15 killed in Georgia after Hurricane Helene leaves path of flooding, trees down; public health emergency declared (2024)

Gov. Kemp to tour storm damage in south Georgia

Published: Sep. 25, 2024 at 10:59 AM EDT|Updated: Sep. 28, 2024 at 9:42 AM EDT

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - As Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida late Thursday night and moved into Georgia just after 2 a.m. Friday, metro Atlanta and its surrounding communities experienced torrential rain, heavy flooding and widespread power outages. Helene weakened to a tropical storm just before 5 a.m.

Below are Atlanta News First’s live updates on Helene and its impacts in Georgia from Wednesday to Friday. We had crews spread out from Florida, south Georgia and beyond to bring you the latest as it develops.

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Friday, Sept. 27

8:26 p.m. | The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency for Georgia to address health impacts from Hurricane Helene. “We will do all we can to assist Georgia officials respond to the health impacts of Hurricane Helene,” said Secretary Xavier Becerra. “We are working closely with state and local health authorities, as well as our partners across the federal government, and stand ready to provide additional public health and medical support.”

7:58 p.m. | As of 7 p.m. on Friday, Georgia Power said power has been restored for 250,000 customers. The utility company said around 620,000 customers are still without power.

7 p.m. | The death toll from Helene rose to 43.

6:50 p.m. | A large tree took down a power pole on Wesley Road NW in Buckhead.

6:48 p.m. | Gov. Brian Kemp thanked first responders for their actions in response to Helene. “(First Lady Marty Kemp) and I join all Georgians in thanking these heroes for their bravery and tireless work as they help their fellow Georgians,” the governor said in a tweet on X.

6:30 p.m. | Gov. Brian Kemp will tour storm damage from Hurricane Helene in Valdosta Saturday morning.

4:25 p.m. | The death toll in Georgia has climbed to 15. Two kids, 4 and 7, were killed when a tree fell onto a burning home in Washington County. The total death toll across Georgia, Florida and the Carolinas is 35. READ MORE.

4:10 p.m. | In East Point, there are 380 power outages affecting the Desert Drive and Lakemont community.

3 p.m. | Woodrow Wilson Park in Douglas County has flooded. Mt. Vernon Road by the park is closed.

2:42 p.m. | Holly Hill Way near Fitzgerald Road in Jonesboro has washed away, according to the Clayton County Police Department.

2:33 p.m. | The death toll from Hurricane Helene has reached at least 30 across four states, according to reporting from the Associated Press. READ MORE

1:51 p.m. | Atlanta Fire Rescue Department crews are now evacuating survivors in flooded areas.

1:41 p.m. | Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has issued a state of emergency in the city.

“This declaration will allow us to access vital federal and state resources to expedite our recovery efforts and ensure the safety and well-being of all Atlanta residents,” he said in a statement.

The state of emergency will last for 72 hours, according to the order. It assigns additional employees from several city departments — including watershed management, parks and recreation, public works and transportation — to help clear the roads and other debris.

READ THE FULL ORDER:

1:37 p.m. | Sandy Springs Police are asking people to avoid the Morgan Falls Dam because of rising waters.

1:35 p.m. | The City of South Fulton has opened a hurricane relief shelter at Burdett Park, which is at 2945 Burdett Road.

1 p.m. | A large tree has fallen on a University of Georgia building in Athens at the corner of Carlton Street and Sanford Drive.

12:14 p.m. | Agriculture damage east of I-75 has been reported across the state, including to pecan crops and chicken coops, Georgia officials said. There will be a water release of Lake Rabun due to flooding. People will be evacuated downstream.

11:49 a.m. | Gov. Brian Kemp said there have been 11 deaths from the storm. One of those killed was a first responder. Kemp did not say who the people killed were. He also said first responders believe there are 115 structures in Valdosta with people trapped inside. Hundreds of soldiers and airmen are deployed throughout the state to respond to recovery efforts.

11:30 a.m. | Gov. Brian Kemp and state officials will give an update on recovery efforts from Helene.

10:20 a.m. | Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens gave an update on the city’s recovery efforts.

10:11 a.m. | Large tree down on Castlegate Terrace in Decatur.

10:05 a.m. | Several roads closed due to floodwaters surrounding Southern Regional Medical Center in Riverdale. Deputies tell Atlanta News First that the hospital is still accessible.

