BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) says there have been 70 confirmed storm-related deaths in the Helene State, fewer than the total previously reported for Buncombe County alone.

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA is still reeling a week after the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene

State officials released the updated number, broken down by county, in an Oct. 5, 2024 news release.

• 1 Ashe
• 3 Avery
• 30 Buncombe
• 1 Burke
• 1 Catawba
• 2Cleveland
• 1 Gaston
• 7 Henderson
• 1 Macon
• 4Madison
• 1 McDowell
• 1 Mecklenburg
• 1 pole
• 3 Rutherford
• 2 Watauga
• 1 Yadkin
• 10 Yancey

During a news conference Thursday with other officials, Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller reported that there have been 72 deaths in the county alone. In a statement posted on Facebook Friday, the sheriff clarified that the number of reported deaths may fluctuate due to ongoing recovery efforts, the complexity in identifying victims and determining whether or not the deaths were related to the storm. Miller also said his department has sought assistance from other agencies to get a more accurate number.

“We ask for your patience and understanding as we navigate this complex process,” Miller said in part.

The state report gave some clues as to how people died, including 17 people from drowning, 11 people from landslides and six deaths from wind/tree injuries. There were 21 deaths listed under unknown circumstances.

NEW DRONE IMAGES SHOW SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO ASHEVILLE'S WATER SYSTEM BY HELENE

NCDHHS said the department is aware there are additional reports of deaths and is working to verify whether they were storm-related deaths.

“Life-saving measures will always be a priority and we will continue to work to update this information as appropriately as possible,” the release reads in part.

NCDHHS provided the following additional information about Helene-related deaths in the state:

