Hurricane Helene: Death toll reaches 143 as desperation grows to find hundreds still missing

A Charlotte City councilman described the “post apocalyptic” scenes in storm-ravaged North Carolina after Hurricane Helene carved its way through the Southeast.

Looking out across Lake Lure, Tariq Bokhari described the storm as a “blender” taking out anything in its path, with its usually idyllic waters filled with debris. Bokhari speculated that its cleanup would take “years and years,” he told CNN.

At least 143 people were killed after Helene crashed into Florida‘s Big Bend on Thursday as a Category 4 hurricane, before charting a path northwards through the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and Virginia. The death toll is expected to climb.

As of Tuesday morning, the death toll in North Carolina’s Buncombe County alone stands at 40, as 600 people remain unaccounted for. Governor Roy Cooper told CNN on Monday that communities there were “wiped off that map”.

Hundreds of roads remain closed with five bridges near the Tennessee-North Carolina border on I-40 “completely gone”. More than 1.6m people are still without power.

President Joe Biden said he plans to visit North Carolina on Wednesday, while former president Donald Trump arriving in Valdosta, Georgia, to survey recovery efforts in the state.

Key Points

• Death toll: Hurricane Helene takes at least 143 lives

• More than 35 dead, 600 missing in Buncombe County alone

• Mayorkas says more than 4,500 federal personnel, including 1,000 from FEMA, supporting Helene response

• Biden approves emergency disaster declaration for 11 Georgia counties

• 1.6M still without power in Southeast states

• North Carolina town becomes ‘post-apocalyptic’ wasteland

Vice President Kamala Harris set to deliver remarks at FEMA’s DC headquarters

Monday 30 September 2024 21:18 , Julia Musto

Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver remarks related to Hurricane Helene relief efforts at 5:05 p.m. EDT in Washington, DC.

Trump slams US response to Helene, even as supporters urge cutbacks to federal disaster agencies

Monday 30 September 2024 21:25 , AP

Former President Donald Trump criticized the Biden administration’s response to the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, even as his supporters call for cuts to federal agencies that warn of weather disasters and deliver relief to hard-hit communities.

As president, Trump delayed disaster aid for hurricane-devastated Puerto Rico and diverted money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in order to finance an effort to return undocumented migrants to Mexico. And Project 2025, backed by Trump supporters, would restructure FEMA to limit aid to states and says that the National Weather Service, which provides crucial data on hurricanes and other storms, “should be broken up and downsized.”

Matthew Daly, of The Associated Press, has the latest: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-ap-biden-national-weather-service-north-carolina-b2621558.html

Southeast governors praise federal response as Trump slams Biden administration

Monday 30 September 2024 21:43 , Julia Musto

As former President Donald Trump claims Biden administration needs to do more for Georgia, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster assured the federal government was “embedded” with state officials.

And, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin said he was “incredibly appreciative of the rapid response and cooperation from the federal team at FEMA.”

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said he had talked with President Biden on Sunday. “He offered that if there’s other things we need, just to call him directly, which, I appreciate that,” Kemp said.

Mules loaded to provide assistance to western North Carolina communities

Monday 30 September 2024 21:53 , Julia Musto

Mules were loaded Monday to provide supplies for communities in western North Carolina hit hard by Hurricane Helene.

Volunteer Mike Toberer told The Associated Press dozens of mules would bring food, water, and diapers to mountainous areas.

“We’ll take our chainsaws, and we’ll push those mules through,” he said, noting that each one can carry about 200 pounds.

Chef José Andrés, World Central Kitchen work to serve Black Mountain community

Monday 30 September 2024 22:03 , Julia Musto

Vice President Kamala Harris says she plans to be on the ground as soon as possible

Monday 30 September 2024 22:10 , Julia Musto

Speaking at FEMA headquarters in Washington, DC, on Monday afternoon, Vice President Kamala Harris said she had received regular briefings on relief efforts following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene.

She said she had spoken with North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, and local officials over the past 24 hours.

Harris said she planned to be on the ground as soon as possible, without distrupting any emergency response operations.

“Because that must be the highest priority,” she said.

