Here’s a look at Helene damage at Fort Eisenhower
- Cleanup: Augusta leaders OK millions to clear Hurricane Helene debris
- Deaths: Helene takes 31st victim in CSRA, a 65-year-old in Aiken County
- Communication: When Comcast expects to restore service across CSRA
- Schools: Helene debris spurs changes in Richmond County bus routes
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Fort Eisenhower was not immune to the damage brought by Helene.
Now, nearly three weeks later, we’re getting a firsthand look at the extent of the damage that left many in the dark on post.
From the outside, if you took a quick look, you may never be able to tell that Hurricane Helene was here.
But on the inside, piles of debris shows and tells a much bigger story.
Hurricane Helene hit hard at Fort Eisenhower, starting with the Eisenhower Army Medical Center.
A look at how officials assess Hurricane Helene damage
County officials are working to get a clearer picture of the damage left by Hurricane Helene. Teams began going door-to-door and neighborhood-by-neighborhood this week.
There’s $3 million worth of damage and growing.
“We had doors blow in. We had water intrusion through the windows. We had water coming down the walls. And that night shift, you know, they stayed on until they were relieved,” said Col. James Pairmore, Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center commander.
More than 90 rooms had some type of water intrusion, which also affected patients.
“We evacuated over 20 patients to medical centers in the region,” said Pairmore.
Shaniyah Boston was among the first to see the damage.
“Pulling up to the hospital, walking through the fourth door, entrance, just seeing the projector, everything, the walls falling down, water on the floor. It was very hard to take in,” said Boston.
Renters in CSRA can apply for FEMA aid after Hurricane Helene
FEMA assistance is available to renters, including students, with uninsured losses from Hurricane Helene in several local counties.
And it wasn’t just the hospital. The storm hit neighborhoods hard too.
Garrison Commander Anthony Kazor said: “116 homes were damaged with some sort of degree of damage. 16 of those are considered to have major damage, which will require the relocation of those families to a new home.”
Now, nearly three weeks post Hurricane Helene, military neighborhoods look a lot like the ones on the outside, and piles of debris are expected to double in size.
But the mission stays the same.
“We’re the United States military. We’re built for things like this. While the challenges were hard, we met them. But like any event we do after-action reviews, we look at things that went really well and things we can improve on. We’re taking those tidbits and what the staff went through to make sure things are better,” said Dr. Troy Akers, chief of emergency medicine at Eisenhower Army Medical Center.
They’re staying army strong as the work continues.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
