Over 1,000 people were still reported unaccounted for in North Carolina’s Buncombe County on Sunday. Thirty-five people have also been confirmed dead in the county in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
According to The New York Post, Buncombe County officials have announced that rescue efforts remain ongoing in the county and that emergency medical shelters have been established in light of the flooding conditions caused by the massive hurricane. During an emergency meeting on Sunday, officials announced that a website had been set up to help find anyone unaccounted for during the storm and that there had been “more than 1,000 reports so far” of missing people in the county.
Officials claimed that many of the unaccounted individuals could be people who are without electricity and unable to let others know they are safe from the storm. Addressing the difficulty of reaching stranded individuals due to collapsed roads and other infrastructure problems caused by severe flooding, Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller said, “We’re doing the best we can.”
As of Monday, NBC News reported that at least 35 people had been killed in Buncombe County. The New York Post noted that Gov. Roy Cooper (D-N.C.) warned that the death toll will likely continue to rise in the state. On Sunday, Cooper said, “We know there will be more.”
READ MORE: Videos: Tennessee, North Carolina homes, roads, and more destroyed by hurricane
According to The New York Post, North Carolina Adjutant General Todd Hunt confirmed that emergency response teams had rescued over 40 people in the Asheville area of Buncombe County through responses to 911 calls and messages on social media. The outlet also reported that crucial supplies were being airlifted to communities impacted by the hurricane while officials continue to clear roads and restore communication throughout the state.
In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, Cooper wrote, “North Carolina is strong and our first responders are the best in the nation. I am thankful for their hard work and for risking their lives to protect all North Carolinians. This is an unprecedented tragedy that requires an unprecedented response.”
According to NBC News, at least 99 people have been confirmed dead as a result of Hurricane Helene. The outlet reported that over 2 million people still remain without power in the states affected by the major storm.
One social media user shared pictures of the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene, saying, “I’m safe but I have not heard from anyone in Buncombe county yet as they have been cut off from the world except by air and have no service.” The social media user added, “This is one of the worst storms I’ve experienced in my life.”