Vice President Kamala Harris says America has responded to Helene’s destruction ‘with our best'

Monday 30 September 2024 22:22 , Julia Musto

Vice President Kamala Harris said Monday that the US has responded to devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene with “our best.”

“I do believe the true character of a nation is revealed in moments of hardship. Over the past few days, our nation has endured some of the worst destruction and devastation that we have seen in quite some time,” she said. “And, we have responded with our best.”

Speaking at FEMA headquarters in Washington, DC, Harris said she and President Biden were with Americans impacted by the storm, as well as those feeling overwhelmed by related destruction and loss.

Harris said more than 3,300 federal personnel are on the ground in Southeast states to help deploy food, water, and generators to those in need.

Texas nonprofit Operation Airdrop gives 20 tons of supplies to communities in need

Monday 30 September 2024 22:43 , Julia Musto

Forecasters warn of increased risk for additional landslides across North Carolina mountains

Monday 30 September 2024 22:46 , Julia Musto

The National Weather Service (NWS) and North Carolina Geological Survey have determined that there is a risk of additional landslide activity across the mountains of North Carolina this afternoon and evening.

Rain was forecast in the area on Monday.

“While the rain is not expected to cause new flooding, it is possible the rain could be enough to cause a few more slopes to fail, resulting in new landslides,” the NWS said.

Tropical Storm Kirk will be a ‘very large major hurricane’ over the Atlantic in a few days

Monday 30 September 2024 22:55 , Julia Musto

President Biden hits back at former President Trump over Helene response claims: ‘He’s lying'

Monday 30 September 2024 23:00 , Julia Musto

Georgia governor signs executive order authorizing 1K National Guard troops to be called up

Monday 30 September 2024 23:04 , Julia Musto

Biden hits back at Trump on storm Helene as he announces plans for surveying damage

Monday 30 September 2024 23:25 , Julia Musto

President Joe Biden on Monday angrily hit back at Donald Trump’s false accusations of neglect and malfeasance after the former president and Republican presidential nominee leveled a baseless claim about the federal response to Hurricane Helene on his social media platform.

Earlier in the day, Trump suggested that Biden and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper were ignoring the devastation wrought by the storm, which has killed over 100 people and left hundreds missing and unaccounted for in the Tar Heel state.

In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote that he “[didn’t] like the reports” he was allegedly getting about the federal and state governments “going out of their way to not help people in Republican areas” hit by the hurricane.

The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg and Julia Musto have the latest: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/biden-trump-hurricane-helene-damage-b2621620.html

Over 1.7m still without power after Helene

Monday 30 September 2024 23:56 , Josh Marcus

Scores of people are still without power across the southeastern United States in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

An estimated 1,738,000 lack power across Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia, according to utility tracking cite poweroutage.us.

Walz warns Helene aftermath is still ‘incredibly dangerous’

Tuesday 1 October 2024 00:08 , Josh Marcus

Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz warned on Monday that dangers remain in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

The Minnesota governor, who was in hard-hit Asheville just last week, told reporters that residents in the southeast should heed road warnings and beware of moving water.

“Our hearts are just breaking, this situation is still incredibly dangerous and unfolding,” he said, adding, “It’s still incredibly dangerous in terms of moving water.”

“This one is horrific in the death toll that’s been involved and of course the destruction.”

White House official explains how FEMA plans to connect people in hard-hit areas with aid

Tuesday 1 October 2024 00:13 , Josh Marcus

The extent of destruction from Hurricane Helene has made disaster recovery efforts more difficult by downing electric grids and putting whole towns under water, hampering the ability of local residents to sign up for emergency assistance.

During a Monday briefing, White House Homeland Security Adviser Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall explained how the federal government plans to reach people in these areas to offer them emergency assistance.

“FEMA literally goes knocking with an iPad in hand so they can help people register for the assistance they need because they may not have power, their cell phone may have run out and they need someone to help them get registered quickly,” she said, adding that the emergency management agency plans to install 30 Starlink Internet terminals in western North Carolina “to provide immediate connectivity for those in greatest need.”

Helene death tolls rises to at least 132

Tuesday 1 October 2024 00:30 , Josh Marcus

As emergency crews were able to reach new areas throughout Monday, the death toll attributed to Hurricane Helene has risen.

