Augusta leaders promise help is on the way. But is it?

HURRICANE HELENE: Latest updates on the storm — 24/7

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Augusta leaders say they’re working with federal and state authorities to get assistance to a city where the vast majority of residents don’t have electricity.

And the closest thing to a timeline shows help might not show up until nearly a week after the disaster.

It’s been 20 years since slow action and a “business as usual” attitude made Hurricane Katrina a textbook case of how not to handle a disaster.

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The city of Augusta said a two-day water outage is almost over, but water should be boiled for now before people consume it.

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In Augusta, we’re seeing neighbors helping neighbors and the community pitching in.

That may be because it’s the only way they can get help right now.

In fact, the city has actually shut down services – including water and bus service – instead of expanding them after what the mayor on Sunday called the “worst natural disaster in Augusta history.”

We reached out to Augusta Transit Deputy Director Oliver Page and Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson for a response, but we haven’t heard back.

How is Georgia helping storm victims? Here’s what leaders say

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp visited Augusta on Monday to get a look at damage from Hurricane Helene, meet with local officials and explain how the state is helping victims.

The city posted online Monday that it is “actively collaborating” with agencies, but News 12 is pushing for more specifics.

A list from a senior Biden istration official showed no evidence of requests for help from Augusta, even though the president already declared a disaster.

Meanwhile, the official said the White House has had an open line of communication with Valdosta, which was hit just hours before Augusta and where federal aid is flowing.

CSRA’s death toll from Helene climbs to 23, including 5 kids

At least 23 deaths in the CSRA are blamed on Hurricane Helene, including five young kids. The deaths span the CSRA, including Richmond, Aiken, Saluda, Washington, Columbia and McDuffie counties.

Trees have fallen across the CSRA as a result of Hurricane Helene.

On Sunday, Augusta’s mayor called Helene the “worst natural disaster in Augusta history.”

The city said Monday that the Georgia Emergency Management Agency “is supplying critical resources, including water, fuel, generators, mobile kitchens, meals, chainsaws and more.”

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We haven’t seen specifics on whether those things are in place or a plan on how they’ll be used. For example:

How will the generators be used and who will they benefit?
Where are the mobile kitchens, when are they open and who are they feeding?
Who’s getting the fuel?

In fact, GEMA chief Chris Stallings on Monday spoke of some of the promised assistance that will supposedly be coming – but not for another 72 hours.

With Monday being 72 hours after the hurricane itself, that means the assistance won’t start showing up until nearly a week after the disaster.

News 12 will be asking specifically where these resources are being deployed and how they’re being used. We’ll be showing you those resources at work and we’ll be holding officials able.

This comes at a time when many in the community:

Remain trapped in their homes and neighborhoods by fallen trees and blocked roads.
Are without electricity for a fourth day.
Lack clean water because the city shut off water service for up to two days during a time when sanitation and cleanliness are crucial.
Lack the ability to get to the few locations where water is being distributed. City officials on Sunday morning urged patience.
Face a curfew from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., creating high traffic and demand during daylight hours around the few businesses that are open.
Are being told to “shelter in place” and stay off the roads, yet ironically are being told that the city is distributing water at locations they’d have to drive to. The city said Sunday it was working on a plan to distribute water in neighborhoods. Twenty-four hours later, such a plan hadn’t been announced.
Lack public transportation because the city has shut down bus service indefinitely, so if they don’t have cars, they can’t travel to locations where water and food are being distributed. The blames roadway obstructions and traffic signal outages for the transit shutdown.
Have no gasoline for their cars and/or don’t know where to get it because of interminable lines and panic buying at the few locations selling gas.

On Thursday, September 26, the President approved a pre-landfall emergency declaration at Governor Kemp’s request, directing FEMA to coordinate disaster relief efforts and to provide appropriate assistance to save lives, to protect property, public health and safety.
On September 30, President Biden spoke by phone with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Valdosta Mayor Scott Matheson.
FEMA Deanne Criswell visited with Valdosta Mayor Matheson during her visit over the weekend.
Two Federal Urban Search & Rescue Teams were deployed to Georgia to high water response; both teams have been released as the Search and Rescue Mission has completed.
FEMA has supplied over 500,000 meals primarily to Macon-Bibb County.
FEMA is trucking in 2,500 gallons of gasoline a day to help alleviate potential fuel issues in hard hit communities.
Through Emergency Function #6 - Mass Care, the American Red Cross in coordination with FEMA and the Department of Health and Human Services are ing shelter operations.
FEMA and the Federal Communications Commission are working with commercial carriers to augment or have telecommunication systems restored.
USDA’s Farm Service Agency personnel are traveling to impacted areas to extend emergency credit to farmers and agriculture producers who lost crops and livestock.