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Helene live updates: Death toll rising in hard-hit Asheville with 200 missing

Hurricane Helene's inland flooding has been catastrophic.

ByEmily Shapiro, David Brennan, Leah Sarnoff, Julia Reinstein, and Meredith Deliso
Last Updated: October 3, 2024, 4:54 PM EDT

More than 200 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 last week as a massive Category 4 hurricane, has become the deadliest mainland hurricane since Katrina in 2005.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, ABC News' "Good Morning America" is set to provide five days of special coverage titled "Southeast Strong: Help After Helene"(#SoutheastStrongABC), spotlighting communities across the Southeast impacted by Hurricane Helene and the urgent efforts to help them recover.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Oct 01, 2024, 10:21 AM EDT

Public health emergency declared in South Carolina, Tennessee

A public health emergency has been declared in South Carolina and Tennessee in the wake of Helene, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, following the same declarations in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.

"We will do all we can to help officials in South Carolina and Tennessee respond to the health impacts of Hurricane Helene," HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. "We are working closely with state and local health authorities, as well as with our partners across the federal government, and stand ready to provide additional public health and medical support."

A Dominion Energy lineman works on a power line in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in North Augusta, S.C.
Artie Walker Jr./AP

The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response deployed about 200 personnel to assist local officials with the storm's impacts to hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities, according to HHS.

The government's National Disaster Medical System has already deployed 29 trucks filled with equipment to help patients in health care facilities, many of which were totally knocked off the grid.

Oct 01, 2024, 9:56 AM EDT

6,300 National Guardsmen mobilized for recovery efforts

There have been more than 6,300 members of the National Guard mobilized to "support ongoing disaster relief, rescue, and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene," according to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

There will be guardsmen from 12 different states moving into the South to help, especially in North Carolina.

"We continue to stand by the people and communities of North Carolina and all those affected," Austin added.

Sep 30, 2024, 10:51 PM EDT

FEMA has delivered 1 million liters of water and 600K meals to North Carolina

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper called the impact of Hurricane Helene on the state "absolutely catastrophic" in a statement Monday.

"This is an unprecedented response and an absolutely enormous coordinated effort by the state, federal and local partners," Cooper said.

A rescue team paddles down the Swannanoa River after the remnants of Hurricane Helene caused widespread flooding, downed trees, and power outages in western North Carolina, Sept. 29, 2024.
Travis Long/The News & Observer via Reuters

Cooper, who inspected the staging area at the Asheville airport Monday, said "Hundreds of thousands of pounds of supplies are being flown in, packed onto helicopters and flown into areas that can't be reached by vehicles."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has delivered 1 million liters of water and 600,000 meals to people in North Carolina, Cooper said.

The governor added that there are 92 search and rescue teams working to help bring residents to safety.

Sep 30, 2024, 6:29 PM EDT

Biden says he'll travel to North Carolina on Wednesday

President Joe Biden told reporters from the Oval Office he will travel to North Carolina on Wednesday to survey the damage.

He said he plans to land in Raleigh for a briefing and then do an aerial tour of Asheville to avoid straining on-the-ground resources.

He said he will visit Georgia and Florida "as soon as possible after that."

Asked by ABC News' Karen Travers how Americans can help out, Biden recommended people reach out to the Red Cross -- and gear up for a long recovery.

"There is a lot to do, and this is just beginning," Biden said. "We've been through this before, but not -- not like this. This is the worst ever."

-ABC News' Cheyenne Haslett