Scroll down for your county. This page will collect storm info, closings, preparation updates from Coastal Georgia counties due to Hurricane Helene. Please send any questions or info to staff@thecurrentga.org.

Drivers: If traffic signals are not working, drivers should treat the intersection as a 4-way stop.

To check power outages:

Colleges, universities:

  • Georgia Southern has announced all its campuses are closed and classes are canceled and will reopen and resume on Monday, Oct. 7. All in-person University events (including the Eagle Preview event on Oct. 5) are canceled through Sunday, Oct. 6. More info:  www.GeorgiaSouthern.edu/alert
  • SCAD remains closed through Monday. Savannah campus will open Tuesday.
  • Savannah State University will remain closed and reopen on Wednesday.
  • Savannah Technical College campuses will be closed until Wednesday. Eckburg Auditorium (Savannah Campus, 5717 White Bluff Road, parking lot at back of campus) for public use (AC/power/wifi) from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday. 

Public schools: Bryan County closed Monday, Tuesday; both Liberty County and McIntosh County closed Monday, staff return Wednesday, students return Thursday; Savannah-Chatham and Camden closed through Wednesday.

Water: Most Coastal Georgia customers of Water Utility Management are under a Boil Water order due to loss of pressure in some lines. See each county below for lists of places.

Contact United Way of Coastal Georgia at (912) 265-1850 to speak with a United Way worker who can help you find the assistance or service you need. 

Glynn County/Brunswick/St. Simons

Tuesday, Oct 2., 3:23 p.m.:

Power Update:

  • Brunswick Area / Glynn County: Less than 4400 customers are still without power.
    Okefenoke Rural Electric: Less than 200 customers remain without power.

Community Announcements:

  • Glynn County Recreation & Parks activities will resume on Oct 2. Program participants will receive confirmation of plans. Blythe Island Regional Park campground is open.
  • City of Brunswick Recreation activities are expected to resume on Wednesday, Oct 2., 2024.
  • Brunswick’s City Tax Sale scheduled for Tuesday is cancelled.
  • Tuesday’s National Night Out is cancelled.
  • DNR’s CoastFest scheduled for Saturday is cancelled and will be rescheduled.

Cooling and Charging stations:

The City of Brunswick cooling and recharging station at Howard Coffin Park, 1402 Sonny Miller Way, is open to the public until 6pm today and will be open until noon on Wednesday, Oct 2, 2024 if needed.

Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2 p.m.:

Debris removal for unincorporated Glynn County will begin Tuesday, October 7; for the City of Brunswick the same date is tentatively scheduled to begin debris removal. Only storm related debris will be collected.

County Residents are advised to gather organic-only debris – i.e. tree limbs – and place it roadside for pickup. Public Works will make two passes through the county once collection begins.

City Residents: The city expects this to be a three to four week process with two passes through the city. Pickup will include organic debris (i.e. tree limbs, leaves, etc) and storm related construction & demolition (C&D). Items cannot be co-mingled. Please keep yard debris and other items separate.

It is important that only storm related debris is eligible for removal; the debris should not be bagged and it should not be mixed with other garbage or yard waste: if you are cleaning up your yard, please separate debris into piles, no bags, only organic materials, do not block right of ways, put at curb.

Glynn County Customer Service number: (912) 554-7111

City of Brunswick Customer Service number: (912) 267-3703

Known Boil Water Advisory Locations as of 9/30/24 in Glynn County:

  • Ashley Marsh – Egret’s Pass
  • Avondale – Emmanuel Church – Silver Bluff
  • Bedford Acres
  • Bel-Air Estates Annex Subdivision
  • Boykin Ridge
  • Breckenridge Water System
  • Buckmeadow Plantation
  • Creekside Oaks
  • Deerfield Park – Windward Acres
  • Drakes Landing
  • Gas Trak
  • Green Cove
  • Helveston Oaks
  • Hunters Point – Maggie’s
  • The Ivy Lakes
  • Myers Hill
  • Palmetto Bluff – Point
  • Pickett Landing
  • Ratcliffe Lakes
  • Satilla Shores
  • Serenoa Cove
  • Valerie IV
  • Valerie Subdivision
  • Watercrest Subdivision
  • Southern Retreat RV Park
  • Oak Grove Island Plantation
  • Georgia Port Colonels Island
  • Brunswick Cellulose, Inc.

To properly boil water:

  • Fill a pot with water.
  • Heat the water until bubbles come from the bottom of the pot to the top.
  • Once the water reaches a rolling boil, let it boil for at least 1 minute.
  • Turn off the heat source and let the water cool.
  • Pour the water into a clean container with a cover for storage.

Residents with private wells that have flooded are also advised to boil water for consumption. Your well is considered flooded if your well casing has been submerged in water anytime during or after the impact of Hurricane Helene.

Residents should continue to boil their water until they are notified by their drinking water utility that the water system has been restored to full operation and the water is safe to drink.

For more information on how to properly and safely perform water-related daily tasks during a boil water advisory, please visit the website of the CDC.

Monday, Sept. 30, 5:52 p.m: Glynn County and City of Brunswick public offices will be open for regular business on Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024. The City of Brunswick Senior Center will be closed and open only for drive-through meals.

Electricity Update:
Georgia Power:

  • Brunswick Area / Glynn County: Less than 10,000 customers are still without power.
  • Estimated time for 95% restoration of service to Brunswick Area: Monday, September 30 at 10 PM.

Okefenokee Rural Electric: There are less than 200 customers remaining without power.

Monday, Sept. 30, 2:09 p.m.:

Utility Outage:

  • Brunswick Area / Glynn County: 10,325 customers are currently experiencing utility outages.
  • Georgia Power estimates that 95% of service will be restored to the Brunswick Area by Monday, Sept 30 at 10 PM.

Community Announcements:

  • Glynn County Recreation & Parks has postponed all youth football and soccer matches until Glynn County Schools resume.
  • The City Tax Sale in Brunswick scheduled for Tuesday has been cancelled.
  • National Night Out on Tuesday has been cancelled.
  • DNR’s CoastFest for the upcoming weekend has been cancelled.

