PHOTOS: Georgia cleans up devastation from Helene

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PHOTOS: Georgia cleans up devastation from Helene

Cities around Georgia began repairs to infrastructure, homes and buildings destroyed by Helene.

Mud and standing water cover much of the Bobby Jones Golf Course in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 after Peachtree Creek spilled its banks from Hurricane Helene. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Mud and standing water cover much of the Bobby Jones Golf Course in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 after Peachtree Creek spilled its banks from Hurricane Helene. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Mud and standing water cover much of the Bobby Jones Golf Course in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 after Peachtree Creek spilled its banks from Hurricane Helene. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Dexter Leach loads up his daughter’s microwave while helping her move out of her flooded apartment at the Peachtree Park Apartments in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Dexter and Kerri Leach help their daughter move out of her flooded apartment at the Peachtree Park Apartments in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Lauren Bryant, right, helps her friend Hope Ferguson remove her bed while cleaning up Ferguson’s flooded apartment at the Peachtree Park Apartments in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Lauren Bryant, left, helps her friend Hope Ferguson remove her bed while cleaning up Ferguson’s flooded apartment at the Peachtree Park Apartments in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Hope Ferguson disassembles her bed while cleaning up her flooded apartment at the Peachtree Park Apartments in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Brina Huynh dumps floodwater out of her violin as she cleans up with her roommate Sarah Van Ess at the Peachtree Park Apartments in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Governor Brian Kemp speaks at Lowndes County Emergency Management Operations Center, Saturday, September 28, 2024 in Valdosta. Damaging Helene has swept through Georgia, leading to at least 15 deaths. All 159 counties are now assessing the devastation and working to rebuild, even as serious flooding risks linger. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Governor Brian Kemp speaks at Lowndes County Emergency Management Operations Center, Saturday, September 28, 2024 in Valdosta. Damaging Helene has swept through Georgia, leading to at least 15 deaths. All 159 counties are now assessing the devastation and working to rebuild, even as serious flooding risks linger. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

First Lady of Georgia Marty Kemp wears a T-shirt that reads “Pray” as Governor Brian Kemp (not pictured) speaks at Lowndes County Emergency Management Operations Center, Saturday, September 28, 2024 in Valdosta. Damaging Helene has swept through Georgia, leading to at least 15 deaths. All 159 counties are now assessing the devastation and working to rebuild, even as serious flooding risks linger. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Governor Brian Kemp speaks at Lowndes County Emergency Management Operations Center, Saturday, September 28, 2024 in Valdosta. Damaging Helene has swept through Georgia, leading to at least 15 deaths. All 159 counties are now assessing the devastation and working to rebuild, even as serious flooding risks linger. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Tommy McNeal (right) and Anthony Adams leave Miller Hardware Company after they bought chainsaw supplies in downtown Valdosta on Saturday, September 28, 2024. Damaging Helene has swept through Georgia, leading to at least 15 deaths. All 159 counties are now assessing the devastation and working to rebuild, even as serious flooding risks linger. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Hurricane Helene destroyed many buildings in downtown Valdosta, Saturday, September 28, 2024. The devastation in Valdosta was extensive after the South Georgia city was battered with hurricane-force winds on Helene’s path across the state. Damaging Helene has swept through Georgia, leading to at least 15 deaths. All 159 counties are now assessing the devastation and working to rebuild, even as serious flooding risks linger. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Anthony Adams (left) and Tommy McNeal chat after they bought chainsaw supplies from Miller Hardware Company in downtown Valdosta, Saturday, September 28, 2024. Damaging Helene has swept through Georgia, leading to at least 15 deaths. All 159 counties are now assessing the devastation and working to rebuild, even as serious flooding risks linger. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Amoz Costillo (front), owner of El Paso Tacos & Tequila, helped by Eluin Mianda cleans up to be ready to reopen his restaurant in downtown Valdosta, Saturday, September 28, 2024. Damaging Helene has swept through Georgia, leading to at least 15 deaths. All 159 counties are now assessing the devastation and working to rebuild, even as serious flooding risks linger. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Fallen trees are seen near Valdosta State University, Saturday, September 28, 2024, in Valdosta. The devastation in Valdosta was extensive after the South Georgia city was battered with hurricane-force winds on Helene’s path across the state. Damaging Helene has swept through Georgia, leading to at least 15 deaths. All 159 counties are now assessing the devastation and working to rebuild, even as serious flooding risks linger. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Fallen trees are seen near Valdosta State University, Saturday, September 28, 2024, in Valdosta. The devastation in Valdosta was extensive after the South Georgia city was battered with hurricane-force winds on Helene’s path across the state. Damaging Helene has swept through Georgia, leading to at least 15 deaths. All 159 counties are now assessing the devastation and working to rebuild, even as serious flooding risks linger. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