9:55 a.m. | Georgia Power says there are 40,000 customers without power. They have restored power to more than 120,000 customers.

9:52 a.m. | Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said the Gateway Center is open for the unhoused in the aftermath of the storm.

9:50 a.m. | Flooding on Peachtree Battle Avenue in Buckhead.

9:25 a.m. | What is normally a small lake at Rodney Cook Sr. Park in Vine City has overflowed, ANF’s Harry Samler shows.

9:21 a.m. | The Chattahoochee River is turbulent in Helen, Georgia, after Helene dumped several inches of rainfall on the state.

9:11 a.m. | Several yards have flooded in the Peachtree Battle Avenue area in Buckhead. Resident Christina Hull said both of her cars are completely submerged, and she can’t access her house. Hull said neighbors told her the area had a similar flood in 2009, but she has never seen anything like it since she moved into the home in 2011.

9 a.m. | The highest wind gust at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport over the past 12 hours was 41 mph.

8:54 a.m. | There are 1,724,161 people in metro Atlanta under a flash flood emergency.

8:42 a.m. | Cammie Wages Road near Greeson Road in Gwinnett County is blocked due to a large tree in the road, according to police.

8:40 a.m. | Indian Trail - Lilburn Road just off I-85 is shut down due to flooding.

8:12 a.m. | A tree fell across an apartment building in Atlanta -- near Sandy Springs off Roswell Road.

8 a.m. | More than 1 million Georgia residents are without power as now-Tropical Storm Helene sweeps through the state. READ MORE

7:42 a.m. | Gov. Kemp signs executive order authorizing an additional 1,000 Georgia National Guard troops “to assist in those ongoing recover efforts as needed.” This is in addition to the 250 heading into the field already, he said.

7:33 a.m. | Battleview Drive continues to flood in Buckhead as Peachtree Creek overflows.

7:29 a.m. | Fulton County Emergency Management is warning of high winds in the county. Residents are asked to stay indoors and avoid travel.

7:20 a.m. | A Portion of the downtown connector southbound is blocked past I-20 due to a tree in the road.

7:09 a.m. | The National Weather Service has upgraded its flash flood warning to a flash flood emergency in central Fulton County, southwest DeKalb County and Clayton County. The areas affected by the emergency include Midtown, College Park, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Forest Park, Riverdale and Jonesboro.

“This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!” the weather service said in its statement, calling the damage threat “catastrophic.”

6:05 a.m. | A woman, baby and two dogs were rescued from a car submerged in high waters near Peachtree Creek.

6 a.m. | The Colquitt County Emergency Management says a person died in relation to Helene. They said the person was in a vehicle. We will update as we learn more.

5:45 a.m. | Several lanes of I-75 north shut down near Delk Road due to jackknifed tractor trailer.

5:30 a.m. | Swift water rescue crews are actively working near homes off Bohler Road in northwest Atlanta. Across the city, particularly near Peachtree Creek and Peachtree Battle, 25 people have been rescued so far, the fire department said. MARTA buses are being used to shelter the civilians.

5:28 a.m. | The ramp to I-285 south on I-20 east in DeKalb County is completely shut down due to standing water.

5:20 a.m. | Across the state of Georgia, there are more than 700,000 customers without power.

4:50 a.m. | Helene has weakened to a tropical storm, according to the National Hurricane Center.

4 a.m. | North Druid Hills Road at Lenox Park Boulevard is shut down due to a tree down on power lines and an unoccupied car, police said. All lanes are blocked in both directions.

3:20 a.m. | Atlanta Fire crews are working to rescue people at the Peachtree Park apartments off Peachtree Park Drive in the Buckhead area. They said it is due to flooding down hill. Water can be seen over the top of cars in the parking lot.

2:53 a.m. | Residents living near Nancy Creek in Sandy Springs should evacuate to higher ground due to extreme flooding, according to the city.

2:04 a.m. | Helene is now a Category 1 hurricane moving through Georgia.

1:47 a.m. | A woman was hospitalized after a tree collapsed on a home on the 400 block of Hammond Drive in Griffin, according to city officials.

1:43 a.m. | The Windsor Parkway Bridge over Nancy Creek between Northland and Peachtree Dunwoody Road in Sandy Springs is closed due to flooding.

12:58 a.m. | Valley View Road in Dunwoody is closed because of a downed tree.

12:44 a.m. | Hundreds of thousands of power outages have been reported in Georgia as Helene nears the state.

