Hurricane Helene Asheville Deaths
According to the search results, Hurricane Helene caused significant devastation in Asheville, North Carolina, and surrounding Buncombe County. The confirmed death toll in the area is:
40 deaths, as reported by county officials on October 2, 2024
Nearly three dozen confirmed deaths, as stated by Sheriff Quentin Miller on October 2, 2024
These numbers are part of the overall death toll for Hurricane Helene, which rose to at least 182 fatalities across six states in the southeast, making it the deadliest storm since Hurricane Katrina.
The Asheville area was particularly hard hit, with flooding from swollen rivers, debris, and landslides causing widespread damage and loss of life. Many areas in western North Carolina, including Asheville, remained cut off from the outside world due to knocked-out internet and cell service, making it difficult to access information about the extent of the devastation.
As rescue and recovery efforts continued, hundreds of people were still missing in Buncombe County, including Asheville, and 85 people were missing in Tennessee. The city of Asheville was one of the hardest hit areas, with many homes destroyed and beloved community staples affected.