A car drives by fallen traffic signals and wires near Valdosta State University, Saturday, September 28, 2024, in Valdosta. The devastation in Valdosta was extensive after the South Georgia city was battered with hurricane-force winds on Helene’s path across the state. Damaging Helene has swept through Georgia, leading to at least 15 deaths. All 159 counties are now assessing the devastation and working to rebuild, even as serious flooding risks linger. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Fallen traffic signals and wires are seen near Valdosta State University, Saturday, September 28, 2024, in Valdosta. The devastation in Valdosta was extensive after the South Georgia city was battered with hurricane-force winds on Helene’s path across the state. Damaging Helene has swept through Georgia, leading to at least 15 deaths. All 159 counties are now assessing the devastation and working to rebuild, even as serious flooding risks linger. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Austin Fosdick (left) and Nealy Hiers, both students at Valdosta State University, check out damages caused by Hurricane Helene near Valdosta State University, Saturday, September 28, 2024, in Valdosta. The devastation in Valdosta was extensive after the South Georgia city was battered with hurricane-force winds on Helene’s path across the state. Damaging Helene has swept through Georgia, leading to at least 15 deaths. All 159 counties are now assessing the devastation and working to rebuild, even as serious flooding risks linger. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Nealy Hiers, student at Valdosta State University, takes a picture of a fallen tree caused by Hurricane Helene near Valdosta State University, Saturday, September 28, 2024, in Valdosta. The devastation in Valdosta was extensive after the South Georgia city was battered with hurricane-force winds on Helene’s path across the state. Damaging Helene has swept through Georgia, leading to at least 15 deaths. All 159 counties are now assessing the devastation and working to rebuild, even as serious flooding risks linger. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

