One year ago, Hurricane Helene tore through the southeast United States, leaving behind damaged homes, downed trees, and powerless neighborhoods. The storm also claimed the lives of 31 people in the CSRA.
Despite the devastation, Helene gave rise to stories of survival, resilience, and community strength. For many, the memories remain as vivid as the day the storm roared through with winds up to 100 miles per hour.
Trapped beneath the ceiling
Charles Logan of Augusta, 71, remembers every detail of the morning Hurricane Helene struck his home. He awoke to crashing sounds and instinctively slid between the bed frame and the floor. Moments later, the ceiling collapsed onto the bed.
“I was trapped for three hours,” Logan said. “My son-in-law thought I was crushed.”
With first responders unable to arrive quickly, Logan’s son-in-law and wife acted on their own.
“He grabbed a chainsaw and cut a hole in the side of the house,” Logan recalled. “When they pulled me out, I stood up, and my son-in-law said, ‘That’s one tough SOB.’”
Logan credits his survival to faith. “I know the Lord is with me every step of the way. Without Him, I would be gone.”
Today, Logan lives in a new home after his old one was demolished.
From blackout to business
Tierney Hall and her husband had installed a small do-it-yourself solar panels shortly before Helene hit. When power outages stretched on for more than a week, their panels powered basic appliances such as a fridge, coffee maker, and hot plate.
“We were lucky no trees fell on our house, although hundreds came down in our eight acres of forest,” Hall said. “We fared pretty well after Helene due to some good luck.”
Seeing the demand, Hall’s husband dismantled the solar panels once power returned and sold the parts to neighbors still without electricity. Out of that effort, he started a small business called Self Reliant Solar.
Since then, he has rebuilt and expanded their home system, making the couple more prepared than ever for future outages.
A home damaged too soon
For Brooke Agee and her husband, Helene’s anniversary stirs mixed emotions. They had purchased their first home just two months earlier. The morning after the storm, they counted 14 trees down on their property.
“Our dog woke us up around 3 a.m.,” Brooke said. “My husband got up, and we heard a loud thud. We looked out the window and saw our giant oak tree falling — about to hit our house. When it landed, it was the only one down on our quarter-acre lot.”
They acted quickly, grabbing their dog, shutting off the power, and driving to Brooke’s parents’ house a block away.
Although they escaped safely, their home wasn’t as fortunate.
“Our beloved home — our home we had for less than two months — was suddenly deemed unlivable by our insurance company in a matter of hours,” Brooke said.
Now, one year later, the couple is back in their repaired home and expecting their first baby girl.
Although they’ve recovered, storms still stir deep anxiety.
“We watch the trees outside and stay awake until storms pass — even during normal thunderstorms,” Brooke said. “It’s definitely a moment etched in my brain forever. I’m thankful we survived, our home is still standing, and life is back to normal.”
As the one-year mark of Hurricane Helene arrives, the physical and emotional scars remain. Yet the resilience of the people of Augusta has carried the city forward, turning stories of fear into stories of strength.
