600 missing in Buncombe County after mountains slammed by Helene flooding

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN/AP) — The U.S. Southeast grappled Sunday with rising death tolls, a lack of vital supplies in isolated, flood-stricken areas and the widespread loss of homes and property while the devastating toll of Hurricane Helene became more clear and officials warned of a lengthy and difficult rebuild.

A North Carolina County that includes the mountain city of Asheville, reported 30 people killed due to the storm, the same day officials said two deputies in different counties were among the dead in the state.

John Harold, the city manager for Black Mountain, told CBS 17 Sunday that more than 600 people were still missing in Buncombe County, down from 1,000 just after the storm.

“It’s pretty bad, pretty rough,” Harold said Sunday about the town recovering from the storm. “We’re pretty isolated due to the interstate being closed but we are starting to get resources in.”

Harold said the deaths in Buncombe County were spread throughout the county. He was unsure if the numbers Sunday included any dead in Black Mountain.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper predicted the death toll would rise as rescuers and other emergency workers reached areas isolated by collapsed roads, failing infrastructure and widespread flooding.

He implored residents in western North Carolina to avoid travel, both for their own safety and to keep roads clear for emergency vehicles. More than 50 search teams spread throughout the region in search of stranded people.

“Many people are cut off because the roads are impassable,” Cooper said. Supplies were being airlifted to the region around Asheville, a city in western North Carolina’s mountains known for its arts, culture and scenery.

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