MACON, Ga. — Tropical Storm Helene passed into Georgia early Friday morning.
13WMAZ will update this story as local state of emergencies are announced and shelters open up ahead of the storm, and various floods and large scale power outages during the storm. For information on school closings, check here:
This story will focus on state wide updates. For county by county updates, check here:
Tropical Storm Helene Updates
Sat. 1:00 p.m. - President Joe Biden makes a statement offering support and a commitment to recovery following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Sat. 12:00 p.m. - During Gov. Brian Kemp's press conference in Valdosta, he confirmed that 17 people statewide are dead. He added that the state broke rainfall records.
2:59 p.m. - Due to a Helene-related power outage affecting their campus, Stratford Academy has moved their homecoming football game to Mercer University's Five Star Stadium. They say all of the normal festivities will take place.
1:44 p.m. - The Twiggs County Sheriff's Office says their non-emergency lines are still down, but 911 services are working fine.
12:24 p.m. - Amerson River Park announces that its closed until further notice due to the rise in the Ocmulgee River. The National Weather Service is expecting the Ocmulgee River level to be the highest its been in decades.
12:12 p.m. - Georgia Power opened floodgate 3 at Sinclair Dam. They opened the 2nd floodgate at 10:07 a.m.
12:05 p.m. - Gov. Brian Kemp says damage to agriculture business is likely as bad or worse than damage from 2018's Hurricane Michael.
11:58 a.m. - Gov. Kemp encourages people to stay off the roads between Valdosta and Augusta, because those areas were hit particularly hard.
11:56 a.m. - Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper says industries east of I-75 were hit particularly hard, especially pecan growers. He reports power outages affecting producers in the eastern half of the state.
11:49 a.m. - Gov. Kemp says I-16 is completely closed in Laurens County, and that there are 11 people who have died across Georgia.
11:44 a.m. - Bleckley County Emergency Management urges people to take pictures of any property damage an send them to (478) 230-7300 with your name and address.
9:21 a.m. - Ryland Environmental is suspending trash and recycling pick up for Macon-Bibb County for Friday, September 27. Those routes will be run on Monday, making all routes a day behind starting September 30. So Monday routes will be run on Tuesday, Tuesday on Wednesday, and so on. Friday, October 4 routes will be run on Saturday, October 5.
7:36 a.m. - Gov. Brian Kemp issues executive order calling for additional Georgia National Guard troops to help those already in the field.
6:10 a.m. - Jones County Sheriff Butch Reece tells people to avoid Highway 18 at James Street because of downed trees and power lines.
4:58 a.m. - Hurricane Helene has weakened into a tropical storm, according to the National Hurricane Center.
4:45 a.m. - Laurens County EMA Director Bill Laird said he can't tell us which exact roads are down because they're working so many all around- they currently have 140 "tree down" calls.
They have two suspected fatalities, one due to a tree on a house and one vehicle fatality. They currently have four teenage girls trapped in a house from a tree falling on it but they are safe, Laird said.
4:29 a.m. - Two trees have fallen on houses in Washington County, according to Washington County Sheriff Joel Cochran. He says there are people trapped in the houses, and one of the houses is on fire. One of the homes is located on Hospital Road and Gordon Street both in the city of Sandersville.
4:22 a.m. - Seven trees have fallen on houses, according to a report from Johnson County EMS Director Shawn Wombles. He says no injuries have been reported, though EMS activities have been suspended due to 80+ mile-per-hour winds.
3:50 a.m. - A tree has fallen on a house in Washington County, according to Washington County Sheriff Joel Cochran. He says no injuries were reported, though multiple trees are down and there are power outages throughout the county.
3:36 a.m. - Multiple trees have fallen in Bibb County, according to 13WMAZ reporters in the field. They say trees have fallen on Hydrolia Street, South Walden Road and Rivoli Drive near Northside Drive.
Those are in addition to other fallen trees on Wesleyan Drive North and Lamar Road.
2:55 a.m. - The eye of Hurricane Helene has crossed into Telfair County.
2:48 a.m. - Governor Brian Kemp has released a statement on X after the deaths of two people in Wheeler County.
2:18 a.m. - Hurricane Helene has weakened into a category 1 hurricane as it continues to progress northward into Georgia.
1:53 a.m. - Two roads are closed in Bibb County, according to the Macon-Bibb County Emergency Agency. They say both Lamar Road and North Wesleyan Drive have been closed due to fallen trees.
1:10 a.m. - Hurricane Helene has weakened into a category 2 hurricane.
1:05 a.m. - Hurricane Helene has passed over the border of Florida and has entered Georgia.
12:42 a.m. - Hurricane Helene is approaching the border between Georgia and Florida, and one of Georgia's southernmost counties is feeling the effects. The US Power Outage Map says that 31,999 customers are without power in Lowndes County.
10:18 p.m. - Two people are dead after a tornado in Wheeler County, according to a report from Wheeler County Coroner Ted Mercer. He said that the pair were killed by a suspected tornado which they believe overturned their mobile home. We are working to learn more information.
