Photo: Melissa Sue Gerrits / Getty Images News / Getty Images
The Following Updates Are For Friday, October 4, 2024:
UPDATED: 1:00 PM ET
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper visited Canton and gave remarks after seeing the devastation caused by Helene. The governor also defended FEMA saying support the federal government is providing support. The comments came after FEMA warned about misinformation about the federal government's response to Hurricane Helene. The agency launched a "rumor response" page on its website, which encourages the public to share information from trusted sources. Among the misinformation FEMA wants to combat is a claim that it doesn't have enough money to provide disaster assistance, which the agency says it does. Another rumor involves FEMA asking for cash donations and turning away volunteers, which the agency also claimed is false.
UPDATED: 10:30 AM ET
During the morning briefing, Duke Energy's Bill Norton provided an update of the efforts to restore power. "I want to thank all of our customers for their patience. This has been an incredibly long week for our customers, for our partners in Buncombe County, throughout the state and our crew of 21,000 line workers, vegetation crews and more across the Carolinas working this storm," said Norton. "The teamwork shown by everyone has been amazing.
"The good news is our crews have repaired more than 1.2 million power outages here in North Carolina. That success elsewhere in the state allows us to bring even more crews into Western North Carolina to address the hardest hit areas here," said Norton. "About 170,000 customers in the North Carolina mountain region remain without power unfortunately, including 78,000 here in Buncombe County, alone as of 10 o'clock today. We are on track to restore another 27,000 customers by tonight, another 69,000 in the hardest hit areas by Sunday."
"In the areas where catastrophic damage exists, where you have homes that physically cannot receive power, infrastructure washed away, roads gone, lack of access for our crews, 105,000 customers are without power in those types of areas. So we are working very closely with the state on plans to address these as quickly as we possibly can," said Norton.
UPDATED: 9:15 AM ET
One of country music's biggest stars has released a benefit song to help victims of Hurricane Helene. Eric Church dropped "Darkest Hour" on Friday, his first new song in three years. He has pledged to donate all publishing royalties from the single to the people of his home state of North Carolina. Church said "Darkest Hour" is dedicated to the "unsung heroes" who "show up when the world's falling apart." The singer-songwriter has also pledged his Chief Cares organization will help those in need in all states impacted by the storm.
UPDATED: 9:00 AM ET
Several major Western North Carolina roadways will remain closed indefinitely after they were severely damaged from Helene. The National Park Service gave an update earlier this week, saying the Blue Ridge Parkway will remain blocked off through the entire state as crews assess the situation. A specialized team has been deployed to provide emergency stabilized affected park resources and help employees. North Carolina transportation officials say I-40 between Haywood County and the Tennessee state line will also remain closed until further notice after three different sections of the road fell into the nearby river. Operations to stabilize the eroded interstate are set to begin within a week.
The federal government is considering using a Piedmont Triad facility used to house migrant children for Hurricane Helene victims. North Carolina Representative Kathy Manning says the Greensboro Influx Care Facility is going through a variety of steps to make sure it can be used for people whose lives have been impacted by the recent storm. The congresswoman tells FOX8 that the feds are currently reviewing its contract with the property to see if it can be repurposed. One of the biggest concerns about the proposal is who would pay for the cost of running the operation. The Department of Health and Human Services has been working on the plan for the last several days.
A critical supplier of IV fluids nationwide if feeling the impacts of Helene at its Western North Carolina operation. Baxter International says it has temporarily stopped production at its McDowell County facility due to flood damages from the storm. The medical technology company gave an update yesterday, saying it's managing its inventory to minimize disruptions to patient care. Baxter says it's encouraged by the recovery progress made, but there is still no timeline for when the manufacturing plant will reopen. The company is responsible for making IV fluids for more than half of the hospitals in the country.
UPDATED: 6:15 AM ET
The search is continuing for more missing people in Buncombe County. Sheriff Quentin Miller says crews are looking for around 200 people who haven't been heard from since Tropical Storm Helene came through a week ago. More than 70 people have now died from storm-related injuries. A call center has now been established in Buncombe County for storm information.
Crews are making progress to restore power in Western North Carolina. Half of residents in places like Buncombe, Henderson, Polk and Yancey counties are still living without electricity. Mitchell County still remains without power by at least 75%. Duke Energy is reporting around 200,000 customers still have no service.
Landslides have been having a big impact around the mountains. The United States Geological Survey has reported more than 125 landslides since Tropical Storm Helene hit a week ago. Close to a dozen of those were considered to have conditions that impacted rivers and structures. It's possible the number will still rise.
Workers are helping make improvements at the Western North Carolina Nature Center after storm damage. WLOS-TV reports more than a dozen employees from the zoo in Asheboro traveled to Asheville this week to help clean up at the nature center. The animals were reportedly unharmed. The center's executive director says the focus should still be on families in need in the area.
Homeowners and renters in North Carolina are encouraged to apply for federal assistance. Funding is being offered from FEMA for those who have been affected by Tropical Storm Helene. Anyone in need can head to Disaster-Assistance-Dot-Gov.
The Following Updates Are For Thursday, October 3, 2024:
UPDATED: 4:15 PM ET
The death toll from Helene has risen.
During an afternoon briefing, Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller reported the number now stands at 72. The number of missing is over 200.
