Seven people are still missing in North Carolina following Hurricane Helene as the storm’s death toll remains at 101 as of Saturday.
Deaths have been reported in all 22 counties, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). Most of those deaths were reported in Buncombe, with 43 deaths, followed by Yancey and Henderson, with 10 and 9, respectively.
“The Department of Public Security has established a team that will look at who is still unknown and focus on efforts where needed,” said Gov. Roy Cooper. “The team, law enforcement, and other partners will continue to work to find those who are still unknown, and I thank them for their efforts.
Cooper added that the number of those still missing “will continue to fluctuate as more reports come in and some 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 has dropped to 7.
THE FAMILY THAT LOST 11 IN STORM HELENE MUDSLIDES SAYS THE COMMUNITY GIVEN ‘LIFE AND LIMB’ TO SAVE EACH OTHER.
An aerial view of damaged and destroyed buildings after Hurricane Helene’s flooding on Oct. 8 in Bat Cave, NC (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
“This storm brought historic rainfall and damage to one of the most beautiful counties in our state. In the face of this great tragedy, North Carolinians have come together to help each other and begin to move forward,” he said. “The road to recovery will be long, and we will be with Western North Carolina every step of the way.”
The NCDHSS told Fox News Digital that the homicide was confirmed by the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME).
Justin J. Graney, Chief of Public Affairs and Communications for North Carolina Emergency Management, told Fox News Digital that there has been an “extensive search of the area that has been going on since then. [Hurricane Helene] it happened.”
“This includes vehicle searches, vehicle searches, damaged property searches, and trash area searches. Hundreds of responders have searched,” Graney said.
PUPPIES SURVIVED IN THE STORM HELENE TO BE BACK HOME WITH FACIAL CARE
Workers, community members, and business owners clean up debris after Hurricane Helene in Marshall, NC, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Graney explained that local agencies are taking information reported to local 911, the NC 211 call center, social media reporters, residential information, and any information reported to the EOC, “to try to locate anyone who has reported missing or who has requested them. to welfare check.”
“Many of these types of situations were thankfully resolved when communication systems were brought back online and family and friends were able to connect again,” Graney said.
Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina late last month, bringing the worst flooding on record for a rainstorm in the North Carolina mountains.
Cooper also signed the first federal aid package to deal with the devastation of Helene, allocating $273 million for emergency needs and relief to agencies and displaced residents.
People collect donated items at a closed gas station along the Swannanoa River after Hurricane Helene on Oct. 7 in Swannanoa, NC (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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Almost all of the money will serve as a federal appropriation needed to meet the federal government’s match for national and local disaster relief programs. The rest of the money will be used in part to ensure that public school nutrition workers at closed schools are paid and to help officials administer elections in the coming weeks in the war zone.
Fox News’ Greg Norman, Chris Pandolfo, Stephen Sorace and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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