Hurricane Helene: More than 90 reported dead in North Carolina, 21 unaccounted for

A full of 21 group stay unaccounted for successful North Carolina pursuing Hurricane Helene arsenic nan decease toll from nan large wind has reached 96.

Fatalities person been reported crossed 21 counties, according to nan North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). The immense mostly of those fatalities were reported successful Buncombe, pinch 42 deaths, followed by Yancey and Henderson, astatine 11 and 7, respectively. 

"The Department of Public Safety formed a task unit to find who is still unaccounted for and attraction efforts wherever needed," North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said during a briefing Tuesday. "The task force, rule enforcement, and different partners will proceed moving to find those who are unaccounted for, and I americium thankful for their efforts. 

Cooper added that nan number of those unaccounted for will "continue to up and down arsenic much reports travel successful and others are resolved." While location were 89 group unaccounted for astatine 1 point, nan North Carolina Department of Public Safety told Fox News Digital connected Monday that nan number has dropped to 21.

FAMILY THAT LOST 11 IN HURRICANE HELENE MUDSLIDES SAYS COMMUNITY SACRIFICED ‘LIFE AND LIMB’ TO SAVE EACH OTHER

An aerial position of destroyed and damaged buildings successful nan aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding connected Oct. 8 successful Bat Cave, N.C. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

"This large wind brought historical rainfall and harm to 1 of nan astir beautiful regions successful our state. In nan look of this catastrophic disaster, North Carolinians person travel together to thief each different and statesman to move forward," he besides said. "The roadworthy to betterment will beryllium long, and we will beryllium pinch Western North Carolina each measurement of nan way."

NCDHSS told Fox News Digital that nan fatalities were confirmed by nan North Carolina Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME). 

Justin J. Graney, Chief of External Affairs and Communications for North Carolina Emergency Management, has told Fox News Digital location are "wide area searches taking spot since [Hurricane Helene] took place." 

"This includes grid searches, conveyance searches, damaged building searches, and searches astir areas wherever debris person collected. Hundreds of responders person conducted said searches," Graney said. 

PUPPIES RESCUED FROM HURRICANE HELENE TO BE REHOMED WITH MILITARY VETERANS

Workers, organization members, and business owners cleanable up debris successful nan aftermath of Hurricane Helene successful Marshall, N.C., connected Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Graney explained that section entities return accusation reported to section 911, nan NC 211 telephone center, societal media reporters, shelter occupancy information, and immoderate accusation reported to an EOC, "to effort to find anyone that personification has reported missing aliases that they person asked to person a use cheque conducted."

"Many of these types of situations were thankfully resolved erstwhile communications systems were brought backmost online and family and friends were capable to link erstwhile again," Graney said. 

Hurricane Helene deed North Carolina precocious past month, bringing catastrophic flooding from nan storm’s historical rainfall successful nan North Carolina mountains. 

Cooper besides has signed nan state's first alleviation package to reside Helene’s devastation, allocating $273 cardinal for contiguous needs and giving elasticity to agencies and displaced residents.

People cod donated items astatine a shuttered state position on nan Swannanoa River successful nan aftermath of Hurricane Helene connected Oct. 7 successful Swannanoa, N.C. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

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Nearly each nan money will service arsenic nan state's stock that is needed to meet nan national government's lucifer for authorities and section disaster assistance programs. Other money will beryllium utilized successful portion to guarantee public-school nutrition labor astatine closed schools get paid and to thief officials administer elections successful nan coming weeks successful nan battleground state.

Fox News' Greg Norman, Chris Pandolfo, Stephen Sorace, and nan Associated Press contributed to this report.