Atlanta cleans up after Helene
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A crew works to chainsaw and remove a large tree which fell on McClendon Avenue NE across from Neighborhood Church in the Candler Park neighborhood of Atlanta on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. Photo by David Walter Banks/Getty Images/The Washington Post
People across Atlanta are sifting through damage and debris to rebuild their homes and lives after Tropical Storm Helene hit Georgia, killing 17 people in the state and at least 91 across the Southeast.
The latest: On Friday, City Hall announced new procedures to help speed along construction and storm repairs.
- Contractors and homeowners can request an inspection or contact the city's Office of Buildings via phone or in-person at City Hall to speed up the storm repair permit process.
Caveat: To remove a hazardous tree, first contact the city arborist and file the appropriate paperwork within five days.
- No permit is required for removing a fallen tree, though city officials say residents and businesses should take a photo before removal. Read the specific rules.
State of play: City officials expect to clear downed trees from rights of way by Weds., Oct. 2, "though timelines may change based on call volume."
- Call 311 during business hours to report non-emergency downed trees and 911 after-hours.
Zoom in: Peachtree and Nancy creeks spilled over their banks, flooding homes and apartments, washing out roads and trapping people in homes.
Stunning stat: Atlanta recorded the highest rainfall on record spanning 48 hours, according to the Georgia Climate Office's post on X.
- The city received 11.12 inches of rain over the last two days, shattering the previous record of 9.59 inches back in 1886.
Zoom out: "This storm spared no one," Gov. Brian Kemp said at a press conference on Saturday.
- Hardest hit was the eastern side of the state, from Augusta down to Valdosta, where Helene ripped up countless trees, downed power lines and destroyed buildings.
- At least 17 people in Georgia died, mostly from fallen trees, including a 27-year-old mother and her twin 1-month-old boys after a tree fell on their McDuffie County home.
- More than half a million Georgians spent the weekend without power, many expecting to wake up Monday morning still waiting for the lights to turn back on.
The big picture: The death toll across the region could very well rise, particularly in western North Carolina, where cellphone outages and washed out roads have hindered wellness checks and rescue efforts.
- Sunday night, North Carolina officials announced there were at least 30 people killed in Buncombe County — where Asheville is located — alone.
Keep reading:
- Helene leaves "unimaginable" destruction in 5 states as death toll rises
- In photos: Tropical Storm Helene in Atlanta
- Tropical Storm Helene is catastrophic for western NC mountains
- Tropical Storm Helene: "Flash flood emergency" explained
- Helene's floodwaters devastate East Tennessee
- Hurricane Helene could rewrite storm history in the South
- Photos: Hurricane Helene's destructive march through Florida
- Hurricane Helene's rapid intensification fits ominous trend