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Join Telegram ChannelA total of 7 people remain missing in North Carolina following Hurricane Helene, with the storm's death toll remaining at 101 as of Tuesday.
Deaths have been reported in 22 counties, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). The vast majority of these deaths were reported in Buncombe, with 43 deaths, followed by Yancey and Henderson, with 10 and 9 respectively.
“The Department of Public Safety has formed a task force to find missing people and focus its efforts where needed,” said North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. “The task force, law enforcement and other partners will continue to work to find those missing, and I thank them for their efforts.
Cooper added that the number of missing people “will continue to fluctuate as new reports come in and others are resolved.” While there were 89 people missing at one point, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety told Fox News Digital on Thursday that number had dropped to 7.
FAMILY WHO LOST 11 PEOPLE IN HURRICANE HELENE MUDSLIDES SAYS COMMUNITY SACRIFICED “LIFE AND LIMB” TO SAVE EACH OTHER
An aerial view of destroyed and damaged buildings following flooding from Hurricane Helene October 8 in Bat Cave, North Carolina. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
“This storm brought historic rainfall and damage to one of the most beautiful parts of our state. In the face of this catastrophic disaster, North Carolinians came together to help each other and begin to move forward,” he said. he also stated. “The road to recovery will be long and we will be with Western North Carolina every step of the way.”
NCDHSS told Fox News Digital that the deaths were confirmed by the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME).
Justin J. Graney, chief of external affairs and communications for North Carolina Emergency Management, told Fox News Digital that “large-scale research has been underway since [Hurricane Helene] took place.”
“This includes grid searches, vehicle searches, searches of damaged structures and searches around areas where debris has accumulated. Hundreds of responders have conducted these searches,” Graney said.
PUPPIES SAVED FROM HURRICANE HELENE WILL BE REHABLED WITH FORMER SERVICEMEN
Workers, community members and business owners clean up debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Marshall, North Carolina, Monday, September 30, 2024. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Graney explained that local entities take information reported to local 911, the NC 211 call center, social media reporters, shelter occupancy information and any information reported to an EOC, “to attempt to locate anyone who someone has reported missing or asked.” carry out a social audit.
“Many of these types of situations were fortunately resolved when communications systems were brought back online and family and friends were able to connect again,” Graney said.
Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina late last month, causing catastrophic flooding from the storm's historic rainfall in the North Carolina mountains.
Cooper also signed the state's first relief package to address the devastation caused by Helen, allocating $273 million for immediate needs and providing flexibility to agencies and displaced residents.
People collect donated items at a closed gas station along the Swannanoa River following Hurricane Helene October 7 in Swannanoa, North Carolina. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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Nearly all of the money will go toward the state's share needed to meet the federal government's contribution to state and local disaster aid programs. Other funds will be used in part to ensure public school nutrition employees in closed schools are paid and to help officials administer elections in the coming weeks in this battleground state.
Fox News' Greg Norman, Chris Pandolfo, Stephen Sorace and Associated Press contributed to this report.