-duty Clayton County deputy was injured when a tree fell on his vehicle while he was driving on Highway 138. The deputy was on his way home from work, according to officials. He was transported to a hospital to be checked out. 

Death in Colquitt County

Colquitt County Emergency Management Agency is reporting that one person was killed after their vehicle ran into a fallen tree on 5th Avenue SE in Moultree. No other details have been released at this time about the death. They also mentioned there is widespread damage in the county. 

2 deaths in Laurens County

Two people are dead in Laurens County, according to WMAZ News. One person was reportedly killed when a tree fell on a house and another person died in a car crash. 

Pierce County firefighter killed

In Pierce County, fire officials told First Coast News that a firefighter had been killed when a tree fell on his vehicle while he was driving in Blackshear.

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