by Stanley Dunlap, Georgia Recorder
October 3, 2024
The number of confirmed deaths caused by the swath of destruction Hurricane Helene’s storm left in Georgia has risen to 33 people as and preliminary reports are up of $417 million in damages across the state.
Gov. Brian Kemp and state emergency management officials provided an update Thursday on the response to the deadly storm that swept through Georgia early Friday knocking out power to more than 1.4 million homes and businesses, causing extensive damage to farmland and property across the state.
President Joe Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for parts of Georgia, allowing residents in 41 of the state’s 159 counties to apply for financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Helene’s devastating trek across the Southeast has taken the lives of at least 175 people and caused massive flooding in the northeast corner of Tennessee and western Carolina that wiped out entire towns.
“Unfortunately, we have up to 33 fatalities in the state of Georgia right now, and close to 200 impacted in total by the storm,” Kemp said at Thursday’s storm update in his ceremonial office at the Georgia Capitol. “Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the families of those that have just experienced this heartbreak and this tragedy, to the communities that’s affected.”
Biden is set to visit Georgia on Thursday to tour storm-torn areas. Vice President Kamala Harris visited hard-hit Augusta on Wednesday and former President Donald Trump stopped by Valdosta over the weekend to survey the storm damage, two areas of the state still dealing with the worst of Helene’s destruction.
Kemp said Thursday that Georgia officials will continue to push for 90 counties in the state to be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance. FEMA has agreed to cover the first three months of cleanup costs for the counties listed in the Major Disaster Declaration.
A statewide gas tax suspension that went into effect Thursday will save drivers up to 32-cents per gallon for regular fuel and 36 cents per gallons for diesel fuel.
Chris Stallings, director of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, said Thursday that preliminary damage reports across the state estimate losses totaling at least $417 million, a number that is expected to rise substantially as assessments continue in the weeks ahead.
Kemp said that Georgia’s agriculture industry has been severely hurt by Helene, including damage to row crops, pecan trees, and poultry houses. He emphasized the importance of state government officials working with Georgia’s congressional delegation to streamline federal assistance to farmers and growers.
U.S. Democratic Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, of Georgia, are among a bipartisan congressional delegation who signed a letter to Biden seeking more federal aid, even if it meant Congress returning to Washington from its current extended break sooner than planned next month.
“Although the true level of devastation is still unfolding, it is clear that Congress must act to meet the unmet needs in our states and address the scope and scale of destruction experienced by our constituents,” the letter says. “This may even require Congress to come back in October to ensure we have enough time to enact legislation before the end of this calendar year.”
Georgia Recorder senior editor Jill Nolin contributed to this report.
This is a developing story, please check back for updates.
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