Helene’s Devastating Impact Becomes Clear

Thousands of people in Georgia remain without power following Hurricane Helene’s devastation. Utility crews continue to work on restoring services as outages persist in areas across the state.

Georgia Power anticipates that most customers will have electricity restored by the end of this week. Flood warnings remain in effect for rivers across North Georgia.

In the storm’s aftermath, several Georgia school districts have delayed reopening until early October, citing damaged buildings and transportation challenges.

Valdosta resident Bill Parmelee, surveying the damage to his property, summed up the situation for many: “It looks like hell.”

  Biolab Fire Causes 90,000 to Shelter in Place 

A fire broke out early Sunday morning at the Biolab chemical facility in Conyers, raising concern about chemical exposure. Authorities issued a shelter-in-place order for the surrounding area, but the situation worsened when the fire spread and evacuation orders were expanded.

Biolab, a chemical manufacturing plant in Conyers, produces chlorine and other pool-related products, which can become highly dangerous when burning.

The fire generated thick plumes of smoke, and officials warned of potential respiratory hazards.

Over 4,000 people have been evacuated, and 90,000 residents across two counties have been ordered to shelter in place to avoid exposure to hazardous fumes.

Braves Make Playoffs in Final Game

The Atlanta Braves beat the New York Mets 3-0 in the final game of a doubleheader Monday, necessitated by Hurricane Helene’s disruption of the regular schedule. 

The Braves’ playoff chances were put in doubt when the Mets took the first game of the doubleheader with a come-from-behind 8-7 win in the ninth inning. 

The Braves shut the Mets out in the second game. Gio Urshela’s RBI single in the second inning and Marcell Ozuna’s two-RBI single in the seventh provided all the scoring the Braves needed.

The team now plays the San Diego Padres today in the first game of the three-game Wild Card series.

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➤ Alpharetta: A couple was unharmed after a large tree crashed through their kitchen during Hurricane Helene. They had mere seconds to react before the ceiling started to bow and the tree came crashing through the roof. (Details) 

➤ Savannah: Officials provided food safety tips for those without power. Refrigerators keep food safe for four hours after a power outage and a half-filled freezer for 24 hours. Perishable goods should be discarded after that. (Details) 

➤ Camden and Glynn counties: Multiple cities in these two counties are under a boil water advisory. (See List) 

➤ Pierce County: A firefighter Vernon Davis was among those killed by Hurricane Helene when a tree fell on his car Friday. He had been with the force for more than 30 years. (More) 

➤ Augusta: Mayor Garnett Johnson called Helene the worst storm in the city’s history. With trash and debris blocking water filters, restoring water operations is a top priority. (Details)

➤ Valdosta: The community is coming together to help with recovery efforts, as Sen. Jon Ossoff and Mayor Scott James Matheson helped distribute food and supplies at Second Harvest on Saturday. Out-of-state organizations like Hearts with Hands have joined in the effort. (Details)

➤ Georgia football dropped three spots in the AP Top 25 after a tough loss to Alabama, which is now ranked No. 1. (See Rankings)

➤ Atlanta Hawks legend Dikembe Mutombo has died at age 58 after battling brain cancer. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Falcons became the first NFL team since 1984 to win a game after allowing 24+ points while not scoring an offensive touchdown. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | NHL 

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➤ Atlanta real estate leader Jenny Pruitt has died at 85 after a battle with cancer. In 2007, she opened Atlanta Fine Homes – Sotheby’s International. Her firm employs 575 agents and had $3.7 billion in sales in 2023. (Details) 

➤A Texas native has opened Preservan, a new business in Athens specializing in wood rot repair for homes and historic buildings.  (More)

➤ Verizon customers reported outages on Monday. Verizon says this is due to the lingering effects of Hurricane Helene. (Details) 

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➤ The North Georgia State Fair reopened after being temporarily closed due to Hurricane Helene. (Details) 

➤ Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil, John Berendt’s book about the shooting death of Danny Hansford in Savannah, is headed to Broadway as a musical in 2025. (More) 

➤ Megalopolis, Francis Ford Coppola’s new epic shot in the Atlanta area, performed poorly at the box office during its opening weekend, bringing in $4 million. The film had a production budget of more than $120 million. (Details) 

Were the streets around you cluttered with tree limbs after the storm passed?

1. Yes
2. No

Yesterday’s Results:

Were there high winds in your area during Helene?

1. Less than expected: 34%
2. Yes: 29%
3. No: 21%
4. They were ferocious: 16%

What is Georgia’s freshwater state fish?

Show me the answer