81 people still missing in North Carolina, Helene now third deadliest mainland U.S. hurricane since 1950
Nearly three weeks after Hurricane “Helene” made landfall, North Carolina is still searching for 81 missing people amid mounting fatalities, with over 131 deaths reported in the state as of October 16. With a total of 261 fatalities, Helene is now the third deadliest mainland U.S. landfalling hurricane since 1950.
Damage caused by Hurricane "Helene" in North Carolina. Image credit: NCDOT
As of October 16, 81 people are still missing in North Carolina after severe destruction brought by Hurricane “Helene” since it made landfall in Florida on September 26.
Helene has resulted in over 261 fatalities, surpassing 259 fatalities caused by Hurricane “Camille” in 1969 and making it the third deadliest hurricane to make landfall on the U.S. mainland since 1950.
In North Carolina alone, more than 131 deaths have been reported. Buncombe County has been particularly affected, with at least 72 fatalities. 51 fatalities were reported in South Carolina, 33 in Georgia, 26 in Florida, 17 in Tennessee (and 27 missing), 2 in Virginia, and 1 in Indiana.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper in a news conference warned that the figure may vary as more reports of missing persons are resolved. “I want a caution that this is not a definitive count, because the task force is continuing its work,” said Cooper.
The governor also said that the state has formed task forces to search for the missing people. “The task force, law enforcement, and other partners will continue working to locate those unaccounted for,” said Cooper in the conference.
More than six months’ worth of rainfall fell during Helene’s onslaught, destroying several towns in the western part of North Carolina.
Rescue attempts were hampered by the steep and rough terrain of western North Carolina, where homes and bridges were washed away and the major tourist destination of Asheville was cut off.
The Governor also addressed the issue of the spread of misinformation concerning storm response, which ranged from erroneous statements about the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) acquiring local land to misconceptions about relief available to storm survivors.
“The ongoing spread of misinformation about operations is not ok. It has got to stop,” said Deanne Criswell Administrator of FEMA. She also said how heartbreaking it is to see words or acts of hatred towards anyone, let alone federal responders who are there to help people in a critical time.
References:
1 Nearly 100 people still unaccounted for in North Carolina following Helene – Scripps news – October 16, 2024
2 Nearly 100 People Are Still Missing in North Carolina After Hurricane Helene – The New York Times – October 15, 2024
3 Nearly 100 still missing in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene – BBC – October 16, 2024
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