Cooling and Charging Stations:

  • Ballard Gymnasium at 30 Nimitz Drive will serve as a cooling facility and provide phone charging services. It will be open in the days ahead from 10 AM to 6 PM.
  • The City of Brunswick will open a cooling and recharging station to the public at Howard Coffin Park, 1402 Sonny Miller Way. It will be open from 10 AM to 4 PM.

United Way Assistance:

  • United Way of Coastal Georgia is offering assistance for people seeking services related to hurricane recovery. Call 912-265-1850; press 1 and leave a message, and they will direct you to the appropriate resource.

Curfew:

  • The Glynn County Board of Commissioners (BOC) and the City of Brunswick have implemented a curfew starting at midnight (12:01 AM) on Monday, Sept 30, and ending at 6 AM. Jekyll Island is included in this curfew. The curfew is intended to support public safety efforts amidst widespread power outages, cell service disruptions and traffic signal damage. The curfew applies to all residents, with exceptions for those traveling to or from work or for medical reasons.

Public Safety:

  • Some roadways may be closed due to utility work or hazards. Residents are asked to limit travel and adhere to driving rules when lights are not working (4-way stop rule).

Intersection Closures:
As of Monday morning, the following intersections are affected:

Demere & Quamley Wells Drive

HWY 17 @ Spur 25

Old Jesup Rd @ Walker Rd: Roadway blocked by Public Works

Old Jesup Rd @ Scranton Rd: Roadway blocked by Public Works

Sunday, Sept. 29, 1 p.m.:

Glynn County Customer Service number: 912-554-7111

Glynn County remains under curfew. Administrative offices, Glynn County Sheriff’s Office administration office will be closed Monday; Glynn County Courts and Offices closed Monday; Glynn County Schools closed Monday. 

Republic Services: garbage and trash pick-up will resume on Monday with a regular schedule; for County residents -if your pickup was not done on Friday, you may take it to the drop-off location at no charge. 

Golden Isles YMCA: Beginning Saturday, Golden Isles YMCA will be open until 5pm for community members to use the facility for device charging, showers or to seek a cool space. 

First Jordan Grove Missionary Baptist Church: The church has opened its kitchen for community members to utilize the microwave or ovens if they need to. Contact the Pastor for use. 

United Way: United Way of Coastal Georgia is offering assistance for people seeking services related to hurricane recovery. Call 912-265-1850 to talk with a United Way worker.  

Cooling, Charging stations:  

  • the Ballard Gymnasium at 30 Nimitz Drive in the days ahead from 10am – 6pm to serve as a cooling facility and provide phone charging services.  
  • City of Brunswick is also opening a cooling and recharging station to the public at 1402 Sonny Miller Way. It will be open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 
  • Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Georgia offering a cooling station, recharging services and a free lunch from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Sunday at 4226 Coral park Drive, Brunswick. 

Classes at the College of Coastal Georgia have been cancelled for Monday, September 30, at both the Brunswick campus and Camden Center. The College will have reduced operations for employees. Campus operations and classes will resume as normal on Tuesday, October 1.
 
College leadership remains vigilant in promoting the safety and well-being of the entire college community and is continuing to communicate with local and state agencies. Students, faculty, and staff will be notified of any updates through the website, social media, emails, and text messages.
 
Please visit www.ccga.edu for the latest information.

all classes online Thursday, September 26. The College will have reduced operations for faculty and staff.
 
Students, faculty, and staff will be notified of any updates through the website, social media, emails, and text messages. Please visit www.ccga.edu for the latest information.

Chatham County/Savannah

Tuesday, Oct. 1, noon:

Known Boil Water Advisory Locations as of 9/30/24 in Chatham County:

  • Derrick
  • Heathcote Farms
  • Miller Pines Mobile Home Park
  • Ogeechee Farms
  • Oliver Pines
  • Pine Barren Acres
  • Riverside Estates
  • Sandy Bluff
  • Water’s Bluff Mobile Home Park
  • Marsh Point Homes
  • Whitfield Mobile Estates
  • Vicks Mobile Home Park
  • Beverly Plantation I
  • Beverly Plantation II
  • Dean Forest Road Trailer Park North
  • Dean Forest Road Trailer Park
  • Quacco Village
  • Wrenndorosa

To properly boil water:

  • Fill a pot with water.
  • Heat the water until bubbles come from the bottom of the pot to the top.
  • Once the water reaches a rolling boil, let it boil for at least 1 minute.
  • Turn off the heat source and let the water cool.
  • Pour the water into a clean container with a cover for storage.
  • Residents with private wells that have flooded are also advised to boil water for consumption. Your well is considered flooded if your well casing has been submerged in water anytime during or after the impact of Hurricane Helene.
  • Residents should continue to boil their water until they are notified by their drinking water utility that the water system has been restored to full operation and the water is safe to drink.
  • For more information on how to properly and safely perform water-related daily tasks during a boil water advisory, please visit the website of the CDC.

Monday, Sept. 30, 2:30 p.m.

The City of Savannah offices and facilities remained closed on Monday, Sept. 30 for non-essential personnel. All essential services are responding at full capacity. 

Sanitation and Debris Collection

Due to the high volume of food spoilage from prolonged wide-spread power outages, the City’s Sanitation Department have suspended all recycling services until further notice starting on Monday, Sept. 30. Recycling carts can be used for garbage overflow and left with garbage carts curbside at the normal point-of-collection to be picked up on collection routes this week. 

Residential refuse collection will proceed as normal. Residents are encouraged to hold recyclables until regular collections resume or use single stream drop-off facilities. 

The City has secured a contractor for debris removal operations which will begin this week. Due to the large volume of debris, removal operations are expected to continue for several weeks until completed.

Residents should place containerized (bagged) storm debris at the regular point-of-collection without blocking the roadway or storm drains. Large limbs should be placed separately off the street. Limit yard waste materials to containerized items, bags or refuse carts. Larger vegetative debris will be collected separately.

Residents are asked to not place debris near trees, poles, or other structures that may hinder removal. All storm debris must be separated by type: household garbage, containerized yard waste, larger vegetative debris, bulk items, etc.

