142 verified storm-related deaths in the Carolinas after Helene, health officials say
By Ciara Lankford,
5 hours ago
CHARLOTTE ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — As of Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, there are 142 verified storm-related deaths in North and South Carolina following Helene, health officials announced.
According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, 34 deaths were due to ‘unknown circumstances,’ while 20 deaths were confirmed drownings.
Types of deaths in North Carolina:
Unknown circumstances: 34
Drowning: 20
Landslide: 11
Blunt force injuries: 9
Wind/tree trauma: 6
Motor vehicle downings: 4
Motor vehicle crash, including hydroplane cases: 3
“We are aware there are additional reports of decedents, and our team is working to verify that these are storm-related deaths,” NCDHHS said on Tuesday. “Life-saving activities will always take priority, and we will continue to work to update this information as appropriately as possible.”
According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, there are 49 confirmed storm-related fatalities in the state. The confirmed numbers come from the coroner’s office.
Confirmed deaths by county:
Aiken County: 11
Anderson County: 5
Chester County: 2
Chesterfield County: 1
Greenville County: 7
Greenwood County: 1
Laurens County: 3
Newberry County: 5
Richland County: 1
Saluda County: 3
Spartanburg County: 9
York County: 1
Asheville and Buncombe County have been among the hardest hit areas from Helene.
SWANNANOA, NORTH CAROLINA – OCTOBER 06: In an aerial view, a person rides past a destroyed church in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding on October 6, 2024 in Swannanoa, North Carolina. Rescue and recovery efforts continue as the death toll has risen to over 230 in what is now the deadliest U.S. mainland hurricane since Hurricane Katrina. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA – OCTOBER 04: A member of the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force searches a flood-damaged property with a search canine in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene along the Swannanoa River on October 4, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina. At least 215 people were killed in six states in the wake of the powerful hurricane which made landfall as a Category 4. President Joe Biden ordered the deployment of 1,000 active duty U.S. soldiers to assist with storm relief efforts in what is now the deadliest U.S. mainland hurricane since Hurricane Katrina. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Chimney Rock experienced extensive flooding and devastation from Hurricane Helene in late September. (Photo by Allison Joyce / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images)
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA – OCTOBER 03: An aerial view of flood damage wrought by Hurricane Helene along the Swannanoa River on October 3, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina. At least 200 people were killed in six states in the wake of the powerful hurricane which made landfall as a Category 4. President Joe Biden took an aerial tour of the devastated region yesterday and ordered the deployment of 1,000 active duty U.S. soldiers to assist with storm relief efforts and reinforce the North Carolina National Guard. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA – OCTOBER 03: An aerial view of flood damage wrought by Hurricane Helene along the Swannanoa River on October 3, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina. At least 200 people were killed in six states in the wake of the powerful hurricane which made landfall as a Category 4. President Joe Biden took an aerial tour of the devastated region yesterday and ordered the deployment of 1,000 active duty U.S. soldiers to assist with storm relief efforts and reinforce the North Carolina National Guard. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA – OCTOBER 02: An aerial view shows flood damage along the Swannanoa River in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on October 2, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina. President Joe Biden took an aerial tour of the devastated region today and has ordered the deployment of 1,000 active duty U.S. soldiers to assist with storm relief efforts and reinforce the North Carolina National Guard. At least 160 people were killed in six states in the wake of the powerful hurricane which made landfall as a Category 4. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
BAT CAVE, NORTH CAROLINA – OCTOBER 1: A citizen search and rescue team traverses a mudslide in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on October 1, 2024 near Bat Cave, North Carolina. The death toll has topped 140 people across the southeastern U.S. due to the storm, according to published reports, which made landfall as a category 4 storm on Thursday. Millions are without power and the federal government has declared major disasters in areas of North Carolina, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia and Alabama, freeing up federal emergency management money and resources for those states, according to the reports. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Marshall, NC – September 30 : Workers, community members, and business owners clean up debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Marshall, North Carolina on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
North Cove, N.C. – SEPTEMBER 28: Hurricane Helene caused flooding on the North Fork Catawba River in McDowell County that washed out a bridge on Highway 22 in North Cove, N.C. on Sept. 28, 2024, disconnecting communities and isolating them from already limited resources. (Photo by Julia Wall for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 29: Mary Grace and her dog, Marley, walk around the Biltmore Village in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on September 29, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina. According to reports, more than 60 people have been killed across the South due to the storm, and millions have been left without power. North Carolina has been approved for a Federal Major Disaster Declaration. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
A view of the damaged area at Asheville along with the western part of North-Carolina is devastated by the heavy rains and flooding after Hurricane Helene in Asheville, September 30. (Photo by Peter Zay/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Mary Grace and her dog, Marley, walk around the Biltmore Village in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on September 29, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina. According to reports, more than 60 people have been killed across the South due to the storm, and millions have been left without power. North Carolina has been approved for a Federal Major Disaster Declaration. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
A Duke Energy lineman works on a line the Biltmore Village in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on September 28, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
FLETCHER, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 29: People wait on others to pump gasoline in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on September 29, 2024 in Fletcher, North Carolina. At least 90 people have been killed across the southeastern U.S. due to the hurricane, according to published reports, which made landfall as a category 4 storm on Thursday. Millions are without power, according to the reports. The White House declared major disasters in North Carolina and Florida, freeing up federal emergency management money for those areas. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
FLETCHER, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 29: People wait in line for gasoline in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on September 29, 2024 in Fletcher, North Carolina. At least 90 people have been killed across the southeastern U.S. due to the hurricane, according to published reports, which made landfall as a category 4 storm on Thursday. Millions are without power, according to the reports. The White House declared major disasters in North Carolina and Florida, freeing up federal emergency management money for those areas. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Western North Carolina residents salvage bottled water from a flooded tractor-trailer in Swannanoa on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. The remnants of Hurricane Helene caused widespread flooding, downed trees, and power outages in western North Carolina. (Travis Long/The News & Observer/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
LAKE LURE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 28: Heavy machinery clears a road as the Rocky Broad River flows into Lake Lure, carrying debris from Chimney Rock, North Carolina after heavy rains caused by Hurricane Helene on September 28, 2024, in Lake Lure, North Carolina. Approximately six feet of debris piled on the bridge from Lake Lure to Chimney Rock, blocking access. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 28: Heavy rains from hurricane Helene caused record flooding and damage on September 28, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend on Thursday night with winds up to 140 mph and storm surges that killed at least 42 people in several states. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)
OLD FORT, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 30: Flood damage at a bridge across Mill Creek in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on September 30, 2024 in Old Fort, North Carolina. According to reports, at least 90 people have been killed across the southeastern U.S., and millions are without power due to the storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on Thursday. The White House has approved disaster declarations in North Carolina, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia and Alabama, freeing up federal emergency management money and resources for those states. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
The intersection of Main and Whaley streets is closed due to flooding as Hurricane Helene hits Columbia, South Carolina, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (Joshua Boucher/The State/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
OLD FORT, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 29: Damage and residual flooding from Mill Creek is seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on September 29, 2024 in Old Fort, North Carolina. According to reports, more than 60 people have been killed across the South due to the storm, and millions have been left without power. North Carolina has been approved for a Federal Major Disaster Declaration. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)
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