Gov. Kemp: Mother, 1-month-old twins among 17 killed in Georgia during Hurricane Helene

VALDOSTA, Ga. – Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Saturday morning said 17 people died as Hurricane Helene hit the state late Thursday night.

“This storm spared no one,” Kemp said during a news conference in Valdosta.

RELATED | At least 52 dead and millions without power after Helene’s deadly march across southeastern US

On Saturday, Kemp said a 27-year-old mother and her 1-month-old twin boys were killed when a tree fell on their home in McDuffie County.

In Washington County, a 7-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl died when a tree fell on their home and were trapped inside their burning house, Kemp said.

The Pierce County Fire Department confirmed Friday that a firefighter was killed in Blackshear when a tree fell on their vehicle. Kemp said the firefighter died trying to save others.

RELATED | Georgia firefighter killed while responding to downed powerline during Hurricane Helene

Pierce County Fire Department’s chief told News4JAX that Assistant Chief Leon Davis was killed while responding to a power line down. Davis had the area blocked off and was killed when a tree broke off and hit his vehicle.

Kemp said there was also significant devastation in the agricultural community including flattened poultry houses and row crop damage.

Valdosta and Augusta saw significant damage from high winds and flooding.

Kemp said 115 structures were heavily damaged and people were trapped inside in Valdosta. Kemp said Friday authorities were “having a hard time getting to places” so teams with chainsaws were “working to free up roads.”

One million customers in the state were left without power including the South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, which lost its emergency generator.

According to Kemp, as of Saturday morning, there were still over half a million people without power in the state.

Kemp issued an executive order Friday morning authorizing an additional 1,000 Georgia Guard troops to assist in recovery efforts in addition to the 250 troops that were already deployed. According to Kemp, response teams are helping with widespread power outages, property damage and flooding.

RELATED | Everyone asked to stay off roads in Ware, Glynn counties as crews clean up downed power lines & trees

The state is also dealing with water and wastewater issues around the state.

According to Kemp, the state currently has 19 different locations dealing with wastewater problems. As of Saturday morning, the state had 25 boil water advisories.

“We believe there’ll be a higher monetary value of damage than hurricane Michael,” Kemp said.

Click here to view the outage map.

Across the state, 17 shelters are open housing 1,100 people and Kemp said resources are being deployed to assist a shelter in Coffee County that lost its roof.