At least 132 have been killed by the storm, according to the Associated Press, with deaths taking place across six different states.

Today’s storm news, in pictures

Tuesday 1 October 2024 00:45 , Josh Marcus

It could take weeks to bring back water system in North Carolina county

01:00 , Josh Marcus

North Carolina’s Buncombe County, home to the city of Asheville, was hammered during Hurricane Helene, and it could be weeks before the county’s water system is fully back online.

City Assistant Manager Ben Woody told the Asheville Citizen Times on Monday that three water plants need “extensive repairs,” though federal agencies are on the scene offering their assistance.

Hospital authorities, meanwhile, say issues getting high-pressure water will hamstring basic functions like food preparation and working bathrooms and showers.

Where to donate to help residents of North Carolina after Hurricane Helene

01:15 , Josh Marcus

North Carolina was among the states hardest hit by Hurricane Helene.

Those interested in donating to assist with relief efforts can visit nc.gov/donate or support one of these vetted state organizations.

‘Complete devastation’ across Georgia days after Helene

01:30 , Josh Marcus

Georgia is still reeling from Hurricane Helene.

The storm killed at least 25 people in the state, and 370,000 Georgia households were still without power Monday morning.

“We got hit so hard,” Police Chief Randy Ellison of Swainsboro, which still lacks power, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I’ve been doing this 36 years and this is the worst storm I’ve ever seen. It is just complete devastation here.”

“There were some of those folks that hadn’t had food in days because they were not able to leave,” he added.

ICYMI: How climate change drove Hurricane Helene

01:45 , Josh Marcus

The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has said that the severe flooding and subsequent devastation caused by Hurricane Helene is linked to the climate emergency.

Deanne Criswell said that rising temperatures in the Gulf were causing conditions that caused “significant infrastructure damage” that had affected a multi-state area.

Though the worst of Helene is now believed to have passed, recovery efforts in multiple communities are underway at pace.

Head of FEMA says ‘historic’ destruction caused by Helene is linked to climate crisis

Retailers pitch in on Hurricane Helene recovery

02:00 , Josh Marcus

Major U.S. retailers like Walmart, Lowe’s, and Home Depot are joining together to give millions of dollars worth of supplies and emergency relief work in communities impacted by Hurricane Helene.

“This storm has created a life-altering path of destruction from Florida to the Mid-Atlantic — especially here in our home state of North Carolina,” Lowe’s chief executive Marvin Ellison told the Washington Post. “We will continue to help meet our communities’ urgent needs and help our neighbors during the long road to recovery ahead.”

Lowe’s is giving $2m in aid and relief, and said it would be shipping high-priority items like generators and fans to impacted communities.

Home Depot has pledged $2m of its own, and Walmart has committed three times that amount.

Biden to viist North Carolina on Wednesday

02:15 , Josh Marcus

The president will survey the damage from Hurricane Helene in North Carolina on Wednesday, according to the White House.

Biden said he’ll get a briefing from the state’s Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh, then conduct an aerial tour of Asheville.

“It’s too much for me in terms of interrupting access to help there, to land in Asheville, to survey the damage other through the air,” Biden said. “And then it’s my plan to travel to Georgia and Florida as soon as possible after that.”

PHOTOS: Coast Guard rescues nine people and a dog in North Carolina

02:30 , Josh Marcus

Rescue efforts continue in the Carolinas after the arrival of Hurricane Helene.

A U.S. Coast Guard station in Savannah rescued nine people and a dog, it announced on X.

North Carolina’s disaster relief effort, by the numbers

03:00 , Josh Marcus

North Carolina governor Roy Cooper provided updates on Monday about the scale of disaster relief underway.

So far, FEMA has delivered one million liters of water and over 600,000 meals to the state, he said in a statement.

Emergency responders from 18 states and the federal government are working alongside 92 swift water rescue teams and more than 700 National Guard soldiers.

Researcher warns Helene-like inland flooding will only get more common in the future

03:30 , Josh Marcus

Researchers are warning communities across the U.S. to understand the lessons of Hurrican Helene.

