Montana sends emergency management team to Georgia for Helene's recovery • Daily Montanan

The state of Montana will deploy a nine-member emergency management team to Macon, Georgia, for 15 days to support recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene, Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Friday.

The Type 3 team, led by Ken Parks of Missoula Disaster and Emergency Services, will assist Georgia and federal officials with planning, resource management and public information, the governor's office said.

The state of Georgia had applied under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which allows other states to provide assistance and receive compensation in the event of a declared disaster.

The Macon Telegraph reported earlier this week that central Georgia, where the team will be based, was not hit as hard, but crews continued to clean up debris damage, repair power lines and clear and repair roads.

But the Georgia National Guard has a central logistics center in Macon from which it sends supplies and support personnel across the state. Georgia's governor deployed 2,500 National Guard troops to the state's response.

Other parts of Georgia suffered severe damage from wind and flooding, as did most of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.

According to the Association Press, the storm killed more than 220 people and left about 700,000 customers without power as of Friday.

“Please join me and Susan in praying for everyone affected by Hurricane Helene and for the safety of our personnel,” Gianforte said in a statement.