Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson declared a state of emergency for Augusta-Richmond County Friday after storm damage left several dead and caused widespread flooding and downed trees and power lines.
“Our community has been deeply impacted,” Johnson said.
Johnson announced a curfew ordering all bars and places of amusement to close at 10 p.m. and remain closed through 6 a.m. Saturday. The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office will also enforce a curfew starting Saturday from 7 p.m. through 7 a.m. until further notice.
Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen confirmed five deaths involving fallen trees. Bowen said the damage had made responders’ jobs more difficult.
“It’s hard to get to these places because trees are down. It’s just a chaotic mess,” Bowen said.
Credit: Charmain Brackett
A person died in Grovetown in Columbia County after a tree fell on a mobile home, Augusta-area news station WRDW reported.