During an afternoon press conference, Gov. Kemp emphasized a major culprit behind the state’s death toll: falling trees.
ATLANTA — Despite hitting Central Georgia as a weaker storm than expected, Hurricane and Tropical Storm Helene proved to still be a deadly storm when it arrived in the area.
According to Gov. Brian Kemp’s office, 15 people were killed during the course of the storm statewide. In Central Georgia alone, six people — including two children — lost their lives as a result of Hurricane Helene.
“This was a deadly storm,” Kemp said during an afternoon press conference. “I would ask all Georgians, like the Kemp family is doing, to keep these folks and these communities in your thoughts and prayers.”
When Hurricane Helene hit Valdosta as a Category 2 storm, Helene defied predictions, taking an eastward track to Augusta.
“The storm actually moved a little different than predicted,” Kemp said. “Which if you were in that path, …