The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office in western North Carolina officially announced on Tuesday a significant revision to the death toll attributed to Hurricane Helene. Initially reported as 72 fatalities, the confirmed number has been adjusted to 42, reflecting an overcount of 30 deaths. This adjustment comes in the wake of the catastrophic flooding and mudslides that the storm inflicted upon the region.
Matthew Marshall, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, explained that in the chaotic aftermath of the storm, all fatalities were being classified as storm-related without thorough verification. He noted that complications arose due to inconsistent communication, exacerbated by widespread cell phone outages and power failures.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services also commented on the situation, clarifying that county officials have ceased independent reporting of storm-related deaths. Instead, they are now depending on state officials for accurate counts.
As a result of the updated figures from Buncombe County, North Carolina’s overall death toll from Hurricane Helene now stands at 96, with more than 20 individuals still reported missing.
The remnants of Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc across Asheville and other parts of western North Carolina in September, leading to severe damage and ongoing recovery efforts. Currently, over 5,000 customers remain without power, and although much of the water supply has been restored, a boil-water notice is still in effect for the city. This precaution is in place as workers diligently clean the North Fork reservoir, which is a primary source of drinking water for Asheville.
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a formidable Category 4 storm along the Gulf Coast of Florida, situated over 400 miles from Asheville. However, the heavy rainfall that followed caused rivers and creeks in the region to swell, resulting in widespread flooding and destruction of homes and businesses.
Across at least six states, more than 200 lives were lost as Helene traversed the Southeast, unleashing torrential rain that devastated the mountainous areas of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. The fierce floodwaters not only swept away homes but also obliterated roads, leaving a trail of debris in their wake.
- Of the 1,200 roads that were closed following the storm, over 750 have since reopened.
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has allocated approximately $4.3 billion in funding to assist recovery efforts in various states, with about $1.4 billion directed specifically to North Carolina.
In light of the extensive damage and recovery needs, Governor Roy Cooper emphasized the importance of a unified effort, stating, “This will take billions of dollars and years of bipartisan focus from everyone working together to make it happen. We need western North Carolina to recover.”
