A.M. ATL: A year since the storm

Morning, y’all! Happy Friday. What’s on tap this weekend? A hike? Housework? Brunch? Ferrying offspring to various children’s events? There’s plenty to do around the city, too, if you have some spare time and energy.

Let’s get to it.

LOOKING BACK ON HELENE

Hurricane Helene ravaged communities and set back Georgia industry.

A year ago today, Hurricane Helene descended on Georgia. The storm took more than 250 lives, caused $79 billion in damage across the Southeast, and it will take years for some areas to recover from the devastation.

• Helene razed crops in Georgia, delivering an estimated $5.5 billion hit to the state’s economy. Pecans were particularly affected because of how long they take to grow. A mature pecan orchard represents seven or more years of work.
• Georgia farmers are still waiting for their cut of a $21 billion disaster aid package passed last year by Congress.
• Helene was especially destructive because it kept strength even as it moved inland. Climate scientists say climate change fuels these patterns.
• In places like Augusta, some communities lost 70% to 80% of their tree canopy, and strong wind and rain felled precious old growth trees.

HARTSFIELD-JACKSON LOST MILLIONS BECAUSE OF DEI PROGRAMS

When the Trump administration ordered federal funding recipients to disavow their “diversity, equity and inclusion” programs earlier this year, leaders at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport said no.

As a result, they lost about 37.5 million in Federal Aviation Administration grant dollars.

• The airport was due to receive about $57 million this fiscal year. The money was intended for restroom rehabilitation, taxiway pavement replacement, sustainability projects and other initiatives.
• All American airports rely on federal funding. Hartsfield-Jackson’s Concourse D expansion funding includes $40 million in U.S. DOT grants.
• Some other cities sued the Trump administration over the anti-DEI mandates, and Atlanta leaders tried to negotiate language changes. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is talking openly about changing some diversity programs in order to keep other funding flows from being taken away.

DON’T KISS THE BUGS

Actually, the “kissing bug disease” is nothing to joke about. This potentially deadly disease is now endemic in the South, meaning it occurs regularly.

• The condition is typically spread through contact with triatomine bugs, or kissing bugs.
• The feces contains the parasite Trypanosoma, and illness occurs when people accidentally get the bugs’ feces in their eyes and mouth. Aaand there’s your breakfast, finished.
• Symptoms can be mild to severe, including fever, body rashes, swelling around the eyes and gastrointestinal distress.
• Unfortunately, there’s no kissing bug-specific spray or deterrent. You just have to deal with them like any other pest: Seal your windows and doors, clear out brush piles and other bug hangouts and watch your pets.

MUST-KNOW POLITICS AND BUSINESS

WEEKEND PLANS

Broaden your palette AND your palate at the Atlanta Art Fair.

We’ve got some really unique stuff going on in metro Atlanta this weekend. It’s an auspicious time to try something new.

NEWS BITES

2026 World Cup mascots revealed

Eh. Too corporate. The best mascots are always, like, stuffed animal versions of sleep paralysis demons.

UGA to give out LED wristbands for Alabama game

Former Atlanta journalist Savannah Louie is on ‘Survivor’

Apparently, this was a dream of hers, and we love that for her.

Hard pass, cold brew, dad bod, dumbphone, beast mode: 5,000 more words added to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary

Thoughts and prayers to future linguists.

ON THIS DATE

Sept. 26, 1952

We’re waiting for you, zippy fall weather.

ONE MORE THING

Make someone smile today! ❤️