• On 9/27/24, a female of unknown age was reported in Henderson County after being recovered from debris-filled water.
• On 10/4/24, a man of unknown age was reported in Yancey County after being recovered from debris after his home was washed away.
• On 10/4/24, a female of unknown age was reported in Buncombe County after being recovered from debris.
• On 10/4/24, a female of unknown age was reported in Buncombe County after flood waters receded.
• On 10/4/24 a female of unknown age was reported in Buncombe County, no further details at this time
• An unidentified person was reportedly recovered after being caught in a landslide and flooding in Buncombe County on 10/4/24.
• On 10/3/24, a 63-year-old man was reported crushed by a tree in Rutherford County.
• On 10/3/24, a woman of unknown age was reported in Buncombe County after being rescued from floodwaters.
• On 10/3/24, a woman of unknown age was reported in McDowell County after being rescued from a collapsed home.
• On 10/3/24, a female of unknown age was reported in Madison County after being recovered from the Ivy River.
• A 73-year-old man was recovered and found in debris on the riverbank in Buncombe County on 10/2/24.
• A male (age unconfirmed at this time) was reported in Madison County on 10/2/24, no further details are available at this time.
• On 10/2/24, a female (age is currently unconfirmed) was reported in Rutherford County after being recovered from the Lake Lure area.
• A man (age unconfirmed at this time) was reportedly recovered in Madison County on 10/2/24, no further details are available at this time.
• A woman was rescued from an area affected by flooding and mudslides in Yancey County on 9/29/24.
• Two unidentified individuals were reportedly recovered in Yancey County, no further details are available at this time.
• A man of unknown age has reportedly been recovered in Yancey County, with no further details available at this time.
• A 77-year-old man was reported to have been recovered in Yance County, no further details are available at this time.
• A 71-year-old woman is reported to have died in Yancey County on 9/27/24, no further details are available at this time.
• A man of unknown age was reported to have died in Yancey County on 9/27/24, no further details are available at this time.
• A woman of unknown age was reportedly recovered in Avery County.
• A man of unknown age was reportedly recovered in Avery County.
• A 58-year-old man was reported recovered in Avery County and was possibly involved in a home collapse.
• A 64-year-old man was reported recovered in Buncombe on 9/30/24.
• A man of unknown age was reportedly recovered in Buncombe County on 10/1/24. He was found in muddy debris next to the Swannanoa River.
• A 67-year-old woman died in her Polk County home on 9/27/24 when the home was destroyed in a landslide.
• An 89-year-old woman was rescued amid the rubble of her home that had been swept away by floodwaters in Henderson County on 9/30/24.
• On 10/1/24 a man was recovered after drowning in Buncombe County. He was recovered from Echo Lake.
• An 84-year-old woman was recovered in Buncombe County on 9/29/24 and reported for lack of basic care.
• A 72-year-old woman was recovered in Buncombe County on 9/29/24 and reported for lack of basic care.
• A 65-year-old woman was recovered and reported drowning in Watauga County on 9/30/24.
• A 36-year-old woman was recovered and reported after her home slid down an embankment in Watauga County on 9/27/2024.
• A man (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported after being involved in a landslide in Buncombe County on 9/30/24.
• A 69-year-old man was recovered in Buncombe County on 9/30/24 and died under unknown circumstances.
• A female (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported after being involved in a landslide in Buncombe County on 9/30/24.
• A 7-year-old male was recovered and reported drowning in Buncombe County on 9/30/24.
• A 65-year-old man was recovered and reported drowning in Henderson County on 9/30/24.
• A man (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported drowning in Buncombe County on 9/29/24.
• A female (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported drowning in Yancey County on 9/29/24.
• A 71-year-old man was recovered and reported drowning in Buncombe County on 9/29/24.
• A female (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported drowning in Buncombe County on 9/29/24.
• A man (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported drowning in Buncombe County on 9/29/24.
• A 48-year-old woman was recovered and reported drowning after escaping her motor vehicle in Yancey County on 9/29/24.
• A 51-year-old man was recovered and reported after being involved in a landslide in Buncombe County on 9/29/24.
• A female (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported after being involved in a landslide in Buncombe County on 9/29/24.
• A female (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported after being involved in a landslide in Buncombe County on 9/29/24.
• A female (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported after being involved in a landslide in Buncombe County on 9/29/24.
• A man (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported after being involved in a landslide in Buncombe County on 9/29/24.
• A man (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported after being involved in a landslide in Buncombe County on 9/29/24.
• A man (age not confirmed at this time) was recovered and reported after being involved in a landslide in Buncombe County on 9/29/24.
• A 66-year-old woman died on 9/29/24 in Gaston County when she was struck while clearing up fallen trees/debris.
• A 60-year-old woman was recovered and reported in Henderson County on 9/29/24 after the home was inundated by floodwaters.
• A 50-year-old woman was recovered and reported in Henderson County on 9/29/24 after the home was inundated by floodwaters.
• A 60-year-old man was recovered and reported in Henderson County on 9/29/24 after the home was inundated by floodwaters.
• A 63-year-old man died under unknown circumstances in Buncombe County on 9/27/24.
• A 63-year-old man died under unknown circumstances in Buncombe County on 9/28/24.
• A woman (age not confirmed at this time) died under unknown circumstances in Buncombe County on 9/27/24.
• A woman (age not confirmed at this time) died under unknown circumstances in Buncombe County on 9/27/24.
• A man (age not confirmed at this time) died of drowning in Henderson County on 9/28/24 and was found when the water receded.
• A 52-year-old man died in Burke County on 9/27/24 when the truck he was driving crashed into a tree that had previously fallen on the road.
• A 72-year-old woman died in Ashe County on 9/27/24 after drowning in floodwaters after escaping her vehicle, which was swept away by floodwaters.
• A 75-year-old man died in Macon County and was rescued on 9/28/24 after his truck entered a flooded road.
• A 40-year-old man died in Rutherford County on 9/27/24 when a tree crushed him in his home.
• A 72-year-old man died in Cleveland County on 9/27/24 when a tree fell and hit him.
• A woman (age not confirmed at this time) died in Cleveland County on 9/27/24 when she was struck by a falling tree while walking.
• A 57-year-old man died on 9/27/24 in Yadkin County when his vehicle was struck by a large tree that fell onto the roadway from the opposite side of the road.
• A 37-year-old woman died in Madison County on 9/27/24 when she evacuated her home due to rising floodwaters and her car was swept away by the floodwaters a short distance from her home.
• A 62-year-old man died on September 27, 2024 in Mecklenburg County when a tree fell on his house in the early morning hours.
• A 4-year-old female died on 9/26/24 in Catawba County when the vehicle she was involved in was involved in a two-vehicle accident on a closed, flooded road.