"To the people of Buncombe County, you are in the heart of everything we do. We know these are hard times. We are coming to get you. We are coming to pick up our people that's out there. Your safety and well-being are our highest priority and we will not rest until you are secure and that you are being cared for," said Miller.
UPDATED: 2:45 PM ET
Search teams are not only helping find Western North Carolinians impacted by Helene as animals are also among the survivors. Rescue Ranch in Statesville is located between Asheville and the Piedmont Triad. The organization has been conducting rescue missions every day since last weekend, saving animals from horses to guinea pigs. The pets are brought back to the ranch, where the Red Dog Farm Animal Rescue Network will help find them foster homes or temporary shelters. Teams from Colorado, Michigan, and the Tar Heel State are currently helping in the ongoing operation. People are encouraged to drop-off donations for the animals at All Pets Considered in Greensboro or the Statesville ranch.
Lawyers from around the nation are offering their services to help Western North Carolina residents impacted by Helene. Legal Aid and the North Carolina Bar Association are working with FEMA to connect victims with free legal assistance. Survivors of the storm are expected to face foreclosures, evacuations, bankruptcies, and other disputes in the wake of the disaster. The aid is only available for those with legal issues related to Helene. People with questions can call the organizations' hotline at 866-219-5261. More information is also available through the Legal Aid of North Carolina website.
More than a dozen North Carolina state parks will remain closed for the rest of the month due to impacts from Helene. Officials say all parks west of I-77 have been shut down. This includes Chimney Rock, Grandfather Mountain, and Stone Mountains. During this time, the State Parks Division Of Parks and Recreation is helping with emergency and rescue efforts in western counties.
UPDATED: 1:45 PM ET
The Lindenhurst Fire Department is holding a donation drive for Hurricane Helene victims. It's hoping to fill two tractor-trailers and take much needed supplies to residents of Buncombe County in North Carolina, one of the areas hardest hit. Officials are asking for items such as batteries, flashlights, cleaning and pet supplies, products for babies and non-perishable food. The fire department says its hoping to "pay it forward" after people from the south helped them out after Superstorm Sandy.
UPDATED: 12:15 PM ET
Duke Energy says crews have been working around the clock to restore power back to customers in Western North Carolina following the destruction of Hurricane Helene, and officials say most customers, who are able to have power restored, could see power by Friday.
Bill Norton, a spokesperson with Duke Energy, told WLOS News 13 there are about 700 bucket trucks deployed, repairing the extensive damages caused by Hurricane Helene.
"The biggest challenge that we've had is that this has been a historic storm. We've never had one like this," Norton said. "We've never had this level of flooding. So, it's not just poles and wires that are down. It's the backbone of our system...the transmission infrastructure. So, we're repairing that first."
UPDATED: 10:15 AM ET
During the morning briefing, Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder said the county continues to see power coming on line, but 85,000 customers are still without power following the storm.
Pinder also said she wanted to clarify that Buncombe County does not have an official number of for unaccounted people. "Search and rescue continues now for a seventh day. We are continuing to find people," said Pinder. "We know we have pockets of people who are isolated due to landslides and bridges out, so they are disconnected, but not missing. Power, Wi-Fi, and phone coverage remains a barrier to connections. Only once our search and rescue ends, will we truly know the number of unaccounted for."
UPDATED: 6:00 AM ET
President Biden is announcing details of Hurricane Helene relief efforts going to North Carolina. Speaking from the Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh Wednesday, the President said he approved Governor Roy Cooper's request to cover 100% of the costs of debris removal and emergency protective measures for six months. Biden stressed the bipartisan efforts to help storm victims, saying there are no Democrats or Republicans, only Americans. He said their job is to help as many people as they can and as quickly and thoroughly as they can. The President's remarks came after he took an aerial tour of the areas hit hardest by flooding caused by Helene.
UPDATED: 5:00 AM ET
More than 70 people are being reported dead from storm-related injuries in North Carolina after Helene. At least 61 of those are in Buncombe County alone. Around a thousand National Guard soldiers are coming into the region to help with rescue and relief operations. President Joe Biden completed an aerial view of Asheville yesterday.
FEMA is set in place to help Western North Carolina for at least six-months. President Joe Biden assured even more funding coverage for the region yesterday after Helene. He took an aerial ride with Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer over the city to Black Mountain, Chimney Rock and Lake Lure.
School officials are continuing to assess the situation in Asheville and Buncombe County. There's no definite word on when classes will resume. WLOS-TV reports that school buildings sustained only minimal damage, but water supply remains the biggest issue. Buncombe's superintendent says some of their campuses are being used as sleep sites for Duke Power linemen and law enforcement.
Repairs are underway at Buncombe County's largest source of water. County officials reported yesterday that work is being done at the North Fork plant, but a boil water advisory remains in place. Access roads will have to be rebuilt for work to be completed at the Bee Tree facility in Swannanoa. There are at least eight water distribution sites around Asheville.
Emergency supplies are being brought in non-stop to places like Rutherford County. WLOS-TV reports rescue helicopters have been coming in to the local airport for 12-hours-a-day since Monday. The efforts have helped pack up nearly 20 box trucks and a dozen pick-ups full of supplies with donations from across the country.
A mountain non-profit is doing its part to increase efforts to help storm-related victims. MANNA FoodBank is accepting pallets of bottled water of non-perishables at the Farmers Market off Brevard Road in Asheville. Donations and pick-ups are being made through at least Saturday at the location.