Gas Tax Suspended, State Of Emergency Extended In GA Due To Helene

GEORGIA — Gov. Brian Kemp is providing relief at the gas pumps as Georgians continue to rebuild their communities following Hurricane Helene's fatal blow to the state.

Kemp on late Tuesday suspended the statewide gas tax, also extending the state of emergency in Georgia.

His measure comes after Helene killed at least 130 people across six states, with at least 25 of them being in Georgia. The storm slammed Georgia overnight Friday, knocking down trees and power lines and causing other devastating damage.

"As Georgians recover from Hurricane Helene, with the support of our legislative partners, I have suspended the gas tax for the duration of this state of emergency - bringing relief to communities who continue to rely on fuel to power their homes and necessary equipment," Kemp said.

The governor has been touring hard-hit areas throughout the week in Georgia. His latest stop on Wednesday was in Dublin, where a 58-year-old man was killed during the storm.

Dublin is the county seat of Laurens County, where a person died after a tree fell on their home and another was killed in a car crash during Helene.

Kemp has also visited Valdosta, Augusta, Nashville, Douglas, Hazelhurst and Alamo.

The gas tax suspension will take effect at midnight Thursday, while the state of emergency will expire at 11:59 p.m., Oct. 9.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, planned to visit Wednesday in Georgia to assess damage.

President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced he was en route to the Carolinas to observe the damage.

"The Biden-Harris Administration is here. And we're not leaving until the job's done," Biden tweeted.

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday extended its federal assistance to 30 more Georgia counties.

FEMA said residents in the following counties may now apply for aid: Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Chatham, Clinch, Colquitt, Cook, Echols, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Lincoln, McDuffie, Montgomery, Screven, Telfair, Treutlen, Ware, Washington and Wheeler counties.

This is in addition to Appling, Brooks, Coffee, Columbia, Jefferson, Liberty, Lowndes, Pierce, Richmond, Tattnall and Toombs counties. Biden previously announced aid would be available for these counties.

State and eligible local governments and some private nonprofits in these counties may apply for federal funding.

The money may be used for housing, replacement of damaged personal property and expenses for transportation, childcare, moving and storage, FEMA said.

Meanwhile, nearly two months after Hurricane Debby ravaged Georgia as a tropical storm, some homeowners and renters may now apply for federal aid. This applies to residents in Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Liberty, Long and Screven counties, FEMA said.

Applicants requesting federal assistance must register either online via FEMA, by calling 1 (800) 621-3362 or via the FEMA app.

The National Hurricane Center is continuing to monitor three tropical systems, one nearing entry in the Gulf of Mexico and two in the Atlantic Ocean. Potential impacts to the southeastern U.S. from either storm were not readily known Wednesday morning.

The storm gradually approaching the Gulf originated in the Caribbean Sea. The NHC said the system could develop into a tropical depression during the weekend as it fully travels into the Gulf.