During the early hours of the water emergency, Atlanta’s mayor was in Memphis for a re-election fundraiser

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – In the early hours of Atlanta’s water crisis, Mayor Andre Dickens was not in the city but was raising money in Memphis for his re-election campaign, confirmed Monday Atlanta News First.

Dickens was in Memphis Friday evening as part of a previously planned trip, according to Howard Franklin, a staffer for Dickens’ re-election campaign.

LATEST UPDATES: Everything We Know About Atlanta’s Water Main Breaks

Atlanta News First asked Dickens where he was Monday after a press event in Midtown Atlanta.

Dickens said he was back in town Saturday at 1 p.m. At first, the mayor did not respond whether he was attending a fundraising event. Howard confirmed that Dickens was at the event Friday night. The event took place on Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Contributions to “Andre for Atlanta” at the event ranged from $250 to $1,800, the campaign flyer said.

“Mayor Dickens rushed back to Atlanta shortly after realizing that the water cutoff problem would not be resolved in one day,” Howard wrote in an email to Atlanta News First. “He called a press conference to communicate with residents that same day.”

The Department of Watershed Management reported the first major water main break in Atlanta, along Joseph E. Boone Boulevard NW, at 11:58 a.m. Friday, according to a social media post.

The city then issued a boil water advisory following this main outage, at 2:54 p.m. Friday afternoon.

The Department of Watershed Management dispatched crews to the second major water main break, at West Peachtree NW and 11th Street NE, at 9:55 p.m. Friday.

Dickens was still in Memphis during these alerts.

Howard said Dickens was in constant communication with Atlanta officials during the early hours of the water problems and was on the ground in Memphis for less than 24 hours.

Over the weekend, someone posted a photo on Atlanta’s BeltLine criticizing Dickens’ absence during those early hours.

“We have no water. It’s been a whole day. Has anyone seen or heard from Mayor Andre Dickens,” the sign reads.

Dickens has since declared a state of emergency over Atlanta’s ongoing water problems.

The declaration allows the city to access funds and resources to expedite repairs.

On Monday evening, Atlanta Public Works Commissioner Al Wiggins told the Atlanta City Council that he hoped repairs could be completed along West Peachtree “before dark” Monday.

Once repairs are complete, Wiggins said an 18-hour delay will begin before the water can be considered safe to drink.

Some residents in the affected Midtown area said they wish the city would provide more communication, both during the initial and ongoing response.

“In a few days, will it get worse?” We don’t have the answers to that question,” said José Franco, who has no water in his West Peachtree apartment.

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