ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp provided an updated assessment of the damage left behind by Hurricane Idalia in Georgia as well as outlined ongoing response efforts in a press briefing on Thursday morning.
The governor also used the opportunity to touch on recent indictments handed down to former President Donald Trump and 18 others over efforts to overturn Georgia's 2020 election results and Fulton DA Fan Willis' handling of the case.
In regard to the storm, officials stated that one person was killed in Lyons County after a tree fell on a car as Idalia passed through Georgia. A name was not released.
At this time, two shelters are in place with over 40 occupants. 277,000 customers were without power at the height of the storm; however, at the time of the conference that number had been brought down to 107,000.
Crews are still working on restoring power and water to areas affected. Though, it was also noted that the storm left significant crop loss.
Kemp noted that he plans on being on the ground Friday for a closer look at storm damage.
Idalia hit Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday morning, bringing strong winds and devastating storm surge to the small communities that dot the area. It arrived in Georgia within a few hours still at hurricane strength, impacting cities such as Valdosta in the southern part of the state.
Idalia left Georgia around 8 p.m. on Wednesday night and moved north toward the Carolinas.
Kemp on Trump case, Fulton DA Fani Willis
The governor also used the conference to touch on ongoing drama regarding the Fulton County election indictment. Kemp stated that one individual in the General Assembly, who went unnamed, and former President Trump have called for a special session "that would ignore current Georgia law and directly interfere with the proceedings of a separate but equal branch of government."
In short, Kemp stood fast against the idea of calling a special session to sanction or remove Fani Willis from her position as Fulton County District Attorney.
"We have a law in the state of Georgia that clearly outlines the legal steps that can be taken if constituents believe their local prosecutors are violating their oath by engaging in unethical or illegal behavior," Kemp said. "Up to this point, I have not seen any evidence that DA Willis' actions or lack thereof warrant action by the Prosecuting Attorney Oversight Commission. But, that will ultimately be a decision the commission will make."
The governor went on to add "the bottom line is that in the state of Georgia, while I am governor, we're going to follow the law and the constitution, regardless of who it helps or harms politically."
Kemp also used to moment to offer a warning to his fellow Republicans, arguing that the continued handwringing over the 2020 election would not yield success.
"These are the distractions that get you to lose elections," he said. "The last time we were talking about special sessions in the state of Georgia, just a few weeks later, the Republican majority lost two U.S. Senate races."
The governor concluded, saying "we are going to stay focused on the issues that help all Georgians. That is the way you win races."
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