Collection of large vegetative debris will begin later this week and continue until completed. Debris removal operations will complete a first pass city-wide before further operations continue.

All household garbage/trash should be containerized within City-issued residential refuse carts. Residents who wish to dispose of debris themselves may bring it to the convenience stations at Dean Forest Road Landfill or Bacon Park Convenience Center which are operating on the regular schedule.

Facilities Open as Comfort/Charging Centers

The City will open the Tompkins Regional Center (2333 Ogeechee Rd.) and the Grant Center Gymnasium (123 West St.) on Monday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. as a temporary comfort/charging center for residents. More centers are expected to open on Monday. 

The Daffin Park Pool will also be open from 1:30 to 6 p.m. on Monday.  City staff is working to have all splashpads operational by noon on Monday with the exception of the Forsyth Park splashpad. City splashpads will also be operational on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

City splashpads to open: Hudson Hill (2227 Hudson St.); Hull Park (55th and Atlantic Ave.); Crusader Park (81 Coffee Bluff Villa Road); Forrest Hills (Skidaway and Berkshire Road); Avondale Park (Texas and Ohio Ave.); Victory Heights Park (E 42nd St. and Taskin Ave.); Savannah Gardens (516 Pennsylvania Ave.)

Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) will open the following locations as charging/cooling centers on Sunday: The Empowerment Center (4704 Augusta Road) 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Compassion Christian Church (50 Al Henderson Blvd.) noon – 5 p.m.; Mighty 8th Air Museum (175 Bourne Ave.) noon – 4 p.m.; Life Bridge Ministry (8511 Waters Ave.) 4 – 7 p.m.; Kingdom Life Christian Fellowship (425 W. Montgomery Cross Rd.) 4 – 6 p.m.; Thunderbolt Fire (2702 Mechanics Ave.) 2 – 5 p.m.; Tybee Island YMCA (204 Fifth St.) 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Georgia Power Outage Update

As of 7 a.m. this morning, there are an estimated 63,414 power outages remaining affecting 40% of the community. Georgia Power released estimated restoration times on Saturday. Residents are encouraged to consult outagemap.georgiapower.com for more information. 

The City is partnering with Georgia Power to assist in sharing information about power restoration. Georgia Power is our public utility power supplier. The City has no direct responsibility for power restoration. 

Traffic Signals Update

Monday morning assessments noted an estimated 80 roads remain impacted in the City due to downed trees and power lines. While some traffic signals have been restored, 53 of the 280 City-operated traffic signals are still without power. The City is working with Georgia Power to restore power to the signal cabinets at the remaining intersections. That number does not include County or GDOT operated signals. 

Drivers are reminded that all non-operating stoplights should be treated as an all-way stop. When driving, residents are encouraged to exercise extreme caution, be patient, and stay alert. 

Service requests can still be submitted to 311 online at //savannahga.gov/311request or via the SAV311 mobile app.   

Gas Availability Tracker

With many individuals in our community seeking gasoline availability, one resource individuals can refer to is tracker.gasbuddy.com

Debris Cleanup Assistance

Residents looking for cleanup assistance can call 1-844-965-1386 or register at www.crisiscleanup.org.

City Water/Sewer Operations Normal

As a reminder, if you receive a water bill from the City of Savannah or your property is located within the City limits and your landlord receives a City water bill then you are not subject to boil water advisory at this time. The City will notify customers if a change in the status occurs. 

The boil water advisory issued on Monday only applies to the specific water systems managed by Water Utility Management. For updates and impact information, find Water Utility Management on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/@WaterUtilityMgt

The City’s Water Resources Department reports no major issues with the City’s drinking water supply system. The sewage system continues to operate under a mix of generator power and grid power. No major issues have been reported. 

Sunday, Sept. 29, 1 p.m.

FREE ICE: 7 pound bags, at a limit of two per vehicle. Ice will be available while supplies last. Ice supply will be refreshed on a daily basis through Oct. 6.

Ice bags will be distributed at L. Scott Stell Park, 195 L. Scott Stell Park, and Memorial Stadium, 101 John J. Scott Dr., Sunday, Sept. 29, from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Monday, Sept. 30 through Sunday Oct. 6 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

From the City of Savannah:

The city’s essential emergency services including public safety, water and sewer, stormwater, park and tree, and traffic engineering continue to respond at full capacity.

RECYCLING: The City’s Sanitation Department will suspend all recycling services until further notice starting on Monday, Sept. 30. Recycling carts can be used for garbage overflow and left with garbage carts curbside at the normal point-of-collection to be picked up on collection routes this week. Residential refuse collection will proceed as normal. Residents are encouraged to hold recyclables until regular collections resume or use single stream drop-off facilities.

DEBRIS REMOVAL: The City has secured a contractor for debris removal operations which will begin the week of Sept. 30. More information on debris collection will be made available over the next few days. Due to the large volume of debris, removal operations are expected to continue over the next few weeks. Residents who wish to dispose of debris themselves may bring it to the convenience stations at Dean Forest Road Landfill or Bacon Park Convenience Center which are operating on regular hours. 

COOLING, CHARGING STATIONS: The City will open the Tompkins Regional Center (2333 Ogeechee Rd.) on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. as a temporary comfort/charging center for residents. Daffin Park Pool will also be open from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) will open the following locations as charging/cooling centers on Sunday:

  • The Empowerment Center (4704 Augusta Road) 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.;
  • Compassion Christian Church (50 Al Henderson Blvd.) 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.;
  • Mighty 8th Air Museum (175 Bourne Ave.) 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.;
  • Life Bridge Ministry (8511 Waters Ave.) 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.; Kingdom Life Christian Fellowship (425 W. Montgomery Cross Rd.) 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.;
  • Tybee Island YMCA (204 Fifth St.) 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

ICE DISTRIBUTION: In addition, CEMA will be hosting Drive Thru Ice Distribution Centers at Memorial Stadium and L. Scott Stell Park from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Sunday.

There are an estimated 82,000 power outages remaining affecting 51% of the community. Georgia Power released estimated restoration times on Saturday. Residents are encouraged to consult outagemap.georgiapower.com for more information.

