Cleanup efforts continue in Georgia after Helene

September 28th, 2024

A man wearing a neon vest checks the water gauge above the Chattahoochee River. — A member of the USGS stands on Hermi's Bridge checking the water gauge along the Chattahoochee River near Paces Ferry Drive SE , Friday, Sept 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

This story was updated on Sept. 29, 2024, at 2:50 p.m.

Though Helene has now moved out of Georgia, crews are still addressing road closures, widespread power outages and floods that will likely last for days.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for Helene on Wednesday, which lasts until Oct. 2. On Saturday, Kemp confirmed that 17 Georgians had died from the effects of Helene at a press conference in Valdosta, Georgia.

Around a million electric customers in Georgia were without power on Friday. As of 11:03 a.m. on Saturday, about 770,000 electric customers in Georgia were still without power, according to poweroutage.us.

Georgia Power deployed more than 14,000 personnel Friday, restoring power to more than 250,000 customers according to a Friday evening press release.

Tree limbs and debris are still blocking roads across metro Atlanta, and Georgia Department of Transportation crews cleared around half of the 98 state routes that closed due to flooding, debris and downed power lines by Friday afternoon, and work is continuing Saturday.

Areas in Atlanta saw around 11.5 inches of precipitation between Tuesday, Sept. 24, and Friday, Sept. 27, according to the National Weather Service of Georgia. Atlanta also received 11.12 inches of rain in a 48-hour period, which broke a record set in 1886, according to equipment at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

The National Weather Service in Atlanta said river flooding is forecasted to continue for the next several days.

The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management is requesting that Atlantans report storm drain issues to help mitigate persistent flooding.

The Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s Office warned state residents of the possibility of insurance scammers, or “storm-chasers.” It instructed residents to take note of property damages caused by Helene and notify their insurance companies.