Hurricane Helene Recovery Resources
It has been an incredibly difficult week for our state as we realize the magnitude of the damage left behind in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Communities across the state are continuing extensive recovery efforts, and our thoughts and prayers remain with those who have lost homes, property and loved ones.
Our state leaders have been working around the clock to assess the damage and deploy every possible resource to our hardest-hit areas. Thank you to Governor Kemp, Lieutenant Governor Jones, Agriculture Commissioner Harper, Insurance Commissioner King, and our Emergency Management Agency leaders for their strong and swift response.
On Wednesday, I joined Governor Kemp to assess storm damage and meet with emergency response workers in South Georgia. While the devastation and damage was significant, it was incredible to see so many first responders, law enforcement officers, linemen, and citizens working together to rebuild their communities.
Meeting with local leaders and emergency management officials with Governor Kemp
Power Outage Update
Hurricane Helene has been a historic weather event, becoming the most destructive hurricane in recent memory and causing significant damage to critical infrastructure across the state. Initial reports from Georgia Power estimate over 8,000 power poles that must be replaced, over 700 miles of downed power lines, damage to 1,500 transformers, upwards of 3,200 trees on power lines, and over 1 million outages reported statewide. Georgia EMC and MEAG are reporting similar outage numbers with extensive damage to high-voltage transmission lines and electrical substations.
Currently, over 80% of outages have been restored, but several of our hardest-hit communities are still experiencing significant outages. Linemen and utility workers from across the country are on the ground in Georgia, working alongside Georgia Power and Georgia EMC to restore power in these areas as quickly and as safely as possible.
Please refer to Georgia Power and Georgia EMC’s outage reports on their websites for the most up-to-date information.
While power outages persist, please see the tips below from the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency on how to safely use a generator to power your home.
Generator Tips from Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security
FEMA Support
As of Oct. 3, President Biden approved Governor Kemp’s request for a Federal Disaster Declaration in 45 Georgia counties. The counties approved to receive federal assistance are as follows:
Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Lowndes, McDuffie, Montgomery, Pierce, Rabun, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Washington, and Wheeler Counties.
As assessments of storm damage continue, we expect this list of counties to increase. FEMA has established several points of distribution for essential items across South Georgia. Please see the list of locations below.
Atkinson
Willacoochee City Hall, 33 Fleetwood Ave. West, Willacoochee, GA
Atkinson Co. Fire Station, 33 Austin Ave. West, Pearson, GA
Berrien
800 Tifton Rd., Nashville, GA 31639
Candler
655 W. Lytell St., Metter, GA 30439
Clinch
575 Wood Lake Rd. Homerville, GA 31634
80 City Hall Dr., Fargo, GA 31631
Evans
613 W. Main Street, GA
Jeff Davis
31 Pat Dixon Rd, Hazlehurst, GA
Jefferson
1200 School Street, Louisville, GA 30434
Lanier
28 South Valdosta Hwy, Lakeland, GA 31635
Laurens
1794 Hwy 117, Rentz, GA 31075
930 East Hwy 80, East Dublin, GA
Lowndes
First Baptist Church Lake Park, 601 W. Marion Ave, Lake Park, GA 31636
Five Points, 3103 N. Ashley St., Valdosta, GA 31602
Flying Tiger Storage, 4036 Bemiss Rd., Valdosta, GA 31605
Lowndes County Civic Center, 2102 E. Hill Ave., Valdosta, GA 31601
McDuffie
229 Knox River Rd., Thomson, GA 30824
Montgomery
701C Dobbins St Mount Vernon, Georgia 30445
Richmond
4335 Windsor Spring Rd., Hephzibah, GA 30815
1631 Gordon Hwy, Augusta, GA 30906
535 Telfair St., Augusta, GA 30901
Screven
Screven County Elementary School, 1333 Frontage Rd. East, Sylvania, GA 30467
Tattnall
1 Battle Creek Warrior Blvd., Reidsville, GA 30453
Telfair
181 East Oak St, McRae-Helena, GA 31055
65 Main St Lumber City GA, 31549
Toombs
First Baptist Church, 107 E Second Street, Vidalia, GA 30474
Southeastern Technical College, 3001 East 1st Street, Vidalia, GA 30474
Treutlen
4145 Fowler St., Soperton, GA
Warren
169 SR-80, Warrenton, GA 30828
Wheeler
63 Commerce St, Alamo, GA 30411
For assistance receiving essential supplies, filing a claim, or requesting help with property damage, please contact your local Emergency Management Agency Director. A list of county EMA’s can be found at www.gema.georgia.gov/hurricane-helene.
How You Can Help
Our staff has been working with House members in heavily impacted areas to compile a list of local charities that are on the ground assisting victims of Hurricane Helene. If you are interested in supporting relief efforts, please see the contact information and links for the organizations listed at the web address below.
Traffic Safety Updates
Traffic signals are down at many intersections across the state, and I urge Georgians to please use the utmost caution out on the roads. We have seen an increase in traffic violations and accidents at these intersections over the last several days.
Please remember to treat these intersections as four-way stops, and never assume that other drivers are following these guidelines. Slow down and stay safe.
Inoperable Traffic Signal Instructions
Gas Tax Suspension
On Tuesday, Governor Kemp announced his suspension of the gas tax for the duration of the State of Emergency. This will save Georgia families nearly 30 cents per gallon, providing much needed relief and flexibility as recovery efforts continue across the state.
While the destruction we have witnessed is great, even greater is the resolve and dedication of our fellow Georgians to come together during this time of crisis to support their neighbors. We'll continue to maintain this resolve—working together throughout the coming days and weeks to assist our communities.
My best,
Speaker Jon Burns