Thousands without power in Middle Georgia as Macon escapes worst of Hurricane Helene

Anticipating the worst storm this year, Middle Georgians lined up for hours for bags of sand, bought all the bottled water grocery stores had to sell and hunkered down as Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane.

Friday morning, Bibb County appeared to have come through what is now Tropical Storm Helene largely unscathed. About 12,000 Maconites are without power, and some local roads are closed due to downed trees. Traffic signals are down along Tucker Road, Riverside Drive and Bass Road. But the high winds and flash flooding never came.

Counties south and east of Bibb, however, were hit much harder. Across the state, more than 1 million people are without power. At least five people died in the storm, including two in Laurens County and one in Wheeler County. As the storm dumps rain in north Georgia, rivers will crest and potentially flood this weekend.

Area schools and universities canceled classes and postponed football games in anticipation of Helene. Mercer, Middle Georgia State, Wesleyan, Georgia College and Fort Valley State are all closed today, as is Bibb County Schools.

Trash collection in Bibb County is delayed. Friday routes will be run Monday, Monday on Tuesday, etc. Ryland should catchup next week, with Oct. 4 routes being run Oct. 5.

However, most businesses plan to open Friday, at least with modified hours. Macon Pride events planned for Friday and Saturday are still on.

Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for all 159 Thursday, and Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller declared a local emergency. The emergency declarations make it easier for municipalities to receive federal assistance.

Macon-Bibb County will allow people to dump any yard and tree debris at two of its Convenience Centers, 4214 Fulton Mill Road and 1010 11th Street. The debris can be dropped off free of charge starting Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Both centers are scheduled to be open every day this weekend and next week.

Several roads are closed due to downed trees. Here’s a list from Macon-Bibb County’s Emergency Management Agency. Note: not all of these are confirmed, these are just reported blocked roads. The county is working to confirm these reports. To report downed trees, call 833-535-4362 or used the MBCAlert mobile app.

• N. Wesleyan Drive – Trees down
• Lamar Road – Trees down
• Azalea Drive at Barrington Place – Power Lines Down
• Rivoli Drive – Trees down
• Hydrolia Street – Trees down
• Walden Road at South Walden Road – Trees down
• Riverside Drive (Herring Dr and Corbin Ave) – Power line/Trees down
• Cornestoga Trail (near Santa Fe Trail) – Power Lines Down
• Two lanes of I-75 South at mile marker 160
• Lower Thomaston near Johnson Road
• Oxley Road
• Lamar Road near Colaparchee Road

Have storm damage photos? Email them to us at photos@maconmelody.com.