According to Daniel Aldrich, a Northeastern University researcher who serves as co-director of the school’s Global Resilience Institute, the storm showed how even inland communities can experience drastic flooding as a result of tropical storms and hurricanes.

“Most people think about hurricanes as coastal problems — as opposed to what happens to inland communities,” Aldrich told the university’s website in reference to Asheville, North Carolina. “These inland hazards are going to be much more common in the future.”

Especially amid the climate crisis.

“The reality is huge proportions of our country, both coastal and mountain, are much more at risk from these natural hazards caused by climate change and extreme weather events,” he added. “So the very environment in which these floods and fires and heat waves are generated has changed.”

Photos show destruction along North Carolina’s Swannanoa River

04:00 , Josh Marcus

Four days after Helene hit, communities along North Carolina’s Swannanoa are still recovering.

Rains from the storm caused the river to swell multiple feet beyond its normal levels, flooding historic mill homes along the river and washing away a bridge.

Swannanoa is experiencing “total devastation” and the “community is destroyed,” Swannanoa Fire Chief Anthony Penland told Black Mountain News.

“There goes the history of Swannanoa right there,” Penland said. “Our history is gone.”

Why Marjorie Taylor Greene is getting heat for her Hurricane Helene response

04:30 , Josh Marcus

Marjorie Taylor Greene has been slammed for travelling to attend a football game with Donald Trump while her home state of Georgia was ravaged by impacts of Hurricane Helene.

The Republican lawmaker shared a photo of her and Trump grinning with their thumbs up at the Georgia v Alabama college football game in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Saturday.

“A MAN OF THE PEOPLE!!... Great to see President Trump tonight in Tuscaloosa! 100K strong to Make America Great Again!!!” she captioned the photo on X.

Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida on Thursday before tearing across large parts of the south and east, causing at least 116 deaths and destroying homes and property. Damaging wind gusts swept through Georgia on Friday, leaving more than half a million without power, and led to downed trees and major flooding.

Kelly Rissman has the story.

MTG slammed for attending football game after Hurricane Helene hit Georgia

Asheville still in ‘crisis mode’ with 600 missing

05:00 , Josh Marcus

The North Carolina city of Asheville is in “crisis mode” after Hurricane Helene hit, mayor Esther Manheimer told CNN on Monday.

“We are in a situation where we don’t have water and power in most places,” said.

There are also an estimated 600 people who are unaccounted for, she added, as residents struggle to access basic necessities like cell service, food, and medicine.“We are still in crisis mode here in our community.”

How Helene ‘compromised’ part of a North Carolina dam

05:30 , Josh Marcus

Residents downstream of two North Carolina dams were evacuated after reports of a “catastrophic failure” due to flooding from Hurricane Helene.

Officials in Cocke County, Tennessee said on Friday afternoon that the Waterville Dam, just over the state line in North Carolina, had failed and ordered everyone in downtown Newport to get out.

Meanwhile, officials in Rutherford County, North Carolina told residents downstream of the Lake Lure Dam to flee to higher ground due to floodwater overflowing the top of the 124-ft-high barrier and pouring “uncontrolled” around the edges.

Io Dodds has the story.

North Carolina residents evacuated after dam ‘compromised’ by Hurricane Helene floods

ICYMI: Biden hits back at Trump on storm Helene as he announces plans for surveying damage

06:00 , Josh Marcus

President Joe Biden angrily hit back at Donald Trump’s false accusations after the former president and Republican presidential nominee leveled a baseless claim about the federal response to Hurricane Helene on his social media platform.

Earlier on Monday, Trump suggested that Biden and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper were ignoring the devastation wrought by the storm, which has killed over 100 people and left hundreds missing and unaccounted for in the Tar Heel state.

In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote that he “[didn’t] like the reports” he was allegedly getting about the federal and state governments “going out of their way to not help people in Republican areas” hit by the hurricane.

Asked to respond as he addressed reporters after receiving a briefing from Cooper and Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Deanne Criswell in the Oval Office, Biden interjected, cutting off the question from The Independent to denounce Trump’s false statements.

Andrew Feinberg and Julia Musto have the story.

