Eleven people, including a first responder, died in Georgia as Hurricane Helene passed through the state Thursday evening into Friday morning, Georgia Governor Kemp announced at a press conference on Friday.

“I would ask all Georgians, as the Kemp family does, to keep these people and these communities in your thoughts and prayers,” Kemp said.

The governor reiterated the importance of residents heeding warnings to stay off the roads and being patient as storm damage continues.

“It’s because we’re trying to reach people,” he said. “It’s a very dangerous environment and one of our best lost his life trying to save others.”

People trapped at home in Georgia

Forecasters said the deadly storm hit the state as a Category 2 hurricane, with wind speeds of about 100 mph at Alma. Helene turned east, heading in a slightly different direction than expected, from Valdosta to Augusta, Kemp said.

That meant communities in that path and east of the storm were severely affected, he said, while others in the western part of the state were spared from the storm’s force.

Rescue teams from both inside and outside Georgia, including the Maryland Search and Rescue Team, are working to get into multiple structures that house people they can’t communicate with, Kemp said. Teams will have to get into those buildings, he said.

“Valdosta has identified 115 structures that have significant damage and we know there are multiple people inside,” Kemp said.

He added that priority will be given to medical facilities that do not have electricity, asking residents to be patient while agencies respond. Valdosta Medical Center lost power after a tree fell on an emergency generator.

“Both we and Georgia Power responded by turning on the emergency generator,” Kemp said. “And Georgia Power is working hard to get power back there.”

Road closures, power outages across GA

The Georgia Department of Transportation reported 152 road closures across the state on Friday. Interstate 16 in Laurens County and Interstate 20 outside Augusta were closed.

“Crews are actively assessing the damage and working to restore access where it is safe to do so,” Kemp said.

Generators were being implemented, especially in Valdosta, to help power traffic lights.

Kemp said bridges across the state are in good condition and the port is operating, but on a limited basis.

Authorities plan to release water from Lake Raybun in Raybun County in northeast Georgia due to flooding.

“We’re evacuating people downstream,” Kemp said. “This way they won’t be cut off from the rest of the community if they don’t leave.”

He added that 911 facilities experienced disruptions due to power outages. Georgia has a million meters and many more customers without power, Kemp said.

“(Utilities) started showing up behind the storm as soon as it was daylight,” he said. “We remain in constant contact with our utility providers.”

Concerns about flooding have not disappeared

The state has 17 shelters across the state that can accommodate 1,100 people. Kemp said the Coffee County shelter lost its roof and resources are currently being used to keep people there safe.

Over the past two days, the Red Cross has opened or supported more than 140 shelters for nearly 9,400 people across the Southeast, Katie Zwerk, regional communications director for the American Red Cross in Georgia, told the Ledger-Enquirer.

“As deadly flooding continues and threatens additional communities, even more people will urgently need our support,” Zwerk said. “Red Cross teams managed 50 of these shelters overnight and supported over 80 partner shelters with staff and supplies.”

In agriculture, Helene razed poultry houses and caused damage to crops and nut trees.

Before the storm, Kemp authorized 500 members of the Georgia National Guard, and 250 were deployed before Helene made landfall. Another 250 members were deployed, and on Friday morning the governor approved the hiring of an additional 1,000 members.

“There are 500 of them in the field right now,” Kemp said. “And we will call the rest if necessary and as requested.”

Chainsaw cutting units, heavy equipment units and supply distribution pods are being transported across the state, he said. Teams worked to clear roads and relocate resources.

Kemp said officials also assessed the damage from the air, but it took some time to get helicopters and drones into the air due to high winds.

It is important that residents stay off the roads to provide space for first responders to transport trucks, equipment and resources. People who would like to volunteer to help are encouraged to contact their county’s emergency management agency, which can assist with coordination. This will make it easier for rescue teams to reach people who may be trapped.

“It’s still very dangerous for people in the metro area,” Kemp said.

Many of the fatalities were caused by fallen trees due to the ground being saturated. Even though the winds had died down, trees were still falling on Friday afternoon.

“One fell at the residence across the driveway as we were leaving this morning,” Kemp said.

He added that the risk of flash flooding should remain a concern and water levels will continue to rise over the next 24 to 48 hours, particularly in the northern part of the state.

“If you’re out and about, you have to pay attention to the weather,” Kemp said. “If you don’t have to go out, I would just advise you to try to shelter in place or limit your activities if you can.”