TRAGIC UPDATE: Dozens of people still missing as Helene’s devastation leaves grim death toll in North Carolina

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From Fox News: North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced Tuesday that there are 92 people unaccounted for in his state following Hurricane Helene as the death toll from the storm has reached 95.

Fatalities have been reported across 21 counties, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). The vast majority of those fatalities were reported in Buncombe, with 42 deaths, followed by Yancey and Henderson, at 11 and 7, respectively.

“The Department of Public Safety formed a task force to find who is still unaccounted for and focus efforts where needed… as of today, the task force number of unaccounted for people is 92,” Cooper said during a briefing. “The task force, law enforcement, and other partners will continue working to locate those who are unaccounted for, and I am thankful for their efforts.

Cooper added that the number of those unaccounted for will “continue to fluctuate as more reports come in and others are resolved.”

Due to the flooding caused by the deadly hurricane, homes were demolished and swept away, roads were washed away, and many communities were cut off, having no access in or out.

Meanwhile, locals on the ground who are working day and night with cleanup and rescue efforts are sharing sobering details of just how dire the situation really is.

To make matters worse, freezing temperatures are setting in. And crews are frantically working to clear debris out of the waterways before it freezes over, because if it is left in the water when the snow melts next spring, it will clog up the water flow and create more flooding all over again.

One person wrote on social media, “We are in desperate need. It is getting into freezing temperatures. 15 people died last night due to hypothermia, we lost a baby over the weekend. Please donate so that we can get through supplies needed. Urgent requests for heaters, blankets, propane tanks, and cash so we can fill those tanks. Please help!”

Margo, a former GOP official, announced, “It is 35 degrees in Murphy, North Carolina this morning. That means it’s much colder in most parts of Western North Carolina in higher elevations. In Avery County, it’s 34 degrees and raining. The high will be 39. There are people without shelter. In Yancey County, it’s 35 degrees and rainy. The high will be 44 degrees and cloudy. There are people without shelter. In Mitchell County, it’s 34 degrees and cloudy. The high today will be 52 degrees. There are people in Western North Carolina without power or shelter in Mitchell County.”

The town of Chimney Rock, North Carolina looks like a war zone:

A Facebook group called “Green Mountain North Carolina Neighbors” is being utilized to share updates, requests for help and organize relief efforts.

Another group, called the Savage Freedoms Relief Operations, has a Facebook page. The force is comprised of mostly off-duty or retired military members who now work as crop duster pilots, helicopter tour guides and special operations pilots. They are using their own aircraft on the missions, and are flying out with supplies, food, fuel, medicines and doctors. They have put together a fleet of 35 helicopters which have flown hundreds of rescue and supply missions.

A post on Gov. Cooper’s X account reads, “Today, Gov. Cooper traveled to Asheville, Fairview and Swannanoa to see the critical work being done to get people federal assistance, hot meals and other resources they need.”

But everyone is not happy with Cooper. Brooke Weiss of Moms for Liberty retorted, “More photo ops with government employees that basically cannot say no. Where are the regular people? How come they won’t pose with you? Oh wait; I know why.”

When a bridge was washed away, locals got creative and built a temporary bridge out of truck trailers:

People in Ohio are delivering badly needed hay to North Carolina:

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