The City is partnering with Georgia Power to assist in sharing information about power restoration. Georgia Power is our public utility power supplier. The City has no direct responsibility for power restoration.

City crews completed assessment of damage in all neighborhoods on Saturday and will be compiling a data report on Sunday.

Sunday morning assessments noted 30 roads remain closed in the City. While some traffic signals have been restored, 104 of the 280 City-operated traffic signals are without power. That number does not include County or GDOT operated signals. Four City signals are in flash mode and four are operating under generator power. City crews are working to restore all signals to full operation. 

DRIVING: Drivers are reminded that all non-operating stoplights should be treated as an all-way stop. When driving, residents are encouraged to exercise extreme caution, be patient, and stay alert. 

Service requests can still be submitted to 311 online at //savannahga.gov/311request or via the SAV311 mobile app.   

Water Resources reports no major issues with the City’s drinking water supply system. The sewage system continues to operate under a mix of generator power and grid power. No major issues have been reported.

For updates specific to the City of Savannah, residents are encouraged to follow @cityofsavannah on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and visit //savannahga.gov/stormhelene. 

Saturday, Sept. 28, 1:55 p.m.

Savannah statistics:

  • There are an estimated 94,460 power outages remaining affecting 59% of the community. The City is working directly with Georgia Power to remove downed trees, limbs, and debris from public right of ways and restore power as soon as possible. If a downed power line is encountered, do not approach it. Call 911 to report it or contact Georgia Power at 1-888-891-0938 to file a report. 
  • City crews completed assessment of damage in 41 neighborhoods Friday and plan to assess damage in an additional 60 neighborhoods Saturday.
  • Saturday morning assessments noted 32 blocked, impassible or traffic impacted roads in the City. While some traffic signals have been restored, 130 of the 280 City-operated traffic signals are without power as of Saturday morning. That number does not include County or GDOT operated signals. Four City signals are in flash mode and four are operating under generator power. City crews are working to restore all signals to full operation. Drivers are reminded that all non-operating stoplights should be treated as an all-way stop. When driving, residents are encouraged to exercise extreme caution, be patient, and stay alert. 
  • Savannah Police Department received 898 calls for service on Sept. 27. Savannah Fire Department received 476 calls and the 311 Action Center received 275 calls. 
  • Service requests can still be submitted to 311 online at //savannahga.gov/311request or via the SAV311 mobile app.   
  • The Savannah Sanitation Department continues to operate regular yard waste pickup services and are beginning debris removal operations. Due to the large volume of debris, removal operations are expected to continue through the weekend into next week. Residents who wish to dispose of debris themselves may bring it to the convenience stations at Dean Forest Landfill or Bacon Park Transfer Station which are operating on regular hours. 
  • Savannah Water Resources reports no major issues with the City’s drinking water supply system. The sewage system continues to operate under a mix of generator power and grid power. No major issues have been reported.
  • For updates specific to the City of Savannah, residents are encouraged to follow @cityofsavannah on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and visit //savannahga.gov/stormhelene.

Saturday, Sept. 28, 3:17 p.m.:

Hurricane Helene Drive Thru Mobile Food Pantry at Memorial Stadium.

Items provided: ice, food boxes, water  2 – 4 p.m.  Enter off Skidaway Road onto Eisenberg Drive by the Alee Temple to get in line.

Sunday: Ice will be available tomorrow at Memorial Stadium and L. Scott Stell Park from 9am-7pm. (graphic provided)

Charging and Cooling available at the following locations:

  • The Empower Center – 4704 Augusta Avenue, Garden City, GA – Saturday, now until 7 p.m.
  • Compassion Christian Church – 50 Al Henderson Blvd., Savannah, GA – Saturday, Noon – 5 p.m.
  • Tompkins Regional Center – 2333 Ogeechee Road, Savannah – Saturday 4-7 p.m.
  • Mighty 8th Air Museum – 175 Bourne Ave., Savannah – Saturday, 4-7 p.m.
  • Life Bridge Ministry – 8511 Waters Ave, Savannah, GA – Saturday 4-7 p.m.

Charging, Cooling, and a Meal available at the following location:

  • Kingdom Life Christian Fellowship – 425 W. Montgomery Cross Road, Savannah, Saturday, 4-7 p.m. Kingdom Life has purchased meals from a food truck and will be offering them while supplies last.

Charging, Cooling, and a shower available at the following location:

  • Tybee Island YMCA – 204 Fifth Street, Tybee Island, GA – Saturday, now – 7 p.m.

From Savannah-Chatham public schools:

Based on the continued impacts in our area as a result of Hurricane Helene including widespread power outages and loss of connectivity, SCCPSS will close school operations on Monday and Tuesday (September 30 and October 1) of this week.

Monday and Tuesday will be non-instructional days for students.  

SCCPSS Operations and Campus Police staff remain in regular contact with the Chatham Emergency Management Agency and officials from Georgia Power for predictions on power restoration.  While facilities are in good condition, extended power outages will require a health and safety inspection prior to opening to ensure all systems, including school kitchens and air conditioning  (HVAC) units, are functional.  These inspections will not occur until we have full power restoration.

SCCPSS staff will continue to monitor updates with emergency management partners to make an assessment on school opening. An update regarding operations for the remainder of the week will be provided no later than Tuesday evening at 6:00pm.

From Chatham County as of 3 p.m. Friday:

Throughout the day Friday, Chatham County’s critical workforce has been operating at full capacity as recovery efforts continue in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

The County’s Public Works Department has been clearing roadways across Chatham County from trees and debris. Bulk pickup and yard waste remained on schedule. Residents are asked to place debris at the edge of the roadway, away from mailboxes, fire hydrants, meter readers, and other obstacles to simplify this process.

Chatham County emphasizes safety as residents begin debris cleanup.

As crews work to restore traffic signals in Chatham County, residents are asked to treat broken traffic lights as all-way stops.

CEMA reported six tornado warnings over Thursday night. No major rescue operations have been conducted by the County, and two injuries have been reported due to the storm. No storm-related fatalities have been reported.

An AT&T network outage is preventing 67,000 users in Chatham County from accessing 911 via voice call. Chatham County E-911 reports that text messages to 911 are still functioning properly, even for AT&T users.