A car drives by fallen traffic signals and wires near Valdosta State University, Saturday, September 28, 2024, in Valdosta. The devastation in Valdosta was extensive after the South Georgia city was battered with hurricane-force winds on Helene’s path across the state. Damaging Helene has swept through Georgia, leading to at least 15 deaths. All 159 counties are now assessing the devastation and working to rebuild, even as serious flooding risks linger. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Aerial photo shows damages caused by Hurricane Helene, Friday, September 27, 2024 in Dublin. Fast-moving Helene, which entered Georgia as a Category 2 hurricane Friday morning, continues its powerful march toward metro Atlanta. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 in Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday night with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, continues to pack a dangerous punch and is responsible for at least three deaths in Georgia. Helene’s sustained winds are now at 70 mph, making it a tropical storm status, and it is quickly traveling north. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Aerial photo shows damages caused by Hurricane Helene, Friday, September 27, 2024 in Dublin. Fast-moving Helene, which entered Georgia as a Category 2 hurricane Friday morning, continues its powerful march toward metro Atlanta. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 in Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday night with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, continues to pack a dangerous punch and is responsible for at least three deaths in Georgia. Helene’s sustained winds are now at 70 mph, making it a tropical storm status, and it is quickly traveling north. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Aerial photo shows damages caused by Hurricane Helene, Friday, September 27, 2024 in Dublin. Fast-moving Helene, which entered Georgia as a Category 2 hurricane Friday morning, continues its powerful march toward metro Atlanta. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 in Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday night with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, continues to pack a dangerous punch and is responsible for at least three deaths in Georgia. Helene’s sustained winds are now at 70 mph, making it a tropical storm status, and it is quickly traveling north. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Aerial photo shows damages caused by Hurricane Helene, Friday, September 27, 2024 in Dublin. Fast-moving Helene, which entered Georgia as a Category 2 hurricane Friday morning, continues its powerful march toward metro Atlanta. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 in Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday night with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, continues to pack a dangerous punch and is responsible for at least three deaths in Georgia. Helene’s sustained winds are now at 70 mph, making it a tropical storm status, and it is quickly traveling north. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Crew cleans up fallen trees, where a man was killed by fallen trees caused by Hurricane Helene, Friday, September 27, 2024 in Dublin. Fast-moving Helene, which entered Georgia as a Category 2 hurricane Friday morning, continues its powerful march toward metro Atlanta. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 in Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday night with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, continues to pack a dangerous punch and is responsible for at least three deaths in Georgia. Helene’s sustained winds are now at 70 mph, making it a tropical storm status, and it is quickly traveling north. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Crew cleans up fallen trees, where a man was killed by fallen trees caused by Hurricane Helene, Friday, September 27, 2024 in Dublin. Fast-moving Helene, which entered Georgia as a Category 2 hurricane Friday morning, continues its powerful march toward metro Atlanta. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 in Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday night with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, continues to pack a dangerous punch and is responsible for at least three deaths in Georgia. Helene’s sustained winds are now at 70 mph, making it a tropical storm status, and it is quickly traveling north. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Crew cleans up fallen trees, where a man was killed by fallen trees caused by Hurricane Helene, Friday, September 27, 2024 in Dublin. Fast-moving Helene, which entered Georgia as a Category 2 hurricane Friday morning, continues its powerful march toward metro Atlanta. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 in Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday night with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, continues to pack a dangerous punch and is responsible for at least three deaths in Georgia. Helene’s sustained winds are now at 70 mph, making it a tropical storm status, and it is quickly traveling north. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Crew cleans up fallen trees, where a man was killed by fallen trees caused by Hurricane Helene, Friday, September 27, 2024 in Dublin. Fast-moving Helene, which entered Georgia as a Category 2 hurricane Friday morning, continues its powerful march toward metro Atlanta. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 in Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday night with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, continues to pack a dangerous punch and is responsible for at least three deaths in Georgia. Helene’s sustained winds are now at 70 mph, making it a tropical storm status, and it is quickly traveling north. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Aerial photo shows damages caused by Hurricane Helene, Friday, September 27, 2024 in Dublin. Fast-moving Helene, which entered Georgia as a Category 2 hurricane Friday morning, continues its powerful march toward metro Atlanta. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 in Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday night with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, continues to pack a dangerous punch and is responsible for at least three deaths in Georgia. Helene’s sustained winds are now at 70 mph, making it a tropical storm status, and it is quickly traveling north. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

A fallen tree blocks a pedestrian road after Hurricane Helene, Friday, September 27, 2024 in Dublin. Fast-moving Helene, which entered Georgia as a Category 2 hurricane Friday morning, continues its powerful march toward metro Atlanta. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 in Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday night with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, continues to pack a dangerous punch and is responsible for at least three deaths in Georgia. Helene’s sustained winds are now at 70 mph, making it a tropical storm status, and it is quickly traveling north. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

