Disaster area: National Guard, FEMA send help to Laurens County

As most of Laurens County powers back up after Hurricane Helene, hundreds, if not several thousand, county residents like Kevin Beacham are still in survival mode.

Beacham waited in his pickup truck Tuesday in the long line of cars crawling down U.S. 80, around campus and to the East Laurens Middle School parking lot where Army National Guardsmen handed out much-needed water, ice and food in the form of MREs – the “meals ready to eat” served to soldiers.

“We can use anything right now,” Beacham said. 

Laurens County officially became a disaster area Tuesday, when President Biden included it and 40 other counties in “major disaster declaration” for Georgia, which could qualify some individuals for federal disaster assistance. 

Earlier in the day, the National Guard opened two PODs (points of distribution) here, the other at Southwest Laurens Elementary. The PODs will be open until 6 p.m. each day. Each vehicle will receive “rations” consisting of three bags of ice, one case of water, a tarp and a package of 12 MREs provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

A line had begun to form in front of East Laurens before daybreak Tuesday, but Guardsmen were still waiting on trucks of supplies to arrive. The cars returned at midday, and the line, though long, moved with the efficiency and pace expected of a military operation. But as one car left with supplies, another one or two seemingly took its place. 

Beacham, who brought his grandson, Colby Kinchen, lives in eastern Laurens County, which was hit especially hard by the hurricane, near Ga. 86. He does not expect the area to have electricity soon.

“It’s gonna be a while, it looks like,” Beacham said. “We’re getting by with the generator, hauling gas. When you get so used to power, like we all have … the thing I miss the most is a hot shower at the end of the day – when I’ve been working the chainsaw.

“I can take a shower, but it’ll be a cold one.”

Beacham and his wife have a generator powering their well, which is supplying water to theirs and two other homes, including his daughter’s.

“My son-in-law works for Georgia Power, so he’s been working.”

Beacham and others in the area have been told that it will be days, maybe even weeks, before they have electricity again. That could mean return trips to the National Guard PODs for more ice, water and MREs. 

The Guard unit, out of Elberton, is not sure how long it will be on the ground here. The POD opened again Wednesday morning. It is one of many across the state, and it appears to be prepped for multiple days, if needed. Dublin-Laurens County Emergency Management Agency said in a statement that the “rations are a set portion as we conserve what we have to make it through extended relief needs.”

FEMA says it has sent more than 1.9 million MREs and more than 1 million liters of water to areas hit hardest by Hurricane Helene. Many of the residents in those areas could also see federal financial relief, as well.

The major disaster declaration also includes neighboring Treutlen, Johnson, Montgomery, Wheeler, Washington and Telfair counties. For more information and how to seek help, visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362.