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Authorities in North Carolina on Friday confirmed at least 92 people dead as a result of Hurricane Helene, but were still unable to provide a number of people missing or unknown.
Fatalities have been reported in 20 counties, according to a morning update from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS).
The vast majority of these fatalities were recorded in Buncombe – 42 deaths, followed by Yancey and Henderson – at 11 and 7 respectively.
Debris from homes flooded by Hurricane Helene piles up at the curb as Hurricane Milton approaches on Tuesday, October 8, in Port Richey, Florida. (AP/Mike Carlson)
NCDHSS told Fox News Digital that these fatalities were confirmed by the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME).
NCDHSS said it does not have any missing person data at this time because there are various sources of missing person information and welfare check requests during the storm.
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The North Carolina Department of Public Safety told Fox News Digital that efforts are ongoing to gather these numbers.
Workers, community members and business owners clean up debris from Hurricane Helene in Marshall, North Carolina, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Justin J. Graney, director of external affairs and communications for North Carolina Emergency Management, told Fox News Digital that “a large area search has been ongoing since Hurricane Helen.”
“This includes net searches, vehicle searches, searches of damaged structures and searches of areas where debris has accumulated. Hundreds of first responders conducted the searches, Graney said.
Graney explained that local entities are collecting information reported to local 911, the NC 211 hotline, social media reporters, shelter occupancy information and any information provided to the EOC “to try to locate anyone who has been reported missing or has requested . for a welfare check to be carried out.”
“Many of these types of situations were fortunately resolved once communication systems were brought back online and family and friends were able to reconnect,” Graney said.
Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina late last month, causing catastrophic flooding as historic rainfall lashed North Carolina's mountains.
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Tens of thousands of electricity customers in the region remain without power, and some people – including Asheville residents – still lack running water.
FILE: North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (right) and Deanne Criswell, administrator of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, await the arrival of Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris for a briefing on damage from Hurricane Helene at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Oct. 5, 2024 r. in Charlotte, North Carolina (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
On Thursday, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed the state's first relief package to address the devastation in Helene, allocating $273 million for immediate needs and providing flexibility for agencies and displaced residents.
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Nearly all of the money will go toward the state's share needed to cover federal government spending on state and local disaster relief programs. The remaining money will be used in part to pay public school nutrition workers in closed schools and to help officials administer elections in the coming weeks in the battleground state.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