A crew repairs a traffic light caused by Hurricane Helene, Friday, September 27, 2024 in Dublin. Fast-moving Helene, which entered Georgia as a Category 2 hurricane Friday morning, continues its powerful march toward metro Atlanta. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 in Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday night with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, continues to pack a dangerous punch and is responsible for at least three deaths in Georgia. Helene’s sustained winds are now at 70 mph, making it a tropical storm status, and it is quickly traveling north. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Angel Coney with her two sons Travi (left), 10, and Mari, 9, check out fallen trees and wires caused by Hurricane Helene in front of their house, Friday, September 27, 2024 in Dublin. Fast-moving Helene, which entered Georgia as a Category 2 hurricane Friday morning, continues its powerful march toward metro Atlanta. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 in Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday night with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, continues to pack a dangerous punch and is responsible for at least three deaths in Georgia. Helene’s sustained winds are now at 70 mph, making it a tropical storm status, and it is quickly traveling north. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

A utility pole downed after Hurricane Helene, Friday, September 27, 2024 in Dublin. Fast-moving Helene, which entered Georgia as a Category 2 hurricane Friday morning, continues its powerful march toward metro Atlanta. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 in Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday night with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, continues to pack a dangerous punch and is responsible for at least three deaths in Georgia. Helene’s sustained winds are now at 70 mph, making it a tropical storm status, and it is quickly traveling north. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

A fallen tree damaged a car after Hurricane Helene, Friday, September 27, 2024 in Dublin. Fast-moving Helene, which entered Georgia as a Category 2 hurricane Friday morning, continues its powerful march toward metro Atlanta. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 in Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday night with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, continues to pack a dangerous punch and is responsible for at least three deaths in Georgia. Helene’s sustained winds are now at 70 mph, making it a tropical storm status, and it is quickly traveling north. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

A man rides bike near fallen trees after Hurricane Helene, Friday, September 27, 2024 in Dublin. Fast-moving Helene, which entered Georgia as a Category 2 hurricane Friday morning, continues its powerful march toward metro Atlanta. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 in Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday night with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, continues to pack a dangerous punch and is responsible for at least three deaths in Georgia. Helene’s sustained winds are now at 70 mph, making it a tropical storm status, and it is quickly traveling north. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Roosevelt Gainey cleans up debris caused by Hurricane Helene at his front yard, Friday, September 27, 2024 in Dublin. Fast-moving Helene, which entered Georgia as a Category 2 hurricane Friday morning, continues its powerful march toward metro Atlanta. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 in Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday night with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, continues to pack a dangerous punch and is responsible for at least three deaths in Georgia. Helene’s sustained winds are now at 70 mph, making it a tropical storm status, and it is quickly traveling north. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

A car drives through heavy rain in downtown Macon early Friday morning, September 27, 2024. Fast-moving Helene, which entered Georgia as a Category 2 hurricane Friday morning, continues its powerful march toward metro Atlanta. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 in Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday night with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, continues to pack a dangerous punch and is responsible for at least three deaths in Georgia. Helene’s sustained winds are now at 70 mph, making it a tropical storm status, and it is quickly traveling north. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

A car drives through heavy rain on Poplar Street in downtown Macon early Friday morning, September 27, 2024. Fast-moving Helene, which entered Georgia as a Category 2 hurricane Friday morning, continues its powerful march toward metro Atlanta. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 in Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday night with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, continues to pack a dangerous punch and is responsible for at least three deaths in Georgia. Helene’s sustained winds are now at 70 mph, making it a tropical storm status, and it is quickly traveling north. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Flags fly in heavy rain early Friday morning, September 27, 2024 in Macon. Fast-moving Helene, which entered Georgia as a Category 2 hurricane Friday morning, continues its powerful march toward metro Atlanta. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 in Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday night with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, continues to pack a dangerous punch and is responsible for at least three deaths in Georgia. Helene’s sustained winds are now at 70 mph, making it a tropical storm status, and it is quickly traveling north. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

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Credit: Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Mud and standing water cover much of the Bobby Jones Golf Course in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 after Peachtree Creek spilled its banks from Hurricane Helene. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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