And good evening. We come on the air tonight from Texas's Hill Country. Just below us is the Guadalupe River and you can see the destruction it carved out in parts of central Texas.Down there is where the river stands tonight. And we wanted to show you how high it rose, more than 30 feet, even higher from where we are broadcasting live tonight, wiping out everything in its way. And today we were with rescuers digging into mangled cars caked in mud along river banks.Crews setting out on airboats and diving i ...

Disaster Overview - Tropical storm remnants caused catastrophic flooding in the Guadalupe River area, with the river rising over 36 feet in 4 hours [1] - The Texas Hill Country's unique geology, characterized by steep hills, thin soil, and limestone, contributes to flash flooding [8][9][10] - Floodwaters are contaminated, posing health risks, and debris piles are hazardous, complicating rescue and recovery efforts [3][13][14] Relief Efforts - Over 400 first responders are involved in search and rescue operations [3] - Federal, state, and local officials are providing assistance, including law enforcement and specialized equipment [2][14][15] - The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country is the lead fundraising entity for the emergency response [16] Funding and Resource Allocation - The Community Foundation is collecting online donations to support nonprofits involved in disaster relief [2][4] - The Kurville/Kerr County Flood Relief Fund will provide short, medium, and long-term grants to local vetted organizations [7] - Funds will address various community needs, including damage to the senior center, nature center, city park system, and community theater [6][7] Community Impact - The flood has caused widespread destruction, including snapped trees, displaced appliances and vehicles, and massive debris piles [12][13] - The recovery and rebuilding process is expected to be lengthy [4]

Core Insights - Georgia Power received the Emergency Recovery Award from the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) for its exceptional response to Hurricane Helene in 2024, which caused significant damage across the state [1][5][4] - The storm resulted in over 1,500 miles of downed power lines, 11,800 broken power poles, and 5,800 damaged transformers, marking it as the most destructive hurricane in Georgia Power's 140-year history [6][4] - Georgia Power plans to hire approximately 180 lineworkers annually over the next several years to support its growing workforce needs [8][9] Company Response to Hurricane Helene - Georgia Power's response involved over 20,000 personnel, including teams from other states and Canada, utilizing helicopters, boats, and drones for restoration efforts [5][4] - The company highlighted the dedication of its employees, particularly lineworkers, in restoring power to over one million customers affected by the hurricane [4][5] Workforce Development - Georgia Power hires around 700 positions annually and collaborates with technical colleges to recruit and train new lineworkers, with over 60% of new hires coming from Electrical Lineworker Apprentice Certification programs [8][9] - The company offers a multi-year apprenticeship program and continuing education for employees to ensure they remain competitive in the industry [8][9] Industry Recognition - The EEI commended Georgia Power for its safe and efficient response to Hurricane Helene, emphasizing the importance of the electric workforce in restoring power after natural disasters [5][11] - Georgia Power is recognized as an industry leader in customer satisfaction, serving 2.8 million customers across Georgia [10]