Chatham County statistics as of 3 p.m. Friday

Stats subject to change with new information

  • Of the 23,954 structures assessed by Chatham County, 8 were entirely destroyed.
  • As of 3 p.m. Friday, 110,185 people in Chatham County were without power.
  • 336 roads have been closed since Helene passed through. Around 240 road sections remain closed.
  • 177 power lines were downed
  • 304 trees reported down, including 47 on power lines.

From City of Savannah: As of Friday evening, City services have been impacted on Friday. Essential emergency services including public safety, water and sewer, stormwater, park and tree, and traffic engineering are responding at full capacity. 

Early assessments by the City on Friday indicate 42 impassable roads city-wide and 66 downed trees. Georgia Power is reporting 117,965 outages impacting 72% of the community. Cellular service has also been impacted by power outages. 

Savannah Police Department received 443 calls for service from the beginning of the event. Savannah Fire Department received 325 calls, and the 311 Action Center received 253 calls. SFD responded to a partial building collapse at 317 W. Broughton. The site has been secured pending a further engineering evaluation. SFD also responded to four structure fires. No major injuries were reported and all sites have been secured. 

Water Resources is assessing 215 lift stations, 48 well houses, six water treatment and reclamation facilities, seven stormwater pump stations and drinking water lines around downed trees. No major issues with the City’s drinking water supply have been reported. All systems are operating as normal. 

Drivers are reminded that all non-operating stop lights should be treated as an all-way stop. If travel is necessary, residents are encouraged to exercise caution, be patient, and stay alert. 

The City’s Sanitation Department will resume yard waste collection on Saturday, allowing residents time to gather any storm-related yard debris and place at their usual collection points. 

The City’s 311 phone service has been restored. Service requests can be submitted by calling 311 or online at Savannah’s.gov/311request or via the SAV311 mobile app. 

The City is working with Georgia Power to removed downed trees, limbs, and debris from public right of ways so power can be resorted as soon as possible. If a downed power line is encountered, do not approach it. Call 911 to report it or contact Georgia Power at 1-888-891-0938 

• Georgia Southern campuses to reduce operations at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26, due to Hurricane Helene. More info.: www.GeorgiaSouthern.edu/alert

Liberty County/Hinesville/Fort Stewart

Tuesday, Oct. 1, noon:

Known Boil Water Advisory Locations as of 9/30/24 in Liberty County:

  • Angler’s Edge
  • Lyman Hall – Habersham
  • Villages at Limerick
  • Woodland Lakes
  • Yellow Bluff
  • Palm’s West Mobile Home Park
  • Halfmoon Villas and Marina
  • Zorn Subdivision
  • River View Subdivision
  • Lake Pamona

To properly boil water:

  • Fill a pot with water.
  • Heat the water until bubbles come from the bottom of the pot to the top.
  • Once the water reaches a rolling boil, let it boil for at least 1 minute.
  • Turn off the heat source and let the water cool.
  • Pour the water into a clean container with a cover for storage.
  • Residents with private wells that have flooded are also advised to boil water for consumption. Your well is considered flooded if your well casing has been submerged in water anytime during or after the impact of Hurricane Helene.
  • Residents should continue to boil their water until they are notified by their drinking water utility that the water system has been restored to full operation and the water is safe to drink.
  • For more information on how to properly and safely perform water-related daily tasks during a boil water advisory, please visit the website of the CDC.

Monday, Sept. 30, 1:47 p.m.:

  • The cities of Flemington, Gum Branch, Hinesville, Midway, and Walthourville, along with all of unincorporated Liberty County, will have a contractor pick up yard debris starting October 14:
    • Only yard debris (leaves, trees, limbs) will be picked up.
    • No fencing, metal, lumber, concrete, etc.
    • Place yard debris curbside or at the edge of the right of way out of the road.
    • Contractors cannot come onto private property to get material.
    • If you live on a state highway, other arrangements will be made later, as the contractors cannot pick up along state highways.
    • If your city is not listed above, contact your city directly to discuss options.

Monday, Sept. 30, 1:28 p.m.:

  • Hinesville budget meeting moved to Wednesday, Oct. 2.
  • Liberty County/Armed Services YMCA open 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. for showers, device charging, cooling. Fitness center is open. Some programs cancelled; check with front desk for details at (912) 368-9622.

Monday, Sept. 30, 12: 05 p.m.:

  • All TSPLOST meetings have been cancelled for this week.
  • The county has not yet decided whether to cancel the Tuesday, Oct. 1 Board of Commissioners meeting. No agenda had been posted as of press time. The county will announce cancellations through its website, Facebook, and X (Twitter) accounts.

Monday, Sept. 30, 8:31 a.m.:

  • Liberty County Schools are closed today.
  • Liberty County offices are closed today. This includes the courts.
  • The Liberty County/Armed Forces YMCA is closed today.
  • The Liberty County Planning Commission office is open today.
  • The Liberty County Development Authority has moved its 10 a.m. retreat today from Jekyll Island to its headquarters at 435 West Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville. The October 1 meeting will be rescheduled.
  • City of Hinesville offices are open as usual today.
  • Fort Stewart has a 9:30 a.m. delayed start for troops: “Soldiers will report at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow. Department of the Army Civilians and contractors will follow normal reporting procedures and work regularly assigned shifts. Department of the Army Civilians who cannot report due to conditions resulting from Hurricane Helene will be placed on an administrative leave status. Contact your first line supervisor or chain of command for reporting information.” Fort Stewart schools are closed today.
  • The City of Midway is closed today.

Sunday, Sept 29, 3 p.m.:

Customers of Water Utility Management in some Liberty County areas are under a Boil Water order. They are: Anglers Edge, Lyman Hall-Habersham, Villages at Limerkick, Woodland Lakes, Yellow Bluff.

Saturday, Sept. 28, 12:45 p.m.:

From Fort Stewart: The Directorate of Public Works and  electric partners are diligently working to restore power throughout the installation. An additional 25 contracted linemen from Canoochee EMC arrived at Fort Stewart to assist with restoration efforts last night. The linemen traveled from afar to support our contracted electrical partner, and their presence has not hindered the ongoing restoration work in the surrounding communities.

