Governor Brian Kemp has extended the state of emergency for several Georgia counties still grappling with the effects of Hurricane Helene, which struck the state in late September. The extension will now last until Wednesday, October 16th, at 11:59 p.m., providing additional time for recovery efforts in the regions most affected by the hurricane.

The initial state of emergency, declared in the aftermath of the storm, was set to expire earlier but has been extended to support ongoing relief operations. The hurricane, which made landfall in Florida as a major storm on September 26th before moving into Georgia, caused widespread damage, leaving many residents without power and critical infrastructure compromised.

The counties under the extended state of emergency include Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baldwin, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bleckley, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Glynn, Hancock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, Madison, McDuffie, McIntosh, Montgomery, Newton, Pierce, Putnam, Rabun, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Telfair, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wheeler, Wilkes, Wilkinson, and Worth.

By extending the state of emergency, Governor Kemp’s administration seeks to provide continued support for the restoration of essential services and infrastructure in these counties. Emergency services remain active in the region as power is restored and clean-up operations are underway.

Hurricane Helene made its presence felt across the Southeast as it traveled through Georgia toward the Carolinas, where it eventually weakened. However, the storm’s impact on Georgia has left a lasting mark, particularly in the coastal and southern parts of the state, which were hit hardest.

The state of emergency is intended to provide critical resources and assistance as local governments and residents work toward full recovery from the damage caused by the hurricane.