12:14 a.m. | Flooding has closed the Windsor Parkway Bridge over Nancy Creek, which is between Northland and Peachtree Dunwoody Road.

12:12 a.m. | Thousands are already without power across Georgia as Helene approaches the state. KEEP UP WITH POWER OUTAGES HERE.

Thursday, Sept. 26

11:24 p.m. | Two people were killed in a possible tornado in Wheeler County as Hurricane Helene approaches the state, the Associated Press reported. Wheeler County is 171 miles south of Atlanta.

11:09 p.m. | Helene made landfall in Florida late Thursday night as a major hurricane.

10:55 p.m. | Four southbound lanes of I-285 are closed because of flooding. It is at E Ponce de Leon and Church Street.

9:36 p.m. | Several counties, including Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett, are under a flash flood warning. The warning is until 3:15 a.m. on Friday.

9:33 p.m. | Several roads in Spalding County are closed. They include O’Dell at Lakeshore, the 475-500 blocks of School Road, Rehoboth Road at Barnesville Road and 25 Hidden Covey Lane. The bridge on Moon Road is also closed.

9:15 p.m. | Helene reached 140 mph winds Thursday night. It is 90 miles south of Tallahassee.

9:01 p.m. | Richard Russell Scenic Highway from Alt 75 in White County to 180 in Union County is closed until conditions improve, according to White County EMA officials.

8:59 p.m. | Reinhardt College Parkway at Garland Mountain in Cherokee County is closed.

8:49 p.m. | Flooding has been reported on Old Bill Cook Road and Old National Highway.

8:35 p.m. | “Multiple sinkholes” have been reported in the 3450 block of Buford Highway, according to the Brookhaven Police Department.

8:22 p.m. | The National Weather Service said metro Atlanta is starting to see the beginnings of river flooding.

8:09 p.m. | A flash flood warning has been issued for Rabun County.

8:05 p.m. | Lake Forrest Drive in Atlanta near Sandy Springs is closed because of a sinkhole, which police said was caused by a culvert failure in the City of Atlanta.

8 p.m. | As of the 8 p.m. update on Helene, the storm is a Category 4 hurricane with 130 mph. The storm is about 135 miles south of Tallahassee and is expected to make landfall late Thursday night. Conditions in Atlanta will deteriorate overnight, with the strongest winds between 3-11 a.m.

7:17 p.m. | The City of Atlanta has announced that trash collection will be suspended on Friday. Officials said residents whose regular service day is Friday should not place any trash bins, recycling bins, or yard debris curbside until after the storm passes. Curbside and backyard collections are expected to resume on Saturday, depending on weather conditions. If conditions are not favorable on Saturday, Friday services will be moved to Sunday.

7:02 p.m. | Emory outpatient facilities will be closed Friday, except for clinics “with limited and clinically time-sensitive services” for the following:

• Oncology infusion (for selected patients who will be confirmed through the oncology infusion team)
• Radiation oncology (for selected patients who will be confirmed by the oncology team)
• In vitro fertilization (patients will be confirmed by that team)
• Dialysis (patients will be confirmed by that team)

All Emory clinics, Emory specialty associate clinics and ambulatory surgery centers will be closed Friday. All Emory hospitals and business offices will operate as usual.

6:56 p.m. | Gwinnett County government offices will be closed Friday, though essential services required for the safety and well-being of residents will remain operational, county officials said.

6:50 p.m. | The City of Forest Park’s non-essential offices will remain closed on Friday, city officials announced.

They also said Waste Management will not run residential services on Friday. Routes will instead be serviced on Saturday. Residents are asked to bring their trash carts inside Thursday to prevent trash or other debris from spreading.

6:22 p.m. | Helene has been upgraded into a category 4 hurricane.

6:18 p.m. | A downed tree has closed Powers Ferry Road in the 5000 block. It is estimated that it will take at least three hours to clear, Georgia Power says.

5:35 p.m. | A downed tree was reported in Buckhead on West Wesley Ridge.

5:31 p.m. | A hurricane warning has been issued for Butts, Jasper, Lamar, Pike and Spalding counties.

4:41 p.m. | A downed tree and power lines were reported on Ridgeview Trail in Bartow County.

4 p.m. | CobbLinc will suspend all routes Friday due to the oncoming storm.

