The lights are back on.
Virtually all of Pierce County now has power restored as recovery efforts continue following Hurricane Helene Sept. 26 and 27.
Hurricane Helene was the strongest storm to pass through Pierce County in at least 45 years and at category two strength was the strongest since October, 1898 according to National Weather Service records.
Pierce County recorded wind gusts up to 98 m.p.h. and two inches of rain in the storm.
Blackshear Assistant Fire Chief Leon Davis died in the storm while returning from a call.
Restoring power has been the biggest challenge to recovery efforts due to the heavy tree and limb damage county-wide. Some citizens were without power for two full weeks following the storm.
At press time Monday, Georgia Power said power has been restored to all of its customers in the cities of Blackshear, Patterson, Offerman and in the Okefenokee Golf Club Community.
Also at press time, Satilla Rural Electric Membership Corporation (REMC) said nearly all of its 7,245 meters in Pierce County now have power.
Immediately after the storm Sept. 27, practically 100 percent of Georgia Power and Satilla REMC customers in Pierce County were without power.
Damage assessments are still ongoing for damage to homes and buildings in the county. FEMA is now accepting disaster relief applications. (See related story.) The Red Cross emergency shelter at the Pierce County Gym, 705 College Ave., in Blackshear closed last Wednesday.
Disaster Relief Information See Page 2
Pierce County Schools resumed classes Tuesday, Oct. 8.
All county government and the courts and city offices have re-opened.
Pierce County was brushed by Hurricane Milton last Wednesday night, October 9 and Thursday morning, October 10. Local emergency officials monitored the storm with daily briefings. Pierce County received less than two tenths of inch of rain and breezy conditions with gusts to 20 m.p.h.