9:44 p.m. - Several roads are closed in Dodge County as a result of severe water damage, according to a report from the Dodge County Fire Department. They say Benevolence Road, Louis Harrel Road and Yancey Road is closed.
They also say Isham Springs Road is closed between Rocky Springs Road and Free Gift Church Road, Friendship Baptist Road is closed from Fair Haven Road to Highway 117, and Milan Eastman Road is closed from Highway 166 to Sweet Home Church Road.
9:42 p.m. - People are missing after their mobile home overturned in Laurens County, according to Laurens County EMA director Steve Adams. Emergency services are actively looking for them, according to the report.
9:10 p.m. - All Waffle House locations in Warner Robins are closed due to Hurricane Helene, according to a Facebook post from the Warner Robins government.
6:27 p.m. - The National Hurricane Center has given an update that shows Helene has strengthened to a Category 4 storm.
6:24 p.m. - Comcast announced they're opening their network of Xfinity WiFi hotspots in Georgia and South Carolina on Friday, Sept. 27. They said these are free to use and anyone, including non-Xfinity customers, can use it. You can use the WiFi Hotspot Map here and search for your zip code.
6:00 p.m. - Houston County Emergency Management Agency created a post providing updates on road closures, major outages, hazardous areas and weather updates. You can find the post here.
5:09 p.m. - Cochran Mayor Billy Yeomans declared state of emergency for the city due to the weather conditions. There was also a curfew period instituted starting at 8 p.m. on Sept. 26 running through 8 a.m. on Sept. 27. Yeomans added that city hall will be closed on Friday.
5:00 p.m. - Macon-Bibb County issued a statement noting that trash and recycling pick up will be delayed on Friday due to Hurricane Helene. They ask that trash bins should be put on the curb "early Friday morning once the storm has passed, NOT Thursday night." They ask the public to be patient as crews navigate any potential hazards on the roads.
4:30 p.m. - GEMA shared these photos of flooding due to storms related to Hurricane Helene that have moved through Dodge County.
4:20 p.m. - Gov. Brian Kemp encourages drivers to stay off the roads if they can, calling Hurricane Helene "one of the biggest storms this state has experienced in recent history."
2:47 p.m. - Mayor Lester Miller issued a local state emergency for Macon-Bibb County. All counties from Macon-Bibb County through southeast Central Georgia are under a tornado watch
2:40 p.m. - The National Hurricane Center has given an update that shows Helene has strengthened to a Category 3 storm.
2:39 p.m. - Mayor Vickie Horne sets up city of McIntyre curfew. Starts at 10 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26 and ends at 8 a.m.. on Friday, Sept. 27
2:20 p.m. - Chairman Martin H Moseley Jr. issued a local state of emergency in Peach County. Extra deputies are on duty, as Moseley asked for everyone to stay home during the storm.
2:13 p.m. - State Court of Bibb County announced that they will not have criminal arraignments on Friday, Sept. 27. New dates will be mailed to those that had previous court dates on Friday.
1:16 p.m. - Rigby's Entertainment Complex offers a safe space for those who don't feel safe in their homes.
1:11 p.m. - Baldwin County Manager Carlos Tobar said they are planning on opening a storm shelter at 200 Southside Drive at the old Southside Elementary School building in Milledgeville.
12:03 p.m. - Georgia Power makes announcement that more than 10,000 personnel are on the ground throughout the state
11:45 a.m. - The Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security now recommends all schools in the state close for tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 27
11:18 a.m. - Carl Vinson VA Medical Center in Dublin announced its Albany, Brunswick, Macon, Milledgeville, Perry, Tifton and Warner Robins clinics are closed on Thursday due to the incoming Hurricane
11:10 a.m. - Delta issues travel waiver for customers affected by Hurricane Helene. Read more here.
11:03 a.m. - Macon-Bibb Transit Authority releases updates to bus services. Last bus will leave at 5:25 p.m. on Thursday, all busses will complete services by 7 p.m. this evening. Bus services will be delayed until 7:25 a.m. on Friday, but will resume Fixed Route and Paratransit bus service from that point onward.
11:03 a.m. - President Joe Biden declared that an emergency exists in the State of Georgia and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Helene.
8:10 a.m. - Homeless Shelter at No Limit Baptist Church on 1352 Radio Loop in Warner Robins set to open up around 6 p.m. on Thursday. Brian Wise with the church will round up people from the homeless population and encouraged people to call him at 478-538-5115 or Pastor Herrington at 786-286-4457.
8:06 a.m. - Flooding reported on State Route 30 on both sides of the road on Ashley Street in Wilcox County, according to 511 GDOT.
8:03 a.m. - Warner Robins Mayor LaRhonda Patrick declares local state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Helene. The declaration becomes effective as of 12 p.m.
7:48 a.m. - Flooding reported on State Route 117 Northbound on Mullis Road in Laurens County, according to 511 Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).
LIVE TRACKER BELOW
MORE ON HURRICANE HELENE
RELATED: Impacts from Helene begin today | Here's what the forecast has in store for Central Georgia
