Asheville, NC — In a significant revision of earlier reports, Buncombe County authorities have revised the number of storm-related deaths downward following Hurricane Helene, which had been previously reported as 72 fatalities. The revised death tally now aligns with the state’s count of 42 for the county. This adjustment comes after a careful review led by the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh.
Initially, all deaths reported in the immediate aftermath were considered storm-related due to a lack of clear information, according to Christina Esmay, Public Information Officer for the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office. However, further investigations helped clarify which fatalities were directly caused by Hurricane Helene and which were not. Esmay noted that widespread communication outages initially hampered accurate reporting.
The method of determining the cause of death typically follows a rigorous review process by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, which has long been in practice to ascertain causes following major storms. This process ensures accuracy but can sometimes delay the final reports.
Hannah Jones, a spokesperson for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, emphasized Buncombe County’s reliance on state assessments for storm-related fatalities. As of the last update, the statewide count of fatalities due to Hurricane Helene stands at 96, with the confirmed deaths in Buncombe solidified by state and local officials.
The correction comes amid similar adjustments in neighboring counties. Henderson County, for example, had earlier reported a count slightly higher than the state figures but has since aligned with the official state count of seven fatalities.
These revisions have influenced the broader statistics on Hurricane Helene’s impact across affected areas. Recent figures indicate that the storm has claimed at least 215 lives across multiple states, demonstrating the severe nature of this historic storm.
The disparities in initial death tolls reported by local counties compared to state figures demonstrate the challenges in disaster response and management. Effective communication and accurate fact-gathering are crucial, especially in the chaotic environments following natural disasters like hurricanes. As recovery efforts continue, officials at both the state and local levels are working to ensure that all reports are as accurate as possible, providing necessary data to better prepare for future emergency responses.