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

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has launched a web page dedicated to pushing back on misinformation about the federal government's response to Hurricane Helene.

On the page, located on FEMA's website, FEMA tackles rumors like one claiming the agency doesn't have enough money for disasters, which the agency says it does.

Other rumors the agency debunks are claims FEMA is asking for cash and turning away volunteers. The agency says they'd never ask for money.

Another rumor getting attention on social media is that victims of Hurricane Helene only qualify for $750. FEMA debunks that rumor, saying people who apply for relief will get $750 for immediate needs. But the agency says people will qualify for more as their application moves through the agency.

-ABC News' Luke Barr

Vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance toured the damage caused by Hurricane Helene in Damascus, Virginia, with Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Thursday.

"I think the biggest thing that I take away from this is: One, people need a lot of resources to rebuild, to rebuild the water system, to rebuild the roads, to put power back on, to restock people's refrigerators," Vance said. "But most importantly, I heard an unbelievable number of stories of incredible human tragedy, but also human heroism that saved a lot of lives and made it so that this very, very significant tragedy wasn't a whole lot worse."

When reporters asked Vance if he supported the call for Congress to go back into session and pass an emergency appropriations package to help those impacted by Helene, Vance said yes.

"Yes, ma'am, of course, we're going to support that," he said. "People, I think, need the help and certainly need the support."

-ABC News’ Hannah Demissie

Over 40,000 people in North Carolina have applied for disaster assistance, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency has paid out more than $6.2 million to survivors in the state, according to the White House.

Senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said President Joe Biden has asked FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell to stay in North Carolina "until the situation has stabilized."

"With her are over 1,200 FEMA and other federal personnel, with more resources and staff arriving daily," he said in a post on X. "Search and rescue teams have rescued or supported 2,120 people. Roughly 7,900 crews from across the country and Canada are working on power restoration. The NC National Guard has delivered more than 100,000 lbs of food and over 38,000 lbs of water to Asheville."

-ABC News’ Justin Ryan Gomez

At least 72 people have died in hard-hit Buncombe County, North Carolina, which encompasses Asheville, Sheriff Quentin Miller said Thursday.

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."