How many people has Tropical Storm Helene killed in North Carolina? How many remain missing?

Adam Wagner, The Charlotte Observer on Oct 15, 2024

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Tropical Storm Helene has caused 95 confirmed deaths in North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper said at a Tuesday press conference. And almost as many, 92, remain missing.

Buncombe County has had the most Helene-related deaths, with 42. Yancey County has had 11 confirmed deaths; Henderson County has had seven; and Haywood County has had five, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday.

“The vast majority of these are directly related to flooding leading to landslides, blunt force, flooded cars, etc. We are still going through the detailed review of deaths records on other specific causes and elements,” DHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley said.

Drowning is the leading cause of death, with 20. That’s followed by landslides and blunt force injuries, each of which are confirmed to have killed 11 people, and trauma from wind or tree, which killed six people, according to DHHS.

The state has established a task force that is working with local law enforcement officials to investigate cases of people who are still unaccounted for.

Cooper warned that the number of people missing is likely to fluctuate, with people being both added and removed as more cases are uncovered or resolved.

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