Tuesday, October 1, 2024: I’ve lived in the First District of Georgia all my life and have been through many hurricanes, but what we witnessed this past weekend was the most destructive I’ve ever seen. Hurricane Helene took an unexpected turn to the east this past weekend and our district took more of a hit than we were anticipating. Thankfully, we are blessed in our district and throughout our State to have great Emergency Management Agency (EMA) personnel who are well prepared and do great work. And, although many of us were without power and some still are, our lineman and power workers were quick on the scene and did great work as well. I spent most of the weekend on the phone, out helping people, and doing interviews including with Newsmax, Fox Business, and the Washington Watch. Obviously, our schedule for the week has changed as we try and help as many people as possible throughout the district. I’m headed to Jesup in Wayne County this morning and during the drive, I have a phone interview with the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC) to discuss the number of post offices that are closing in our state and the impact that may have on mail in ballots this election cycle. Once in Jesup, I meet with Wayne EMA Director Donnie Ray, Wayne County Manager Paul Drawdy, Jesup City Manager Nick Ellis, and County Commissioner Mike Gordon to get an update on their situation. Like most of the areas in our district, trees are down, power is out and in some cases water is unavailable. As always, Wayne County is well prepared, and their response is excellent. Afterwards, I head down the road to Screven where Mayor Jason Weaver and his great staff have worked tirelessly to get their small town as back to normal as possible, even traveling to Jacksonville, FL, to rent a generator to run their water system. Next, I head to Blackshear in Pierce County where, like all places in our district, the community has pulled together to help each other. Here Mayor Keith Brooks, Sheriff Ramsey Bennett, the great Fire and Emergency personnel, and even youth from a local church are working to help people. While the firemen prepare hot food for all the volunteers, the church youth are busy loading water and groceries into cars as they line up in the parking lot. It’s also here that I have the honor of meeting the wife and sons of a true hero. Early on Friday morning of the storm, Leon Davis, Blackshear’s Assistant Fire Chief, was setting up a barricade in an area where a live power line had fallen and, after he had gotten into his pickup truck, a tree fell on top of his truck killing him. Today I meet with his wife, Shirley and his two sons Scott and Kevin. It’s hard to know what to say in a situation like this. This tight knit family has lost a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a brother.  This tight knit community has lost one of their own- a firefighter for over 30 years. He died a hero doing what he loved to do: helping others. Our thoughts, our appreciation, our prayers are with the family and the community. Next, I head to Waycross in Ware County, and during the drive, I join in on our all-staff conference call. Once in Waycross, I join Ware County Commissioner Tim Lucas as we tour some of the areas most impacted by the storm including a historic Church in Manor that was destroyed. Afterwards, I head to Brunswick in Glynn County where I meet with County Administrator Bill Fallon, Commission Chair Wayne Neal and their great staff for an update on their situation.

Rep. Carter with the family of Leon Davis

Wednesday, October 2, 2024: I’m in Savannah in Chatham County this morning as I volunteer at the food and ice giveaways at Memorial Stadium sponsored by Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA). Afterwards, I’m live on the Faulkner Focus on Fox News as I discuss the impact of Hurricane Helene and the potential impact of the port strike. Next, I head to Baxley in Appling County, where I attend a called joint meeting of the Baxley City Council and Appling County Commission to discuss a joint contract to work together with the cleanup in the area. Witnessing these two governing bodies working together during a crisis is truly inspiring. Then, I head to Alma in Bacon County where I meet with city and county personnel as well as EMA officials for a report on the damage and their recovery and for a quick tour of the staging area for the power workers. While the entire district took a hit from this storm, the western most counties of Bacon and Appling were the most impacted and many are still without power.

Rep. Carter volunteering with CEMA

Thursday, October 3, 2024: I’m heading to Rincon in Effingham County this morning, and during the drive, I have a virtual call with workers at the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador to discuss the H2 A guest worker program and its importance to our district. Once in Rincon, I join with Mayor Kevin Exley, other city and county officials, and numerous volunteers for a grocery giveaway in the Lowes parking lot. Sponsored by the City of Rincon, Lowes, Podium Logistics, and Pappy’s Pressure Washing this great service is yet another example of using the greatest resource we have in our district: our people. Next, I head to Midway in Liberty County to the offices of Coastal Electric Membership Coalition (EMC) where, along with representatives from Oglethorpe Power joining us virtually, we get an update on their area, as they bring us the good news that 100% of their customers had their power restored by late Tuesday night. Afterwards, I head to Springfield in Effingham County and, during the drive, have a phone interview with WTOC-TV to discuss the port strike. Once in Springfield, I meet with Effingham EMA Director Clinton Hodges, incoming County Commission Chair Damon Rahn, and Commissioner Phil Kieffer for a report on their situation. Next, I head to the studios of WSAV-TV in Savannah where I am on a panel to discuss the Opioid/Fentanyl epidemic and afterwards head to Jekyll Island in Glynn County to attend the Skylark fundraising banquet.

Rep. Carter at the Rincon Grocery Giveaway

Friday, October 5, 2024: I’m on the road again and my first stop is in Darien in McIntosh County as I meet with EMA officials for an update on their situation before heading to Pembroke in Bryan County where I meet with County Commission Chair Carter Infinger, Assistant County Administrator Kathyrn Downs, and other officials for an update on their situation. During my visit, I also take part in a presentation of a $15,000 donation to the Salvation Army made by the Hyundai Group, Bryan County’s newest corporate citizen. Hyundai, whose first electric vehicle rolled off the assembly line in Bryan County this week, is yet another example of one of the things that makes our district so great: our corporate citizens. After stopping by Hendrix Park to thank my good friend Sheriff Mark Crowe and other volunteers who are giving out food and water, I head to downtown Savannah where I meet with our local Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents for an update on their work at the ports and the need for more personnel as the ports grow. Next, I head to Ludowici in Long County where they are having a food giveaway at the high school before joining in on a call with Federal Trade Commissioner (FTC) Melissa Holyoak to discuss her visit earlier in the week to a specialty pharmacy in Utah that I had to pass on in order to be in the district. Next, I head to our Brunswick office where I film this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing, Material Minute, and a video for the Electrification Coalition Conference.

Rep. Carter at the Hyundai donation to Salvation Army