At least 30 people have been confirmed dead, and many remain missing in Buncombe County, North Carolina, following catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Helene.
The storm, which initially made landfall in Florida, has ravaged parts of the southeastern United States, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Officials have described the devastation as “biblical.” an emergency official in Buncombe County which includes the city of Asheville, Ryan Cole, called it the worst natural disaster the area has ever seen.
Across the U.S., the death toll has reached at least 105, with numbers expected to rise as emergency responders access more hard-hit areas.
Hurricane Helene, the most powerful storm to hit Florida’s Big Bend on record, weakened as it moved north but still wreaked havoc, particularly in North and South Carolina, where it was downgraded to a tropical storm.
In Buncombe County alone, 30 fatalities have been reported, with over 1,000 residents still unaccounted for. Power outages, downed trees, and hundreds of closed roads are making rescue efforts and recovery operations more challenging.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper described the situation as one of “historic proportions,” noting that widespread devastation had left many people stranded or displaced.
The North Carolina National Guard has already rescued over 119 individuals, including an infant, with more rescue efforts underway.
Shelters have been opened for thousands of displaced residents, and the American Red Cross is actively providing emergency support to those affected.
However, many communities remain cut off, and critical supplies, including food and water, are being delivered by air.
The economic toll of the storm is expected to be immense, with estimates ranging between $95 billion and $110 billion.
Federal emergencies have been declared in six states, and President Joe Biden has pledged to expedite aid to storm survivors, directing FEMA to deploy additional teams to the hardest-hit regions.
Despite weakening, forecasters warn that high winds and potential tornadoes remain a threat. With the hurricane season still ongoing, authorities are bracing for more storms in the weeks ahead.