‘He’s lying’: Biden hits back at Trump on Helene as he announces plans to visit

VIDEO: Neighborhood in Cayce, SC still underwater

06:30 , Josh Marcus

Residents of Cayce, South Carolina, still have their homes underwater, after the Congaree River flooded during Hurricane Helene.

The city could face further flooding due to the storm’s aftermath.

Video from the mayor’s office captures the destruction.

Helene and other storms dumped a whopping 40 trillion gallons of rain on the South

07:00 , Josh Marcus

More than 40 trillion gallons of rain drenched the Southeast United States in the last week from Hurricane Helene and a run-of-the-mill rainstorm that sloshed in ahead of it — an unheard of amount of water that has stunned experts.

That’s enough to fill the Dallas Cowboys‘ stadium 51,000 times, or Lake Tahoe just once. If it was concentrated just on the state of North Carolina that much water would be 3.5 feet deep (more than 1 meter). It’s enough to fill more than 60 million Olympic-size swimming pools.

More details in the full story.

Here's how Helene and other storms dumped a whopping 40 trillion gallons of rain on the South

Floodwaters in North Carolina carry away 75-year-old stuck in a tree

07:30 , Josh Marcus

Residents of Marshall, North Carolina, watched in horror on Friday as the flooded waters of the French Broad River wore away at Bruce Tipton, a 75-old who was swept out of his riverside trailer home and onto a tree.

Tipton was stuck for hours as friends and residents called to him from the shore, and search and rescue personnel said the floodwaters were too dangerous for their non-motorized, inflattable rescue boats.

The 75-year-old eventually gave out and was swept away in the rushing river.

“I’m not going to tell you I’m going to have nightmares about it, but why wouldn’t I?” Scott Eastman, a longtime neighbor, told The New York Times. “To hear somebody yelling ‘Help!’ for hours and to not be able to get to him? It’s just sickening to me.”

Watch: Moment Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as ‘unsurvivable’ Category 4 storm

07:59 , Josh Marcus

Morgan Wallen donates $500,000 to help Tennessee recover from Helene

08:30 , Josh Marcus

Country star Morgan Wallen is donating $500,000 to support storm relief efforts in his native Tennessee.

The money will go to the American Red Cross.

“My family in East Tennessee are safe but I know many are absolutely devastated there and in multiple states,” Wallen said on Sunday. “Those hills and hollers are very important to me in so many ways. It is going to take a monumental effort and I am in contact with my team and others working on ways I can help.”

Trump calls climate change a ‘scam’ as Hurricane Helene leaves trail of destruction

09:00 , Josh Marcus

Donald Trump has sparked controversy for declaring that climate change is “one of the great scams” after Hurricane Helene left a trail of destruction, killing more than 100 people, across the southeast US.

Speaking at a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Sunday afternoon, the former president pushed a conspiracy theory that man-made climate change is a myth.

James Liddell reports.

Trump calls climate change a ‘scam’ after Hurricane Helene hammers states

Helene remnants to continue moving offshore

09:30 , Josh Marcus

The remnants of what was once Hurricane Helene will “push offshore Tuesday as a cold front shifts across the eastern U.S.,” according to the National Weather Service, as the hardest hits region can expect “one more day of wet weather across the Central Appalachians into the Mid Atlantic before a drier pattern sets in by mid week.”

‘Historic’ destruction caused by Helene is linked to climate crisis

10:00 , Josh Marcus

The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has said that the severe flooding and subsequent devastation caused by Hurricane Helene is linked to the climate emergency.

Deanne Criswell said that rising temperatures in the Gulf were causing conditions that caused “significant infrastructure damage” that had affected a multi-state area.

Though the worst of Helene is now believed to have passed, recovery efforts in multiple communities are underway at pace.

Mike Bedigan reports.

Head of FEMA says ‘historic’ destruction caused by Helene is linked to climate crisis

Watch: NC governor praises ‘real heroes’ who searched for survivors in wake of Helene

10:32 , James Liddell

More than 1.5m homes and businesses without power

10:52 , James Liddell

More than 1.5m homes and businesses across the southeast of the US remain under blackout conditions, according to the latest data fro Poweroutage.us.

