The death toll from the powerful Storm Helene rose to at least 91 on Sunday, September 29, 2024, with 30 fatalities reported in a single county in North Carolina. Rescue teams struggled to reach those in need throughout the southeastern United States.
According to Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller, the county confirmed 30 deaths due to the devastating impact of Helene. "We have another devastating update. We now have 30 confirmed victims due to the storm," he stated at a press conference. "We continue search operations, and these may also include recovery operations," he added.
The storm left a trail of destruction across several states, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Strong winds and torrential rains left some cities in ruins, flooded roads, and millions without electricity.
North Carolina recorded 37 deaths, while 25 people died in South Carolina, 17 in Georgia, 11 in Florida, and one in Virginia, according to local authorities compiled by AFP.
Nearly 2.5 million homes remained without power on Sunday, according to poweroutage.us. Matt Targuagno from the U.S. Department of Energy stated that teams were working hard to restore electricity but warned that it would be "a complex, multi-day response."
Meanwhile, thousands continued to seek assistance at shelters managed by the American Red Cross, as reported by Jennifer Pipa, the organization's official.
Helene struck the northwest coast of Florida as a massive Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph and, although it weakened rapidly upon landfall, it caused widespread devastation.
North Carolina witnessed some of the worst flooding, with Governor Roy Cooper stating that rescuers were forced to airlift supplies in some areas due to damaged or flooded roads. "I don’t know if anyone could be fully prepared for the amount of flooding and landslides they are experiencing right now," said Criswell on CBS, adding that more search and rescue teams were being deployed.
William Ray, director of the state’s emergency management department, warned that conditions remained extremely dangerous. Hundreds of roads across the region remained closed, with several bridges washed away, while three flash flood warnings were still active in western North Carolina due to the risk of dam failures, reported Ken Graham, director of the National Weather Service.