Hurricane Helene updates: Death toll surpasses 230 as rescue efforts continue

Ahead of a Wednesday briefing in Augusta, Georgia, Vice President Kamala Harris thanked officials for their work in the post-Hurricane Helene response and recovery efforts.

In her remarks, Harris thanked “all of the folks who are here on the ground doing this extraordinary work.”

"I've been reading and hearing about the work you've been doing over the last few days, and I think it really does represent some of the best of what we each know can be done, especially when we coordinate around local, state and federal resources, to meet the needs of people who must be seen, must be heard," she said.

"These are very difficult times, and in a moment of crisis, I think that really does bring out the best of who we are. And you, each, epitomize that important and good work," Harris added. "So, I'm here to thank you and to listen."

Click here for more details on Biden and Harris' trips to the South.

-ABC News’ Fritz Farrow, Gabriella Abdul-Hakim and Will McDuffie

The number of people missing in Buncombe County, North Carolina, is still unknown, according to county manager Avril Pinder.

Pinder was unable to provide even an estimate of the number of people unaccounted for on Wednesday.

As of Wednesday, there are still 57 people confirmed dead in the county.

Asheville City Schools have minimal damage, but most are still with power and water, and a large number of employees remain unaccounted for, Pinder said.

As recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene's catastrophic force continue, 1.2 million customers are still without power in some southern states.

As of Wednesday at 12:30 p.m., 1,276,750 customers are without power across the South, according to poweroutage.us.

The hardest-hit states are South Carolina with over 484,410 customers without power, North Carolina with over 343,632 customers without power and Georgia with over 354,418 customers without power.

Outages are also reported in Florida (40,724 customers), Virginia (40,184 customers) and West Virginia (13,382 customers).

President Joe Biden announced Wednesday he has directed the deployment of "up to one thousand active-duty soldiers to reinforce the North Carolina National Guard." The announcement comes as Biden will travel to South Carolina and North Carolina Wednesday to survey the impacts of Hurricane Helene.

"These soldiers will speed up the delivery of life-saving supplies of food, water, and medicine to isolated communities in North Carolina -- they have the manpower and logistical capabilities to get this vital job done, and fast. They will join hundreds of North Carolina National Guard members deployed under State authorities in support of the response," Biden said in the statement.

"Hurricane Helene has been a storm of historic proportion. My heart goes out to everyone who has experienced unthinkable loss. We are here for you -- and we will stay here for as long as it takes," Biden added.

The White House fact sheet says the soldiers will "support the delivery of food, water, and other critical commodities," to impacted communities. The fact sheet adds the deployment is effective immediately. The soldiers are part of the Infantry Battalion Task Force based in Fort Liberty, North Carolina, and includes a Forward Support Company, according to the administration.

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart