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.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced Saturday evening that 10 people have died due to Hurricane Helene.
"The catastrophic devastation to western North Carolina is like nothing we have ever seen," Cooper said in a statement. "Emergency responders are working around the clock coordinating rescues and getting resources to help people with their immediate needs as they work to save lives."
Since Thursday, over 200 people have been rescued through water and helicopter rescues in the state.
-ABC News' Victoria Arancio
Sep 28, 2024, 7:40 PM EDT
'My heart goes out to everyone,' Harris says
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.