While power has been restored to some neighborhoods, individual homes may still be down due to blown transformers. If your neighborhood has power but your home does not, report your outage to the DPW non-emergency line at 571-802-0001 for assistance.

All access control points have returned to regular weekend hours of operation, with the exception of Rio gate on Hunter Army Airfield.

All MWR facilities and programs have been suspended for the weekend, except for the 24-hour fitness centers. Recreation activities, including hunting and fishing, are also on hold as teams work to clear debris and ensure safety across the installation.

For your safety, the Marne Designated Driver Program has been suspended for the weekend due to unsafe driving conditions. Remember to drink responsibly, avoid drinking and driving, and seek the help of a battle buddy if you need a safe ride.

Dining Facilities across both installations are operational with normal weekend hours for brunch and supper. The Provider DFAC will be open today from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 5-6:30 p.m. Dependents are welcome to use the dining facility, with normal meal costs applying.

Thursday, Sept. 26, 8:58 p.m.: Liberty County is under a tornado warning until 9:45 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 26, 7:48 p.m.: Asked whether the county would provide shelter for its many residents who live in mobile homes, given Helene’s new Category 4 status, Liberty County EMA Director Bob Dodd said, “Not at this time.”

You can access a wealth of useful emergency information on Liberty County EMA’s homepage, https://www.libertycountyga.com/262/Emergency-Management-Resources .

Thursday, Sept. 26, 6:40 p.m.: Liberty County Chairman said in a video update that residents should be finalizing their storm preparations this evening.

Liberty County Emergency Management Agency Director Bob Dodd said, “So what do we need you to do as Liberty County? If you don’t have to be on the roads tonight, please stay inside and let the storm pass. At this time, there’s no curfew planned or expected. If you lose power, know that we are tracking it here at the Emergency Operations Center and we’ll be working on it to get it restored once it is [safe] to do so.”

If you use a generator, Dodd said, “please keep it outdoors where it has proper ventilation.” Call (912) 368-2202 with non-emergency questions.

Dodd reiterated that “Helene is a very large storm with significant impacts extending well to the east of where the storm tracks. There is a high risk of tornados associated with Helene. The risk for tornados will increase this evening and peak tonight and early Friday morning.” Seek shelter away from windows in an interior room “not prone to flooding,” Dodd said. “If driving, scan the roadside for quick shelter options.”

Dodd added that tropical gusts of 45 to 60 miles per hour are expected to increase across Liberty County and offshore this evening. Rainfall is now predicted betwen 1.5 and 4 inches, with higher amounts possible in low-lying areas, and 1 to 3 feet of storm surge along the coast in Liberty County.

YouTube video


Thursday, Sept, 26, 3:46 p.m.: County EMA Director Bob Dodd urges residents to make sure they are following the Liberty County, GA Facebook page — not the Liberty County, FL Facebook page. “We’re getting a lot of calls,” he said. Local government sites to follow include:

The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office also has an app you can download for Android, iPhone, and iPad.

Thursday, Sept, 26, 2:54 p.m.: Liberty County residents can call the Liberty County Emergency Management Agency at (912) 368-2202 with non-emergency questions about Hurricane Helene.

Operate with normal hours Thursday, Sept. 26.”

However, Winn Army Community Hospital will be open as usual Thursday, Sept. 26. Staff with “individual situations due to Hurricane Helene that may affect your ability to report to work” should contact their supervisor.

Bryan County

Tuesday, Oct. 1, noon:

Known Boil Water Advisory Locations as of 9/30/24 in Bryan County:

  • Anderson Subdivision
  • Bailey Plantation
  • Belfast River Landing-Jerico
  • Black Creek Farms
  • Black Creek Farms West
  • Black Creek Golf Course – Brewton Acres – Hidden Creek – Park Place
  • Briarwood
  • Bryan Acres
  • Bryan Woods Estates
  • Bryan Woods Estates Phase III
  • Cape Hardwicke-Ft. McAllister-Kinsale-Redbird Creek
  • Cranston Bluff – Waterford Landing
  • Daniel Pines
  • Demeries Lake
  • Dunham Marsh
  • Gardner Estates
  • Holly Hill
  • Hope Creek Plantation
  • Laurel Grove
  • Lincoln River
  • Magnolia Creek Plantation – Taylor Place
  • Mill Hill Landing – Strathy Hall – Strathy Hall 2
  • Oak Pointe Subdivision
  • Oxford Utility Company
  • Quail Hamlet
  • The Sanctuary
  • Seascape
  • The Cove at Sterling Woods
  • Victoria Place
  • Wellington Oaks

To properly boil water:

  • Fill a pot with water.
  • Heat the water until bubbles come from the bottom of the pot to the top.
  • Once the water reaches a rolling boil, let it boil for at least 1 minute.
  • Turn off the heat source and let the water cool.
  • Pour the water into a clean container with a cover for storage.

Residents with private wells that have flooded are also advised to boil water for consumption. Your well is considered flooded if your well casing has been submerged in water anytime during or after the impact of Hurricane Helene.

Residents should continue to boil their water until they are notified by their drinking water utility that the water system has been restored to full operation and the water is safe to drink.

For more information on how to properly and safely perform water-related daily tasks during a boil water advisory, please visit the website of the CDC.

Sunday, Sept. 29 6:00 pm: Bryan county is delivering more ice to community members. Two pallets will be available at Enmarket in Pembroke, located at 203 E Bacon St, Pembroke, GA 31321.

Additional ice is also available at Henderson Timber Trail, which remains open for ice, water, and as a cooling station. Ice will be distributed in the back parking lot of the park near the 4 baseball fields.

Location: 508 Timber Trail, Richmond Hill, GA 31324

Sunday, Sept. 29, 2 p.m: Schools remain closed through Tuesday.

