North Carolina Seeks Survivors Affected by Hurricane Helene, Reports Reuters

By Andrew Hay and Daniel Trotta

North Carolina is set to resume search and rescue operations, focusing on delivering aid and reaching out to hundreds of individuals stranded due to destroyed roads and damaged communication infrastructure following the impact of Hurricane Helene.

The storm has claimed the lives of over 100 people across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia, with the death toll expected to rise as rescue teams access isolated areas and restore telecommunications.

"There are a lot of people hurting. When you don’t have power, when you don’t have cell phone service, and when you don’t have water, this is a catastrophic situation," said North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper during an interview. He reported that some communities have been completely devastated by the storm.

The state is coordinating efforts of 92 search and rescue teams from 20 states, alongside federal assistance. Most operations are concentrated in the western areas of the state, which experienced severe road damage, fallen trees, and displaced homes.

On Monday, emergency crews distributed one million liters of water, 600,000 meals, and numerous pallets of supplies airlifted into the region. Authorities noted that around 300 roads remain closed, with over 7,000 individuals registering for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The National Guard is also aiding by delivering 1,000 tons of food and water to remote locations aerially.

Hurricane Helene made landfall on the Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday, leaving a trail of destruction across several southeastern states.

As of Monday evening, nearly 1.8 million homes and businesses across seven states, from Florida to Ohio, were without power, with the hardest-hit areas including South Carolina and Georgia.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp reported at least 25 fatalities in his state, while South Carolina has recorded 29 deaths. A national death toll was reported at 128, with 56 of those in North Carolina alone. In Buncombe County, which encompasses the popular tourist city of Asheville, the county manager confirmed that 40 individuals had died.

John Templeton, who evacuated with his family from Asheville, shared his memories of evacuating from previous disasters, including hurricanes Harvey and Katrina. "I’m pretty familiar with disaster zones, and this is worse than any I’ve seen before," he remarked while journeying through Fairview, southeast of Asheville.

As Templeton took the sole accessible route out of Asheville, he encountered a convoy of National Guard vehicles and water trucks entering the area. "It was a sinking feeling in my stomach because I knew that everybody still there just had no idea what the coming suffering and misery would look like," he reflected.

President Joe Biden announced plans to visit North Carolina on Wednesday, with subsequent trips to Georgia and Florida. He is also considering calling Congress back into session to secure additional aid funding for the affected regions.