Georgia’s governor confirms 11 deaths across the state related to Storm Helene

ATLANTA (TND) — Georgia Governor Brian Kemp sadly provided an update on the loss of life and damage caused by Hurricane Helene during a press conference Friday afternoon.

“It was currently a deadly storm. We had 11 confirmed fatalities,” Kemp said.

He confirmed that a first responder was among the deceased. Kemp said the first responder died trying to save others.

Georgia is struggling with flooding, downed power lines and trees, and power outages.

More than a million homes and businesses are without power as of Friday, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports.

Kemp thanked Georgia Power, which provided about 10,000 employees.

The governor urged people to stay off the streets as first responders were dealing with a “very dangerous environment.”

Kemp said Helene caused most of the damage as she drove through Valdosta and Augusta.

“We had wind gusts of over 90 miles per hour recorded in South Georgia, Category 2 hurricane, in fact wind gusts of 100 miles per hour were recorded in Alma, Georgia in Bacon County,” he explained.

The state is currently sending generators to Valdosta, where most of the city’s traffic lights are out.

The Georgia Department of Transportation is shifting resources to affected areas in the southern part of the state.

South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta lost power after a tree fell on its backup generator.

“A tree fell on it and knocked out the generator capacity. We and Georgia Power both responded with a backup generator, and Georgia Power is working hard to restore power there,” Kemp said.

According to the governor, 17 shelters were opened across the state Friday afternoon, housing 1,100 people.

One of Coffee County’s animal shelters has lost its roof and is currently receiving assistance.

At least six more people have died in Florida and Carolina.