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

Helene unleashed devastation across the Southeast.

Video byLilia Geho
Last Updated: October 7, 2024, 7:41 AM EDT

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.

Sep 30, 2024, 11:18 AM EDT

35 dead, hundreds unaccounted for in hard-hit Buncombe County, North Carolina

Thirty-five people are dead and 600 people remain unaccounted for in hard-hit Buncombe County, North Carolina, which encompasses Asheville, according to county officials.

PHOTO: Flooding caused by the storm that started as Hurricane Helene covering streets in Asheville, N.C.,  Sept. 2024.
Flooding caused by the storm that started as Hurricane Helene covering streets in Asheville, N.C., Sept. 2024.
Billy Bowling/EPA via Shutterstock

Heavy rains from hurricane Helene caused record flooding and damage in Asheville, NC, Sept. 28, 2024.
Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images

County officials said people will go door-to-door to check on those who have been reported missing.

Shelters are at capacity, officials said.

The city of Asheville has partnered with Verizon to establish a temporary cellphone tower, officials said. County officials said they’ll start distributing water Monday afternoon.

-ABC News’ Alex Faul and Jessica Gorman

Sep 30, 2024, 10:13 AM EDT

Over 2 million still without power

Over 2 million customers are still without power on Monday after more than 4 million lost power across the South on Friday in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

People wait in line for gasoline in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Sept. 29, 2024 in Fletcher, N.C.
Sean Rayford/Getty Images

In South Carolina, nearly 1.3 million customers lost power at Helene's peak. On Monday, more than 700,000 customers in South Carolina are still in the dark.

Over 500,000 customers are without power in Georgia and more than 400,000 are without power in North Carolina.

Police patrol in the Biltmore Village in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Sept. 29, 2024 in Asheville, N.C.
Sean Rayford/Getty Images

Outages are also still ongoing in Florida, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio.

Sep 30, 2024, 6:10 AM EDT

Helene remnants move into mid-Atlantic

After dumping more than 30 inches of rain on North Carolina and producing the biggest local flood in recorded history, the remnants of Helene are forecast to move on Monday into the mid-Atlantic.

An ABC News graphic shows the latest weather conditions and warnings in the wake of Helene, on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024.
ABC News

As southeastern United States worked to clean up from Helene, some of its remnants are moving into Mid-Atlantic today with heavy rain forecast for West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland.

There is an elevated flood threat on Monday in Virginia and West Virginia, where the already saturated ground could get additional 1 to 2 inches of rain, which could produce flash flooding.

-ABC News' Max Golembo

Sep 29, 2024, 11:43 PM EDT

Harris planning visit to communities impacted by Helene

Vice President Kamala Harris intends to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene "as soon as it is possible without disrupting emergency response operations," according to a White House official.

Harris, who was briefed by FEMA on the federal response to the hurricane, reached out to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.

At a rally in Las Vegas on Sunday, Harris addressed those who were impacted by the hurricane by sending her "thoughts and prayers" and thanking first responders.

"I know that everyone here sends their thoughts and prayers for folks who have been so devastated in Florida, in Georgia, the Carolinas and other impacted states. And we know that so many have been impacted. Some have died, but I want to thank everyone for doing everything you can to think about them," Harris said. "Send them your thoughts and your prayers. I want to thank the first responders who have done so much. I stand with these communities for as long as it takes to make sure that they are able to recover and rebuild."

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