3:20 p.m. | A flash flood warning has been issued in Atlanta, including for Sandy Springs and the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport until 9:15 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

3:13 p.m. | A flash flood warning has been issued for Griffin, McDonough and Thomaston until 9:15 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

3:03 p.m. | The Khruangbin show at the Fox Theatre has been canceled. Tomorrow’s concert is set to go ahead as scheduled.

2:25 p.m. | Hurricane Helene has been upgraded to a Category 3 storm.

1:50 p.m. | All Cobb County government offices will be closed through Friday. That includes courts, libraries, parks and tag offices.

1:40 p.m. | “We will respond with full force, as soon as it’s safe to do so,” Gov. Kemp said regarding the state’s plan. The governor said it doesn’t really matter what category the storm is when it comes into Georgia because of its size and strength.

1:35 p.m. | State has called up 250 national guard members, Gov. Kemp said, adding that they can call up 250 more, if needed.

1:30 p.m. | Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, state emergency officials speak:

1:15 p.m. | The flash flood risk just got upgraded across the area to a “high” risk, which extends into Atlanta and beyond.

1 p.m. | Tropical storm-force winds are expected in north Georgia as Hurricane Helene sweeps through, especially Friday morning.

12:50 p.m. | New models show that heavy rain should be largely out of metro Atlanta by 10 a.m. Friday.

12:40 p.m. | GEMA recommends that all schools in the state of Georgia be closed on Friday. On Thursday, they said that schools south of Macon should consider an early dismissal.

12:38 p.m. | The High Museum of Art in Atlanta will be closed on Friday.

12:01 p.m. | Large portions of metro Atlanta have a high risk of flash flooding, new data shows.

12 p.m. | Georgia Power tells us they have more than 10,000 personnel on the ground currently – and “continues to refine plans as the storm gets closer to ensure a safe and effective response.”

11:50 a.m. | The Georgia Aquarium will be closed on Friday but plans to reopen on Saturday, it announced.

11:35 a.m. | Watch live as our First Alert Meteorologists give you an update on Hurricane Helene’s current activity.

11:18 a.m. | North Georgia is under several weather alerts. Here’s a refresher on which ones are active right now and what they mean.

11:13 a.m. | Hurricane Helene is still a Category 2 storm, the National Weather Service’s 11 a.m. update said. It is still expected to reach Category 3 status before it hits Florida.

10:44 a.m. | Zoo Atlanta is closing at 12 p.m. today and said they have protocols in place to make sure animals and staff are protected from the elements. Check zooatlanta.org for operational updates for Friday.

10:40 a.m. | President Joe Biden approved a Georgia emergency declaration, ordering federal assistance to supplement state and local response efforts from Hurricane Helene. This authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate all disaster relief efforts.

10:35 a.m. | A large sinkhole formed this morning in Chamblee at Chinatown Mall, 5383 New Peachtree Road.

10:30 a.m. | Gov. Brian Kemp announced he’ll be at the state’s emergency operations center where he’ll hold a briefing with the media. We will stream that in this story.

10:15 a.m. | Hundreds of flights already impacted by Helene at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson. MORE

10 a.m. | Watch live coverage:

9:06 a.m. | The Georgia Insurance & Safety Fire Commissioner’s Office has decided to close.

8:30 a.m. | Heavy rain is expected to hit metro Atlanta by 3 p.m. on Thursday.

7:41 a.m. | Hurricane Helene has been upgraded to a Cat. 2 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.

6:42 a.m. | The highest winds will likely be east of metro Atlanta overnight on Friday, data shows.

5:58 a.m. | Helene’s winds have intensified.

5:44 a.m. | Hurricane Helene is now expected to be a Cat 3 when it makes landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Wednesday, Sept. 25

10:54 p.m. | A fallen tree is blocking Lenox Road at Center Road in Atlanta. Power lines have also fallen in the area.

10:42 p.m. | A tree fell on a car on the 800 block of Inman Village Parkway in the Inman Park neighborhood of Atlanta.

10:06 p.m. | A large tree is down on the 2100 block of Beecher Road in southwest Atlanta.

10 p.m. | All DeKalb Public Health regional health centers will be closed on Thursday and Friday.

9:58 p.m. | A downed tree on wires was reported on Parkdale Lane in Atlanta.

9:48 p.m. | All City of Chamblee facilities will close at 3 p.m. Thursday because of anticipated severe weather, city officials announced. All after-hour meetings and events scheduled for Thursday have also been canceled. On Friday, Chamblee City Hall and the Public Safety Building will be closed to the public.

