Recovery efforts begin in Chatham County after Helene traveled through southeast Georgia

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) – On Savannah's south side, hard work is underway to remove fallen trees and power lines along Coffee Bluff Road that are blocking some residents' only access or exit.

“The wind was pretty strong, but in addition to the wind, we heard something that sounded pretty strong and loud,” Coffee Bluff resident Debra Denney said.

Debra Denney says she and her children woke up to large trees toppling power lines and debris blocking the road, leaving neighbors in the dark.

“I just thought it would be some of the wind we've had in previous storms,” ​​Denney said. “It was definitely more intense than I expected.”

Across Chatham County, approximately 240 road segments remain blocked and 177 power lines are down, according to officials. Eight buildings were destroyed.

“It’s chaos,” said Dennis Jones, director of the Chatham Emergency Management Agency. “There was a lot of debris associated with this storm that impacted all areas throughout the county.”

Savannah firefighters are condemning this historic building that is home to a popular bar after officials said the structure partially collapsed overnight.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Power outages are also impacting cell service, with 67,000 AT&T users unable to call 911 in Chatham County, according to officials.

However, text messages to 911 appear to be working.

Emergency officials say restoring power to traffic lights at intersections is a top priority.

“Electricity is critical not only for transportation, but also for our healthcare and medical industries,” Jones said.

Since some go more than 12 hours without light, many are unsure how long they will remain in the dark.

“We’re just going to do our best,” Jones said. “We'll probably start taking things out of the freezer and cooking them later this evening if it's not on again.”

Chatham's emergency management director says the county expects a days-long recovery from this storm.

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