Augusta, Ga., is a calm, smaller city nestled along the Savannah River on Georgia’s border with South Carolina. It’s a technical gateway and a college town, but the world’s light beams on it one week a year for the Masters golfing game.
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For a more dreadful purpose, Augusta is in the media this year: the damage the area suffered from Tropical Storm Helene. The storm was predicted to be borne out on the eastern side of Atlanta’s largest city, but Helene moved west and caused much more damage to Georgia’s northeast third.
Helene brought gusts as high as 82 miles to the Augusta area, and 220, 000 people lost energy. As thousands of residents pleaded with each other to power generators and chainsaws and substitute food that went bad after hours without power, the place saw a flurry of stores and gasoline stations.
Georgia Energy compiled the astounding injury figures:
Our crew are still at their best throughout Georgia to turn on the lights. We have determined that Hurricane Helene was the most damaging hurricane in Georgia Power History based on our initial injury assessments and estimates. Our first damage quotes … photograph. twitter.com/FIPPICxl0G— Georgia Power ( @GeorgiaPower ) September 29, 2024
Gov. On Monday morning, Republican Governor Brian Kemp (R-Ga. ) visited Augusta, and he has also visited other parts of the state where Helene caused significant damage. Yet though he is providing state assets to those in need, he is asking the federal government for assistance.
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I have requested an established expedited disaster declaration from @FEMA to make sure we have all the necessary tools for a total healing in all affected areas of the state as we work to recover from Hurricane Helene.— Governor Brian P. Kemp ( @GovKemp ) September 30, 2024
Governor Brian Kemp Provides Update on Helene Response Richmond County and Surrounding-Area https ://t.co/JJezOMBMco— Governor Brian P. Kemp ( @GovKemp ) September 30, 2024
Kemp claimed to have spoken with Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday night and that he has been “playing mobile tag” with President Joe Biden. Additionally, he added that Georgia Power has 15, 000 employees on the ground to ensure that the damaged areas are as quickly as possible.
On Sunday, The Augusta Chronicle reported:
The City of Augusta reported a liquid failure early on Sunday night as one of its newest innovations. While compressors are also operational, according to Mayor Garnett Johnson, they are becoming a lot more trash and debris as a result of the Savannah River and Augusta Canal’s higher water levels, which necessitate more frequent filter cleansing.
Augusta started distributing water bottles at the city’s provincial tower on Telfair Street to fix this. GEMA will soon be setting up distribution centers and is bringing in hot dishes as well as water cars. By Monday or Tuesday, residents you anticipate having liquid restored.
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Looting has been an issue in Richmond County, where Augusta is located. Richmond County Sheriff’s Office even informed investigators that neighborhood residents are dealing with gas-selling private individuals.
Capt. said,” One of those things we have to worry about is where that oil is coming from.” Danny Whitehead told the Augusta Chronicle. ” Now we are having to police driving lots, like clinics, because people go into these park lots and are siphoning gasoline – stealing it out of women’s vehicles while they’re working. The oil they’re selling on the street, you have to beg yourself,’ Where are they getting it?'”
Companies like the Salvation Army and Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief are visiting populations to assist victims of Helene’s devastation. On Sunday morning, I met a few from Atlanta who were traveling to Augusta with a trailer-load of producers and huge oil bottles to assist people.
Augusta National Golf Club is also looking into the injury to its championship training:
” The Augusta community has experienced a severe and ancient blow from Hurricane Helene. At Augusta National Golf Club, we are already evaluating the effects.
In the meantime, our target and work are all with our employees, neighbors and business proprietors in Augusta. Our…
— The Masters (@TheMasters ) September 28, 2024
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Kemp is n’t the only Republican to visit hurricane-ravaged areas of Georgia. Another important part of the GOP is traveling to southern Georgia in a comparison to the Biden-Harris government’s muted reaction.
” GOP presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump is expected to visit Valdosta, Georgia, now, “reports NBC News“. Vice President Kamala Harris, the party’s candidate, has called off plan events and traveled to Washington.
As they recover from Helene’s injury, worship for the people of southern and eastern Georgia. And pray for people in various states like Florida, Tennessee, and the Carolinas in the aftermath of the wind.