LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The southeast is continuing to recover from Hurricane Helene. There have been at least 64 storm-related deaths across five states. 

Helene lingered in Kentucky, but Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., said there were no fatalities in the state.

What You Need To Know

  • There are several Kentucky organizations in the southeast helping people in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene

  • Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief arrived Saturday evening, Sept. 28, in Valdosta, Georgia 

  • KYDR is cooking about 2,000 meals for both lunch and dinner for those affected 

  • The organization is also helping clean up debris

This weekend, there are a handful of Kentucky organizations giving a hand to people who were in the storm's direct path. Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief is in Valdosta, Georgia, helping those affected.

Karen Smith has worked with KYDR for more than 30 years, helping people after tragedies. She arrived in Georgia the evening of Sept. 28.

“Any time in a disaster, there's always people that need whatever we can offer,” Smith said.

Along with dozens of volunteers, KYDR also deployed a mass feeding unit to Valdosta. Smith said the organization is cooking about 2,000 meals for both lunch and dinner. The Salvation Army will then deliver the food.

“They think that's going to go up to 5,000 per meal, but it usually takes a few days to get up because they know there's that many people that need the help but they don't know if they can get their canteens into the area where it needs to go,” Smith said.

In addition to cooking meals, Smith said, much of KYDR’s help will consist of cleaning up debris and tarping homes with damage.

"Coming into here, there (are) lots of trees down," she said. "On this road, there (were) huge trees that have been cut and pushed to the side, just to clear the road." 

Gov. Brian Kemp, R-Ga., toured the destruction in Valdosta, which was one of the state's hardest-hit cities. 

“Valdosta has taken another heavy hit as has been so unfortunately frequent in recent memory," Kemp said. "I would just tell you from a statewide perspective, this storm spared no one." 

There are about 35 people on the KYDR team doing what they can to help people in Valdosta.

“That's why God gives us strength," Smith said. "That's to go and be his hands and feet, and that’s what we are doing." 

Kentuckians are also cleaning up from the storm this weekend. The number of power outages in the commonwealth peaked at more than 200,000 Friday, Sept. 27; however, as of 4 p.m. Sunday, that number is down to around 36,000, according to PowerOutage.us. 

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