The impact of Hurricane Helene is etched in the faces of those left behind, a haunting reminder of the lives lost when trees crashed down on homes in the Augusta-Aiken area.
In Richmond and Aiken counties, at least 10 people have perished, including a 10-year-old boy and his great-grandfather, who tragically lost their lives when a tree struck their home on Old Waynesboro Road in Hephzibah.
Stephen Donehoo, 72, was pronounced dead Saturday after a tree fell on the residence. His great-grandson, 10-year-old Izaak Donehoo, also died.
Michelle Donehoo is left grieving the loss of her father and her grandson, and it’s taken a toll on her. On Friday, she pleaded with someone to “come remove a large tree off of a house so my dad and grandson can be recovered.” On Saturday, she posted that she wanted “this nightmare” to go away.
On Sunday, Michelle was begging for help with making arrangements since “neither had any insurance and nothing prepares anyone for a devastating thing like this.” She shared a Cashapp of $poohbear7574.
Others who died in Richmond County include:
. Katherine McCall, 62, who died Friday after a tree fell on her home on Morningside Drive.
• Uyen Xuan Le, 36, died Friday after a tree fell on the residence on the 2100 block of Lake Ave.
• Daverio Carter, 50, was pronounced dead Friday after a tree fell on the home at 3300 block of Lakewood Drive. He was remembered online by Adrian Taylor, who used to work with him. “He always had a smile,” Taylor said.
• Andrea Warner, 62, was pronounced dead Friday after a tree fell on the home along the 4500 block of Windsor Spring Road.
In Aiken County, Joseph “Joe” Gullen III was pronounced dead at 8:50 a.m. Friday after a tree crashed through the roof of his home on Metts Park Circle in Aiken.
A Beech Island couple also died in their bedroom after a tree fell on their Church Road home as they slept. Jerry Savage, 78, and his wife, 74-year-old Marcia Savage, were pronounced deceased at 11:40 a.m. Friday.
Also, 29-year-old Michael Roukous of Dexter, N.Y., was pronounced dead at 9:52 a.m. Friday after a tree crashed through the roof of a bed and breakfast home he was renting on the 100 block of Casnettie Road in Beech Island.
(Note: If you have a photo to share of a victim who was is not pictured, please text it to 803-487-3224)
