'No One Spared In Storm': 33 Dead In GA After Helene, Kemp Says
GEORGIA — Nearly a week after Hurricane Helene claimed the lives of more than 190 people across the Southeast, and Gov. Brian Kemp said Thursday at least 33 of those deaths occurred in Georgia. Kemp was among other state leaders to give a storm response update during a press conference from the Georgia State Capitol. Helene was deemed unprecedented weather for the Peach State.“No one was spared in this storm," Kemp said. "... The storms that we've heard, and the things that we now know, just really hits home for these communities and their families."The tragic storm that rattled Georgia, from the south to the north, could generate a price tag of at least $417 million in damages and recovery, said Director Chris Stallings of the Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security.Stallings said the data was based on information incoming from about 50 counties as of Thursday morning.Cotton producers and pecan growers were among those on Georgia's agricultural scene that reported damage, Kemp added. He said two landowners reported a combined $30 million in loss. Kemp, who said Helene caused "100 percent destruction" for the areas in its path, said the agricultural economy was "not good before the storm, and it's worse now.""It's not near what it's gonna be," he said of the cost estimate. "... It's gonna grow substantially."AccuWeather predicted the national price to pay from Helene's catastrophic damage is between $145 billion and $160 billion. The weather forecast service said Helene is the second-deadliest hurricane in the U.S. since 2000. Hurricane Katrina holds the No. 1 spot, which AccuWeather said killed at least 1,200 people.A state of emergency has been extended in Georgia, and Kemp has suspended the statewide gas tax.Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris visits areas impacted by Hurricane Helene in Augusta, Ga., Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)Leaders Head to Battleground GeorgiaKemp, once again, underscored his sentiment that the storm response in Georgia should be bipartisan - keeping politics out of the state's recovery. The Republican governor said he has been in communication with President Joe Biden, a Democrat, in getting federal aid to Georgians.Vice President Kamala Harris traveled on Wednesday to Georgia to visit areas affected by Helene's wrath. Kemp said Biden was set to visit Thursday.Other nationwide leaders that have visited Georgia were U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff and former President Donald Trump. After Biden declared Georgia a "major disaster" Monday, Kemp said assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency has expanded to 41 counties.The counties that can now apply for individual or public assistance are Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Echols, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Lowndes, McDuffie, Montgomery, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Washington and Wheeler Counties. "The Major Disaster Declaration will begin to provide critical resources to the limited counties designated for Hurricane Helene. We are hopeful once more of the impacted areas receive proper damage assessments, the declaration will add the necessary counties for individual assistance, public assistance categories A through G, including increased federal cost shares for both emergency and permanent work,” Stallings said in a news release."Our priority remains the safety and well-being of our residents, and we will continue to work alongside our local, state and federal partners to provide the support needed during this challenging time." Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., talks with people affected ted by Hurricane Helene before Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris arrives, in Augusta, Ga., Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)Georgia After HeleneAs of Thursday, 270,000 Georgia Power meters remained down, leaving about 200,000 residents in the dark. Kemp said the - has already restored power to 1.4 million customers, about 85 percent of those affected.With Helene being named the worst storm Georgia Power has faced, Kemp said about 8,000 power poles remained on the ground. Georgia Power on Thursday posted a reel of a depiction of a crew utilizing a helicopter to remove a power line from a swamp.About 20,000 workers were tending to power restoration, Georgia Power said."When we say we’re doing everything we can to get the lights back on, we mean it. By water, by land and by air. Thank you and stay safe," Georgia Power said in a Facebook post on Thursday.About 21,000 spans of Georgia Power wire (equating to about 1,000 miles of wire) lie on the ground, and at least 3,200 trees rested on power lines, Kemp said.As residents who are suffering power outages work generators, Kemp urged them to keep the generators at a safe distance. He noted three people in Chatham County died of carbon monoxide poisoning due to generators.RELATEDGas Tax Suspended, State Of Emergency Extended In GA Due To Helene'Major Disaster' Declared In GA After Destructive Helene, Biden SaysGA Firefighter Killed In Hurricane Helene Among 15 Storm Deaths'Extremely Dangerous' Cat. 4 Hurricane Helene Nearing Gulf CoastHurricane Warning Issued For Some GA Counties Ahead Of HeleneTornadoes, Power Outages And Flooding Possible With TS Helene In GANearly 2,000 members of the Georgia National Guard were boots on the ground, offering their assistance with storm recovery, said Major General Dwayne Wilson, who is the 44th adjutant general of the Georgia Department of Defense.More than 1,800 meals ready to eat were being delivered Thursday to Georgia and will be distributed, Stallings said. He noted that 130,000 tarps will also be delivered.Drivers are encouraged to be defensive as power lines are still blocking roads, and thousands of traffic signals are either missing or damaged, said Russell McMurry, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation.GDOT on Thursday deployed 2,000 workers in all 159 Georgia counties, streamlining their response from Augusta to Valdosta. Down from 300 blocked state routes, McMurry said only a handful of routes had downed power lines.He added 600,000 miles of roads remained impacted Thursday, adding roads that may appear to be open may not be open to drivers.McMurry said 146 traffic signals are functional but are without power, and 106 signals need to be repaired or completely rebuilt.In a brief update on a tropical system in the Gulf of Mexico, Stallings said the storm is expected to primarily impact Florida, possibly sparing Georgia.The National Weather Service forecast sunny weather on Thursday, cloudy and sunny skies during the weekend and more sun into next week.The article 'No One Spared In Storm': 33 Dead In GA After Helene, Kemp Says appeared first on Atlanta, GA Patch.
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