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Thirty people remain missing in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, with the death toll now at 95, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Most fatalities occurred in Buncombe County (42 deaths), followed by Yancey (11) and Henderson (7). Fatalities have been reported across 21 counties.
“The Department of Public Safety formed a task force to find who is still unaccounted for and focus efforts where needed,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said during a briefing Tuesday. “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: “This storm brought historic rain and damage to one of the most beautiful regions in our state. In the face of this catastrophic disaster, North Carolinians have come together to help each other and begin to move forward. The road to recovery will be long, and we will be with Western North Carolina every step of the way.”
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Justin J. Graney, Chief of External Affairs and Communications for North Carolina Emergency Management, said there are “wide area searches taking place since [Hurricane Helene] took place.”
“This includes grid searches, vehicle searches, damaged structure searches, and searches around areas where debris have collected. Hundreds of responders have conducted said searches,” Graney said. “Many of these types of situations were thankfully resolved when communications systems were brought back online and family and friends were able to connect once again.”
Cooper has come under fire this week for statements he made about residents rebuilding the area, saying that a government buyout would be the better option:
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper urged Hurricane Helene victims not to rebuild their homes, suggesting they seek buyouts instead.
He revealed that plans are already in place for local governments to address the situation.
Do those plans involve lithium? pic.twitter.com/ExW49GXOYU
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