Buncombe County Reduces Hurricane Helene Death Toll by 30, Aligns with State Figures

Buncombe County in North Carolina, home to Asheville, has significantly revised its death toll from Hurricane Helene, reducing the number of fatalities by as many as 30. According to a statement from the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office and data from the state, the county’s initial report of 72 deaths has been corrected to 42, aligning with the state’s tally.

The discrepancy in the death count was attributed to several factors, including the lack of consistent communication due to widespread power and cellphone outages in the aftermath of the storm. Initially, all deaths in the county were classified as storm-related, but as investigations progressed, the causes of death were reevaluated, and some were found to be unrelated to the hurricane.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh played a crucial role in reviewing and ruling on the causes of death, a process that has been used in past storms. However, in the chaos following Helene, several counties reported fatality numbers independently of the state, leading to inconsistencies. The state’s tally, which includes 42 deaths in Buncombe County, now stands at 96 storm-related deaths statewide.

Another county, Henderson, also adjusted its death toll to align with the state’s figures, reducing its reported deaths from nine to seven. The overall death toll from Hurricane Helene across multiple states has been confirmed to be at least 214, according to the latest updates.

The storm, which made landfall in Florida on September 24, caused record flooding and significant damage in western North Carolina, particularly in areas like Asheville, Swannanoa, and Black Mountain. The disaster has highlighted issues such as the lack of building regulations and the challenges faced by communities in rebuilding and recovering from such events.