More than 230 people have been killed from Hurricane Helene, which unleashed devastation across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.
Helene, which made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region as a massive Category 4 hurricane, has become the deadliest mainland hurricane since Katrina in 2005.
At least 72 people have died in hard-hit Buncombe County, North Carolina, which encompasses Asheville, Sheriff Quentin Miller said Thursday.
An aerial view of flood damage along the French Broad River in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Oct. 2, 2024, in Asheville, North Carolina.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
Over 200 others are missing, the sheriff said.
To the residents of Buncombe County, the sheriff said, "You are the heart of everything we do. We know these are hard times. But please know we're coming to get you."
Brit Oie, an artist originally from Norway, searches through damage at Riverside Studios in the aftermath of flooding of the French Broad River caused by Tropical Storm Helene in Asheville, NC, Oct. 2, 2024.
Erik S Lesser/epa-efe/shuttersto/ERIK S LESSER/EPA-EFE/Shuttersto
Oct 03, 2024, 3:21 PM EDT
North Carolina's infrastructure suffered 'complete devastation'
Hurricane Helene has caused "complete devastation" to North Carolina's roads, bridges and water systems, Gov. Roy Cooper said on Thursday.
Terry Robinson retrieves personal belongings from his home, which was swept away in the flood in the aftermath of catastrophic flooding caused by Tropical Storm Helene in Swannanoa, NC, Oct. 3, 2024.
Erik S Lesser/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
"Our focus right now is on restoring primary arteries for supplies, medical aid and utility crews," Cooper said, noting that billions of dollars will be required to fully rebuild the region’s infrastructure.
"We need to rebuild in a more resilient way, understanding that this kind of destruction is now a real possibility,” he said.
The remnants of a home are seen in Lake Lure, North Carolina, Oct. 2, 2024, after the passage of Hurricane Helene.
Allison Joyce/AFP via Getty Images
Over 1,000 National Guard troops and 32 aircraft are delivering supplies daily, Cooper said, and the government has "surged hundreds of thousands of pounds of food and water" to impacted communities.
Search and rescue are still ongoing, Cooper added.
The governor stressed that recovery will be a long-term process.
"We know people will need assistance for a while, especially with power and water systems down," he said.
-ABC News’ Jason Volack
Oct 03, 2024, 3:19 PM EDT
Biden surveys damage in Florida with GOP Sen. Rick Scott
President Joe Biden continued to survey damage caused by Hurricane Helene on Thursday, taking part in an aerial tour over impacted communities in Florida and meeting with families whose homes were destroyed.
A view of damaged homes affected by Hurricane Helene near Keaton Beach, Florida, Oct. 3, 2024.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
President Joe Biden speaks with a first responder, as he visits storm-damaged areas in the wake of Hurricane Helene, in Keaton Beach, Florida, October 3, 2024.
Tom Brenner/Reuters
It was a bipartisan show of support, as vocal Biden critic Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., joined the president in Keaton Beach to see the devastation on the ground and provide an update on response efforts.
President Joe Biden greets Sen. Rick Scott, and other officials, in Keaton Beach, Fla., Oct. 3, 2024, during his tour of areas impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Susan Walsh/AP
After his briefing, Biden met with a husband and wife who lost their home in the storm, and they thanked the president for visiting. The president then met with local officials and first responders.
Biden made no remarks to the press pool.
-ABC News’ Justin Ryan Gomez
Oct 03, 2024, 11:33 AM EDT
Georgia death toll climbs to 33
In Georgia, the death toll from Hurricane Helene has climbed to 33, Gov. Brian Kemp said Thursday.
Three of the fatalities were due to carbon monoxide poisoning from generators in the Savannah area, he said.
Two-thousand Georgia National Guard soldiers have been deployed across the state to help devastated residents recover from the historic storm, the governor said.
AUGUSTA, GA - OCTOBER 2: Traffic passes by a broken street light in Augusta, Ga., on Wednesday, October 2, 2024. (Photo by Sam Wolfe for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
The Washington Post via Getty Im
Over 200,000 Georgia customers remain without power. Eight-thousand utility poles need to be replaced, Kemp said.
All of the cleanup costs for the next three months will be paid by Georgia Emergency Management, he said.
