The storm surge, wind damage and inland flooding from Hurricane Helene have been catastrophic, flooding neighborhoods, destroying homes and toppling trees in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.
Dozens have been killed.
Helene, which made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region Thursday night as a massive Category 4 hurricane, was the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the Big Bend on record.
Vice President Kamala Harris released a statement Saturday evening expressing her condolences to the communities devastated by the storm and vowing to help them rebuild.
"My heart goes out to everyone impacted by the devastation unleashed by Hurricane Helene," she said.
Harris stressed that the administration is in constant contact with local officials and sending necessary supplies and resources.
"Federal personnel are on the ground to support families that have been impacted so that critical resources like food, water, and generators are available," she said.
-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart
Sep 28, 2024, 7:11 PM EDT
Officials describe 'biblical devastation' in Buncombe County
Buncombe County, North Carolina, officials described "biblical devastation" as the storm resulted in multiple fatalities and at least 60 people unaccounted for.
Search and rescue continues in Asheville and in the county, and the call level for emergency services remains high, Ryan Cole, Buncombe County's assistant emergency services director said.
Over 150 rescues were performed in the county, officials said.
The county remains without water, power and cell services. Some rivers are receding, but the threat of devastating landslides continues, as the ground remains saturated, Cole said.
A boil water advisory remains in place for those who still have access to water, officials said.
-ABC News' Victoria Arancio
Sep 28, 2024, 6:45 PM EDT
Biden briefed on Hurricane Helene by FEMA director visiting impacted communities
President Joe Biden was briefed Saturday by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall on the impacts of Hurricane Helene in states including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee, according to the White House.
"The President directed them to continue to focus on how the Biden-Harris Administration can speed support to impacted survivors and accelerate recovery efforts, including the immediate deployment of additional search and rescue teams into North Carolina," the White House said.
This comes as Criswell is visiting impacted communities in Florida "at the President’s request," according to the White House.
Rocky Broad River flows into Lake Lure and overflows the town with debris from Chimney Rock, North Carolina after heavy rains from Hurricane Helene on September 28, 2024, in Lake Lure, North Carolina. Approximately six feet of debris piled on the bridge from Lake Lure to Chimney Rock, blocking access.
Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images
FEMA says that in her visit to the state, Criswell is "surveying damage and assessing the need for federal resources to support Hurricane Helene response activities." The White House adds that she will also travel to Georgia and North Carolina in the coming days.
A statement from FEMA Saturday said that the federal government has sent "more than 2,300 federal personnel and voluntary agencies across six states." They add that they've sent "1,270 personnel and Swift Water Rescue Capabilities to affected states" to continue with rescue efforts.
-ABC News’ Michelle Stoddart
Sep 28, 2024, 4:29 PM EDT
Over 200 rescued from North Carolina floods, governor says
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper provided an update Saturday afternoon on the ongoing recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
As of 4 p.m., more than 200 people have been rescued from flood waters, he said. North Carolina first responders are being aided by crews from 19 other states and the federal government, according to Cooper.
"This is a historic and catastrophic storm for Western North Carolina and I’m grateful to first responders working right now to save lives and evacuate residents," he said in a statement.
The Rocky Broad River flows into Lake Lure and overflows the town with debris from Chimney Rock after heavy rains from Hurricane Helene in Lake Lure, NC, Sept. 28, 2024.
Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images
Some areas in the mountain region saw as much as 29 inches of rain, the governor said. More than 700,000 people remain without power.
"We’re bringing in needed supplies by air," Cooper said.
