Biden to visit NC as death toll reaches 40 in Hurricane Helene’s aftermath

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Countless homes, businesses and roadways were washed away in North Carolina during the wrath of Hurricane Helene — and now 40 lives have been lost, according to a Monday afternoon update from Buncombe County officials.

Later Monday afternoon, President Joe Biden announced that he will visit the state Wednesday for a briefing and an aerial survey of the damage in Asheville and surrounding areas, according to the Associated Press.

Biden will first be in Raleigh for a briefing from state and local officials, the AP said, before taking an aerial tour of Asheville.

Governor Cooper also surveyed the damage from above Monday in the Asheville area and gathered with state and federal leaders from FEMA, NCDOT, NCDPS, NCDHHS and NC Emergency Management.

The group came together to “assess storm damage and ongoing response efforts” in the western portion of the state where more than 450,000 customers remain without power. This is down from the peak of more than 1 million.

Travel remains dangerous, according to Governor Cooper’s office, with more than 400 roads closed in the region. NCDOT is asking people to refrain from unnecessary travel to or in western North Carolina.

“The focus is on restoring primary roads and access to communities that have been isolated by damage,” a release said Monday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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