Seven people remain unaccounted for in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, as the confirmed death toll from the storm holds at 101 as of Saturday.
Fatalities have been reported across 22 counties, with Buncombe County experiencing the highest number at 43, followed by Yancey and Henderson counties, with 10 and 9 fatalities respectively, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS).
Justin J. Graney, Chief of External Affairs and Communications for North Carolina Emergency Management, said there are “wide area searches taking place since Hurricane Helene took place.”
“This includes grid searches, vehicle searches, damaged structure searches, and searches around areas where debris have collected. Hundreds of responders have conducted said searches,” Graney said.
“Many of these types of situations were thankfully resolved when communications systems were brought back online and family and friends were able to connect once again,” Graney continued.
Governor Roy Cooper noted that the number of missing individuals may continue to change as additional reports come in and some cases are resolved. The Department of Public Safety reported that, while the number of missing initially stood at 89, it has since dropped to seven
“The Department of Public Safety formed a task force to find who is still unaccounted for and focus efforts where needed,” Cooper said. “The task force, law enforcement, and other partners will continue working to locate those who are unaccounted for, and I am thankful for their efforts.”
“This storm brought historic rain and damage to one of the most beautiful regions in our state. In the face of this catastrophic disaster, North Carolinians have come together to help each other and begin to move forward,” he continued.
