The Rocky Broad River flows into Lake Lure and overflows the town with debris from Chimney Rock, North Carolina after heavy rains from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 28, 2024, in Lake Lure, North Carolina. Approximately six feet of debris piled on the bridge from Lake Lure to Chimney Rock, blocking access. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits | Getty Images)
The State of Montana will send a nine-person incident management team to Macon, Georgia, for 15 days to assist with recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene, Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Friday.
The Type 3 team led by Ken Parks of Missoula Disaster and Emergency Services will help Georgia and federal officials with planning, resource management and public information, the governor’s office said.
The State of Georgia had put in a request through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact that allows other states to come in and help during a declared disaster and be reimbursed.
The Macon Telegraph reported earlier this week that central Georgia, where the team will deploy, was not as badly hit, but crews were still cleaning up debris damage, fixing power lines and clearing and fixing roads.
But the Georgia National Guard has a centralized logistics hub in Macon where it is sending supplies and responders across the state. Georgia’s governor activated 2,500 National Guardsmen for the state’s response.
Other parts of Georgia received severe wind and flooding damage, as did most of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.
More than 220 people were killed in the storm and about 700,000 customers remain without power as of Friday, according to the Association Press.
“Please join me and Susan in praying for all those impacted by Hurricane Helene and for the safety of our personnel,” Gianforte said in a statement.