From Bryan schools: The Bryan County School System along with our Community Education before and after school programs will remain closed Monday and Tuesday. We are facing several challenges that are impacting our ability to reopen safely: – The Bryan County School System is served by three different power providers: Coastal EMC, Georgia Power, and Canoochee EMC. We are still without power and water at many of our school sites and do not have a definitive timeline for restoration. – Our food service operations have been disrupted due to lack of power. We are currently working to clean coolers and freezers, as well as redistributing food supplies from other school locations. Unfortunately, our main food distributor who serves approximately 100 school systems was also heavily impacted by the storm, and we are waiting for an update regarding future food deliveries. – In addition, many of our 1,600 employees were impacted by the storm and are still without power and water. As a result, many of them are unable to return to work at this time. 

Sept 28, 5:35 p.m. Bryan County updates:

Less than 10,000 Bryan County residents out of power, down from over 20,000

To check official outages, residents are directed to Georgia Power.

Price gouging protections remain in effect until Oct 02. The Price Gouging Statute remains in effect until 11:59 PM on 10/2. Report suspected price gouging to our Consumer Protection Division.

Call: 404-651-8600 or 1-800-869-1123 (toll-free in GA)

Visit: consumer.ga.gov

More information: https://t.co/lYE012UGlo

Debris pick up in unincorporated Bryan County will begin next week. Only vegetative debris will be picked up. Place your piles of debris away from mailboxes, electrical outlets, water hydrants, etc. so the contractor can pick it up.

Sept 27, 11:30 a.m. Bryan County updates:

At 10:30 a.m., Bryan County Board of Commissioners chairman Carter Infinger and Richmond Hill Mayor Russ Carpenter provided updates on the county social media pages

  • Residents are asked to stay off the road, as crews are out to assess and clean up damage. Officers are posted at major intersections.
  • At least 37 trees are down across the county
  • Widespread power outages have made lights inoperable. If you encounter an intersection with a nonfunctioning traffic signal, treat it as a four-way stop.
  • 86% of the county is experiencing a power outage

Roads being cleared: US 280, US 204, Bacontown Rd., Black Creek Church Rd., and working toward residential roads. In the south, crews have cleared GA 144, Kilkenny Rd., Belfast Keller Rd. (from GA 144 to I-95), Belle Island Rd. Crew are working towards residential streets.

Reporting damage:The Bryan County Board of Assessors are out conducting damage assessments following Helene in Richmond Hill. If you have structural damage to your home that needs to be assessed you can report it by completing the form at: http://bit.ly/HeleneDamagesCORH.

Non-emergency phone line: 912-756-3101

Atlantic Waste Services announced that waste management will run as normal on Thursday, Sept. 26, with a delayed start time on Friday, Sept. 27.

Camden County/St. Mary’s

Tuesday, Oct. 1, noon:

Known Boil Water Advisory Locations as of 9/30/24 in Camden County:

  • Elliott’s Bluff
  • Estates at Sanctuary Cove
  • River Place Plantation
  • Sanctuary Cove

To properly boil water:

  • Fill a pot with water.
  • Heat the water until bubbles come from the bottom of the pot to the top.
  • Once the water reaches a rolling boil, let it boil for at least 1 minute.
  • Turn off the heat source and let the water cool.
  • Pour the water into a clean container with a cover for storage.
  • Residents with private wells that have flooded are also advised to boil water for consumption. Your well is considered flooded if your well casing has been submerged in water anytime during or after the impact of Hurricane Helene.
  • Residents should continue to boil their water until they are notified by their drinking water utility that the water system has been restored to full operation and the water is safe to drink.
  • For more information on how to properly and safely perform water-related daily tasks during a boil water advisory, please visit the website of the CDC.

Monday, Sept. 30, 5:56 p.m:

All Camden County government offices and courts will reopen for normal operations on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. All schools, except for St. Marys Elementary School, will also reopen on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. However, due to an extended power outage at St. Marys Elementary School, it will not reopen until tentatively Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.

Vegetative Debris Removal: The collection of vegetative debris will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. This collection is specifically for vegetative debris, which includes whole trees, tree stumps, tree branches, tree trunks, and other leafy material. Brown bags containing only vegetative debris will be picked up during the debris collection. Residents of Unincorporated Camden County, City of Kingsland, Georgia, and City of St. Marys, Georgia should place these items in the right-of-way for collection, ensuring they are completely separated from all other types of debris and waste.

County updates: https://www.co.camden.ga.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1925

Sunday, Sept. 29, 2 p.m.: Camden County schools will remain closed on Monday.

Saturday, 12:45 p.m.: From the county: In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Camden County remains under both local and state declarations of emergency as recovery efforts continue. While some roads are now open, residents are urged to limit travel to essential needs only. Roads may still be hazardous due to debris, inoperable traffic signals, downed powerlines, and ongoing detours. Please use extreme caution in necessary travel. 

Residents are encouraged to report property damage online through the Citizen Damage Reporter. This reporting tool helps the county coordinate recovery efforts and ensure timely assistance, but is not affiliated with insurance claims.

Waste Services:

  • MSW and C&D Landfills will be open with normal operating hours on Thursday, Sept 26, 2024, but will be closed on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. They are tentatively scheduled to reopen on Saturday, Sept 28, 2024, at 7:00 a.m. with extended operating hours through 3:00 p.m., subject to weather and conditions.
  • Curbside Collections office for the county’s unincorporated area will be closed on Thursday, Sept 26, 2024, and Friday, Sept 27, 2024, and will reopen on Monday, Sept 30, 2024. Friday collections will be conducted on Saturday, Sept 28, 2024.
  • Waste collection in the City of Kingsland, St. Marys, and Woodbine will take place on Thursday, Sept 26, 2024, and will pause on Friday, Sept 27, 2024. Friday’s collection will resume on Saturday, Sept 28, 2024.

Vulnerable Population Sheltering:

A shelter is available for residents in flood-prone areas who are considered vulnerable due to medical conditions, self-care needs, or age. Shelter details are as follows:

  • Location: PSA Building, 1050 Wildcat Drive, Kingsland
  • Opening Time: 6:00 PM on Wednesday, Sept 25, 2024
  • Supplies: Cots, meals, basic medical supplies
  • Who: Vulnerable populations include those with medical needs, self-care difficulties, elderly individuals, etc. The general public will only be accommodated if space is available after prioritizing the vulnerable population.
  • What to Bring: Medications, personal identification, basic supplies for children and pets, blankets and only essential personal items.