8:55 p.m. | Flooding was reported on I-285 in DeKalb County. The flooding was reported shortly before 3 p.m. and is still causing issues on the interstate, according to an alert from Georgia 511. A crash also happened on the interstate, at U.S. 278 and Covington Highway. It is not known if the two are related.

8:45 p.m. | The Douglas County government has declared a local state of emergency ahead of impacts expected from Helene.

“Douglas County joins several other metro counties in declaring a local ‘State of Emergency’ following Governor Brian Kemp’s Statewide Emergency Declaration on Tuesday,” county officials said in a press release.

Officials said the declaration “provides governments greater access to state and federal resources amid an emergency” and “outlines prohibitions on price gouging for critical and necessary goods and services, along with detailing closed and restricted areas.”

8:30 p.m. | WANF’s Fred Campagna joins meteorologists from around the country for a roundtable discussion on Hurricane Helene.

8 p.m. | Helene’s intensity and speed did not change in the latest update from the National Hurricane Center. Helene is expected to make landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida.

6 p.m. | DeKalb County Schools announced they will close Thursday and Friday. FULL LIST

5:45 p.m. | The main campus of the University of Georgia will be closed on Thursday, Sept. 26 and Friday, Sept. 27.

5:30 p.m. | There have already been nearly 70 flights canceled at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport tomorrow ahead of Hurricane Helene, according to the flight tracker website FlightAware.

5:15 p.m. | Atlanta Braves games postponed Wednesday and Thursday. Will play doubleheader against New York Mets on Monday at 1:10 p.m. with playoff implications on the line. Monday is a single-admission doubleheader with only one ticket required for both games, they said. If you have a ticket for Wednesday’s game, it is not valid for Monday. If you have a ticket for Thursday’s game, that will be honored for Monday’s double header.

5:10 p.m. | A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for north Georgia and metro Atlanta until Friday with winds of 39 mph. It is expected to make landfall as a category 4 hurricane. READ MORE

5 p.m. | State officials are providing an update.

4:45 p.m. | Flooding has been reported on I-285 Northbound past US 278/Covington Hwy. The Ga. Dept. of Transportation says one right lane is blocked.

4:20 p.m. | Gwinnett County will have a digital learning day on Thursday and will be completely closed on Friday. All events on Saturday are also closed. FULL LIST

4:15 p.m. | City of Chamblee will close all city facilities on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. All after-hour meetings and events scheduled have also been canceled. On Friday, Chamblee City Hall and the Public Safety Building will be closed to the public.

4:10 p.m. | Atlanta Public Schools will be closed Thursday and Friday. FULL LIST

3:30 p.m. | Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens and city leaders discuss Hurricane Helene storm preparations:

2:45 p.m. | A tornado warning has been issued for Habersham and Rabun counties until 3:30 p.m.

2:20 p.m. | Banks County Schools will be closed Thursday and Friday. FULL LIST

2:10 p.m. | Hall County School District, Union County and Polk County opt for remote learning on Thursday and Friday. FULL LIST

1:48 p.m. | MARTA said there are no schedule changes at this time. However, the transit agency said riders should allow extra travel time for potential delays and weather-related disruptions.

1:15 p.m. | GNR Public Health, the health department that serves Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale counties, is closing all health centers, environmental health offices, and its district office at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 26, and will remain closed on Friday, September 27.

1 p.m. | Watch chief meteorologist Jennifer Valdez give the latest update.

12:25 p.m. | Clayton County Public Schools cancels all activities for Wednesday and Thursday. This includes all athletic and non-athletic extracurricular activities, they said.

12 p.m. | Sen. JD Vance postpones Thursday visit in metro Atlanta.

11:15 a.m. | A tropical storm watch has been issued in metro Atlanta until Friday morning.

11 a.m. | Helene upgraded to a hurricane with maximum sustained winds at 80 mph. It continues to rapidly strengthen in the Caribbean while moving north along Mexico’s coast toward the U.S. Forecasters warned of the possibility of tornadoes Wednesday night over parts of the western Florida peninsula and southern Alabama and said the tornado risk would increase Thursday, expanding across Florida and into parts of Georgia and South Carolina. Helene is expected to become a major hurricane — a Category 3 or higher — on Thursday, the day it’s set to reach Florida’s Gulf Coast, according to the hurricane center.

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