North Carolina Reports 107 Deaths as Hurricane Helene Recovery Continues

Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact continues to unfold as the death toll rises to 236 across seven states, with 107 confirmed fatalities in North Carolina alone.

Gov. Josh Stein announced an additional death in Avery County, where a man who had been camping with his wife was found deceased. His wife’s death had been confirmed earlier. The couple was caught in the storm during the last weekend of September.

Now entering its 28th week of recovery, the aftermath of Helene has left an estimated $60 billion in damages. The storm is being considered one of the worst natural disasters in North Carolina’s history, alongside Hurricane Floyd in 1999, Hurricane Hazel in 1954, and the Great Flood of 1916 in Asheville.

Helene made landfall as a powerful Category 4 hurricane in Dekle Beach, Florida, on September 26. Initially expected to weaken as it moved north, the storm instead brought unprecedented rainfall to the Appalachian Mountains, far exceeding forecasts. Some areas saw over 30 inches of rain, triggering flash floods that devastated communities.

According to AccuWeather, rainfall totals reached 32.51 inches in Jeter Mountain, 31.36 inches in Busick, and 26.65 inches in Hughes. The hardest-hit North Carolina counties include Buncombe, with 42 deaths, Yancey with 11, and Henderson with 10.

Beyond North Carolina, South Carolina reported 49 deaths, Georgia 34, Florida 25, Tennessee 18, Virginia two, and Indiana one. These figures were confirmed by state emergency agencies and law enforcement officials.

With its rising death toll, Hurricane Helene is now ranked as the fourth deadliest Atlantic hurricane in modern history, following Hurricane Katrina (2005, 1,392 deaths), Hurricane Audrey (1957, 416 deaths), and Hurricane Camille (1969, 256 deaths).

As recovery efforts continue, officials urge residents to remain cautious of ongoing hazards while communities work to rebuild in the wake of this catastrophic storm.