Electric utilities in Georgia began extensive assessments of transmission lines and other infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27. File photo
Hundreds of utility workers from more than a dozen states plan to assist Georgia’s crews in restoring electricity to more than 1 million homes and businesses left without power by Hurricane Helene today.
Helene’s overnight wrath across Georgia led to the deaths of at least 11 people, caused extensive damage to farmland, and brought widespread power outages that cut electricity to a Valdosta hospital and more than 1.1 million customers of Georgia Power and Georgia’s Electric Members Corporations
Gov. Brian Kemp announced this morning that one of the 11 people confirmed dead is a Pierce County firefighter, who was killed in the storm while he was clearing downed trees and power lines. Vernon “Leon” Davis, a part-time assistant fire chief in Blackshear died when a tree fell on his truck, Jacksonville-based First Coast News reported.
Helene is the deadliest storm to hit Georgia since Hurricane Michael in October 2018. Both severe storm’s brought damaging winds, flash flooding, and substantial damage to Georgia’s farmland.
There were reports of dozens of damaged structures, blocked roads, and interstates in the city of Valdosta and Augusta-Richmond County. Also, on Friday, emergency responders worked to remove several people trapped inside Valdosta structures and efforts were underway to restore power to South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta after an emergency generator stopped working.
Utility officials warn that it will likely take several days before all of the power outages across Georgia are completely restored.
Clear skies broke out Friday morning, allowing Georgia Power and Georgia’s Electric Membership Cooperatives crews to conduct damage assessments of the state’s power grid, downed power lines, and other utility infrastructure.
As of 11 a.m. on Friday, Georgia Power’s outage map listed about 719,000 customers affected by the outages, while Georgia’s Electric Members Corps. reported another 435,000 customers were without electricity, mostly in the south and southeast of the state. By 3 p.m. Georgia Power report 655,000 remaining outages and EMC’s outages decreased to 399,000 statewide.
Various EMCs across Georgia and from a dozen states are sending utility crews and equipment to assist with the outages. Georgia Power crews are also getting outside help as they dealt with outages Friday that affected more than 113,000 customers in Chatham County, nearly 81,000 customers in Richmond County, and a total of 63,000 customers in Fulton County and DeKalb County.
Georgia’s EMC reported Friday that outages surged overnight and early this morning as the storm crossed north through the state, causing some of the worst damage on the eastern side of Georgia.
“In addition to damage to the EMCs’ distribution lines, Hurricane Helene severely damaged high-voltage transmission lines. These transmission lines are a critical piece of the electric grid, as they feed the substations that provide power to EMC distribution lines,” according to a statement from the Georgia EMC.
The public is asked to stay away from downed power lines and keep a safe distance from crews as they restore power.
“Downed lines are extremely dangerous and could be fatal depending upon ground conditions,” Georgia EMC’s statement said. “This is especially true in wet situations and even more so with standing water as a result of this storm. In addition, we ask the public to keep a safe distance from crews as they work to restore power.”
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