McIntosh County

Tuesday, Oct. 1, noon:

Known Boil Water Advisory Locations as of 9/30/24 in McIntosh County:

  • Elliott’s Bluff
  • Estates at Sanctuary Cove
  • River Place Plantation
  • Sanctuary Cove
  • Baywood

To properly boil water:

  • Fill a pot with water.
  • Heat the water until bubbles come from the bottom of the pot to the top.
  • Once the water reaches a rolling boil, let it boil for at least 1 minute.
  • Turn off the heat source and let the water cool.
  • Pour the water into a clean container with a cover for storage.
  • Residents with private wells that have flooded are also advised to boil water for consumption. Your well is considered flooded if your well casing has been submerged in water anytime during or after the impact of Hurricane Helene.
  • Residents should continue to boil their water until they are notified by their drinking water utility that the water system has been restored to full operation and the water is safe to drink.
  • For more information on how to properly and safely perform water-related daily tasks during a boil water advisory, please visit the website of the CDC.

Monday, Sept. 30, 1:32 p.m.:

McIntosh County Schools will be closed Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Sapelo Island has no electricity according to Josiah Watts, who also says some residents are still unable to return to the island. Georgia Department of Natural Resources offices are closed today and the number for the Sapelo Island Ferry was busy. However, Watts said the ferry is running.

McIntosh Boys & Girls Club will be open Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Saturday, Sept. 28, 12:45 p.m.: From the county: McIntosh County Officials will be making arrangements to pick up yard, tree, and limb debris following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

VEGETATION ONLY! Please place all debris on the county road right of way.

Please understand that this WILL NOT be an immediate pick up. This will take several weeks/months to fully service.McIntosh County has issued a shelter in place order until further notice. Hurricane Helene has left an abundance of trees and power lines across roads throughout the whole County.

Please stay home and do not ride around to observe storm damage as our public safety and public works officials are busy trying to get the roads passable.

To keep abreast of weather warnings and emergency information you may sign up for CODE RED at www.mcintoshema.com

Thursday, Sept. 26, 8:46 p.m.: McIntosh County is under a tornado warning until 9:15 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 26, 4:11 p.m.: The McIntosh County Emergency Management Agency’s webpage is http://www.mcintoshema.com/. You can sign up for Code Red alerts that will automatically ring your phone in case of an emergency or evacuation order.

In a statement issued at 2:30 p.m., the McIntosh County EMA warned of “an approximately 70% chance of tropical storm force winds up to 58 mph (gust could be higher) and a 5% chance of strong tropical storm force winds greater than 58 mph.” Those tropical force winds are expected around 9 p.m. Thursday. Residents must secure all construction materials and loose outdoor items “immediately.”

While the agency does not expect hurricane force winds, McIntosh County residents should expect 2 to 4 inches of rain and storm surge of 1 to 3 feet in the estuaries: “Remember with a little more wobble to the east things could be worse.”

The McIntosh County EMA reminds residents that “emergency vehicles (including ambulances and fire trucks) may not respond when sustained wind speeds reach 35 miles per hour. We ask that when weather conditions begin to deteriorate everyone shelter in place and stay off of the roads.”

McIntosh County offices will be closed Friday, September 27 and are scheduled to reopen Monday, September 30.

According to McIntosh County Schools Superintendent Melissa Williams, students will take part in virtual learning on Thursday and Friday: “Teachers will send assignments/tasks home with students and/or share necessary materials and instructions through our digital platforms,” he wrote in a statement on Facebook.

Both the YMCA and Boys & Girls Club after-school programs are cancelled Thursday and Friday. “Our priority is the safety of our students, staff, and their families, and we want to ensure that learning continues uninterrupted during this time,” Williams wrote.

Effingham and Long Counties

Tuesday, Oct. 1, noon:

Known Boil Water Advisory Locations as of 9/30/24 in Effingham County:

  • Auriga Farms
  • Azalea Point
  • Barrington Subdivision
  • Buckfield Plantation – Pleasant Hill Subdivision
  • Coachwood Estates
  • Coventry Plantation
  • Creekwood Farms Subdivision
  • Eagle’s Landing Subdivision
  • Foxbow North Subdivision
  • Goshen Villa Subdivision
  • Hampton Creek Subdivision
  • Hawk Hammock
  • Hidden Lakes
  • Hunter’s Mill Subdivision
  • Huntington Station
  • Jamestown Subdivision
  • Saddlebrook Subdivision
  • Lakewood Subdivision
  • Low Ground Farms Subdivision
  • Meldrim Apartments
  • Meldrim Lake Acres
  • Old Dixie Estates
  • Paddleford Plantation
  • Pecan Grove
  • Pennington Estates Subdivision
  • Pineora Water System
  • Rahn Station
  • Rosewood Water System
  • Royal Oaks Plantation
  • Shadowbrook Subdivision
  • Stillwood – Log Landing

Known Boil Water Advisory Locations as of 9/30/24 in Long County:

  • Crawford – Deloach Road Northeast
  • Cypress Creek
  • Davenport Ridge
  • Garrison Place
  • Horse Creek Farms
  • Huntington – Timberland
  • Mill Pond
  • Murray Crossing
  • Parish Crossing
  • Persimmon Estates
  • Way Station
  • Penny Acres Mobile Home Park

To properly boil water:

  • Fill a pot with water.
  • Heat the water until bubbles come from the bottom of the pot to the top.
  • Once the water reaches a rolling boil, let it boil for at least 1 minute.
  • Turn off the heat source and let the water cool.
  • Pour the water into a clean container with a cover for storage.
  • Residents with private wells that have flooded are also advised to boil water for consumption. Your well is considered flooded if your well casing has been submerged in water anytime during or after the impact of Hurricane Helene.
  • Residents should continue to boil their water until they are notified by their drinking water utility that the water system has been restored to full operation and the water is safe to drink.
  • For more information on how to properly and safely perform water-related daily tasks during a boil water advisory, please visit the website of the CDC.

Type of Story: News

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

This information compiled by and reported by The Current's staff. We use this credit line when information requires aggregation, compilation or organization from various staff and/or official sources.