North Carolina Communities Cut Off by Flooding as Helene’s Death Toll Approaches 100 in the Southeast

Crews are tirelessly working to clear debris, restore power, and deliver supplies to North Carolina communities that remain cut off due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Florida last week and has resulted in nearly 100 fatalities across several states in the Southeast.

The Category 4 hurricane struck Florida’s Big Bend region late Thursday night, bringing winds of up to 140 mph and a catastrophic storm surge that wreaked havoc from Florida through Georgia, North Carolina, and into the Tennessee Valley as the storm progressed across the United States.

As of now, at least 99 lives have been lost across six states: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. The hurricane’s impact plunged millions into darkness, downing trees and utility lines while destroying homes, businesses, and essential infrastructure.

By Monday, the number of power outages decreased to 2.1 million, indicating that utility crews’ relentless efforts were starting to yield results. However, restoring power is just one of the many challenges that first responders and residents face as recovery operations continue in the aftermath of this disaster.

In North Carolina, the death toll has risen, with dozens of fatalities reported and hundreds still unaccounted for due to communication challenges in the western regions of the state severely affected by Helene. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper stated, “This unprecedented storm dropped between 10 and 29 inches of rain across the mountains, resulting in life-threatening floods and landslides.”

Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller confirmed additional deaths linked to Helene’s flooding over the weekend, indicating that the death toll may continue to rise. Official reports confirm that at least 38 people have died in North Carolina as a result of storm-related incidents.

In response to the disaster, President Joe Biden approved a Major Disaster Declaration for North Carolina on Saturday, deploying over 800 FEMA staff along with distribution centers and equipment across the affected states.

Flooding has severely restricted access to essential supplies in parts of North Carolina, leading to shortages of fuel, food, and water. This has heightened tensions, particularly in Buncombe County, where reports indicate conflicts breaking out at gas stations and long lines for fuel. When questioned about the delays in supply deliveries, the Buncombe County sheriff explained that many roads had been destroyed, prompting the Sheriff’s Office to consider stationing deputies at gas stations.

The storm surge from Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic damage along Florida’s Gulf Coast, with the Big Bend region experiencing the highest inundation, exceeding 15 feet. Cities like Tampa and Clearwater Beach faced their highest storm surge levels in decades. The small barrier island of Treasure Island was especially hard-hit, suffering widespread flooding and property damage, resulting in four deaths there, according to local police.

Residents of Florida’s Keaton Beach are still grappling with the aftermath of Helene. Steven Hatchett, a local resident, told FOX Weather’s Robert Ray, “I’ve seen a lot of bad storms on this river and watched people recover, but I’ve never seen anything of this magnitude—not even the Storm of the Century in 1993 or any other hurricanes.” He lamented the loss of buildings that had been part of the landscape his entire life.