‘This storm spared no one:’ Gov. Kemp addresses Hurricane Helene damages, relief

RICHMOND COUNTY, Ga. — Gov. Brian Kemp joined state, federal and local leaders toured Richmond County and surrounding areas impacted by Hurricane Helene.

“This storm literally spared no one,” Kemp said. “Literally this hurricane - it looks like a 250-mile wide tornado hit.”

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The death toll from the storm surpassed 130 across the Southeast with hundreds missing.

Kemp said during a news conference Monday that the death toll in the state had risen from 17 to 25. A North Carolina county that includes the mountain city of Asheville reported at least 30 people killed there.

Included in those deaths were a 27-year-old mother and her one-year-old twins who died when a tree hit their house. Their identities were not released.

Leon Davis, a part-time fire chief in Blackshear, Georgia also died during the hurricane.

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Aaron Hasting is among many in Augusta who shuddered when he heard a large tree toppling onto his home.

“Luckily on one was at this window. I’ve heard this all weekend long it wounded like a bomb went off. It rattled for ten seconds but it felt like ten minutes at the time,” Hasting said.

Georgia Power said it has thousands of line workers in the field repairing poles and powerlines.

They aim to have everyone’s power restored in the area within the next few days.

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