Helene Tragedy in North Carolina: Over 90 Dead as Authorities Struggle to Confirm Missing

The authorities in North Carolina confirmed Monday that at least 94 deaths were caused by Hurricane Helene, but they could not confirm the number of missing people or those still unaccounted for.

 

According to the morning update of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, fatalities have been reported in 20 counties.

 

Buncombe had the highest number of fatalities, 42, followed by Yancey, 12, and Henderson, 7 respectively.

 

NCDHSS confirmed that the Office of Chief Medical Examiner of North Carolina (OCME) had verified these deaths.

 

NCDHSS says there is no missing person number at this time, as there are multiple sources where requests for missing persons and welfare checks were reported.

 

North Carolina Department of Public Safety has announced that it is working to collect these numbers.

 

 

Justin J. Graney is the Chief of External Affairs and Communications at North Carolina Emergency Management. He said, “Wide-area searches have been conducted since Hurricane Helen hit.”

 

This includes grid searches as well as vehicle searches and searches for damaged structures. It also includes searches in areas where debris has accumulated. Graney stated that hundreds of responders had conducted the searches.

 

Graney explained local entities use information from local 911, NC 211, social media reporters, and shelter occupancy data, as well as any information provided to an EOC to “try to locate someone who has been reported missing or to whom someone asked for a welfare check.”

 

Graney stated, “Many of these situations were resolved when communication systems were brought online, and family and friends could connect again.”

 

Hurricane Helene slammed into North Carolina at the end of last month. The storm brought with it catastrophic flooding in the mountains due to the historic rainfall.

 

 

Thousands of electricity customers are still without power in the region. Some people, including Asheville residents, also lack running water.

 

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper signed the state’s first relief package to address Helene’s devastation on Thursday. Roy Cooper has signed the first state relief package for Helene, which includes $273 million to cover immediate needs. Agencies and displaced residents will have flexibility.

 

The state will use nearly all of the money to match the federal government for disaster assistance programs in states and localities. The money will also be used to pay public-school nutrition workers at closed schools and help administer the upcoming elections in the battleground State.