Abut 630,000 electricity customers have been left powerless in South Carolina, 471,000 in Georgia, 293,000 in North Carolina, 75,000 in Virginia and 69,000 in Florida.

Watch: North Carolina town becomes ‘post-apocalyptic’ wasteland

11:11 , James Liddell

Trump continues to take credit for deployment of Musk’s Starlink

11:30 , James Liddell

Donald Trump continues to take partial credit for Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites restoring internet access to those regions who have weathered Hurricane Helene.

A division of Musk’s astronautics company SpaceX, Starlink currently has approximately 7,000 satellites in low-Earth orbit, constituting nearly two-thirds of the world’s active satellites.

“I spoke to Elon Musk about his brilliant communication system for North Carolina and Georgia. So many of their lines are down. He is on it!!!,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday morning, hours after making a similar comment during his visit to the storm-ravaged city of Valdosta, Georgia, on Monday.

Two hours later, Musk confirmed that he is working together with the former president on his own social media platform, X.

“Since the Hurricane Helene disaster, SpaceX has sent as many Starlink terminals as possible to help areas in need,” he wrote. “Earlier today, @realDonaldTrump alerted me to additional people who need Starlink Internet in North Carolina. We are sending them terminals right away.”

It comes after the White House announced on Monday that it sent dozens of Starlinks to North Carolina in a bid to restore internet access across the state.

FEMA said on Monday that 40 Starlink satellite systems were available to help first responders with communications, and a further 140 satellites were being shipped to restore communications.

In pictures: Extent of damage in NC becomes clear

11:50 , James Liddell

Asheville in ‘crisis mode’ as 600 people still missing, mayor says

12:10 , James Liddell

“This is the biggest test we’ve ever faced,” Mayor Esther Manheimer told NBC News in another interview.

Mom’s final four words to daughter before being killed by Hurricane Helene

12:30 , James Liddell

A heartbroken woman has shared that her mom told her “I’ll see you later,” before never being seen again.

Madison Shaw of Anderson, South Carolina, lost her mother as a result of Hurricane Helene. More than 30 South Carolinians lost their lives, contributing to the 130-plus death toll.

“Her last words to me were… ‘I love you, be safe. I'll see you later,’” Shaw told CBS News. “And I said, ‘I love you. I'll see you later as well.’”

“I can't even describe it,” she added. “My mom was my best friend.”

NC Governor Roy Cooper: ‘Unprecedented storm has demanded unprecedented response’

12:50 , James Liddell

Biden blasts ‘liar’ Trump after claims he’d been ‘sleeping’ on Helene response

13:10 , James Liddell

Corpses strewn in trees, NC storm survivor says

13:30 , Julia Musto

A North Carolina woman said that the dead were left strewn up high amongst the branches after Helene ravaged her village.

Alyssa Hudson of Black Mountain was evacuated head of the worst of the storm hitting Buncombe County - taking the lives of at least 40 and leaving 600 still missing in the county alone. The total death toll stands at more than 133, with more lives expected to be lost.

Hudson revealed some of the horrors that ensued as Helene battered Black Mountain.

“There were bodies in trees. They were finding bodies under rubble,” she told the New York Post.

Hudson said she saw a video of her home on Facebook with its floors caved in and walls completely disappeared.

“We had a shed in our backyard that they found two miles away,” she added.

Man hikes 11 miles and 2,200ft in hunt for parents

13:50 , James Liddell

A North Carolina man endured a grueling 11 mile hike, including a 2,200ft ascent, after receiving radio silence from his parents for 48 hours.

Sam Perkins attempted to reach his mom and dad’s home in the mountains between Spruce Pine and Little Switzerland – located an hour from the decimated city of Asheville.

Helene, however, had demolished the roads and completely cut his parents off from resources, he told CNN. Perkins was left with one option: to go on by foot.

“I can’t tell you how many failing roads and deep mudslides I had to cross, how many fallen trees I had to take off my backpack for and navigate through,” he said.

After hiking for three-and-a-half hours, Perkins had reached his parent’s property.

“I have never been so relieved to see anyone OK,” he said. “I just hugged them, cried, filled them in on all the news they were missing … walked around the property, helped them decide how to approach some challenges.”

Satellite image shows Tropical Storm Kirk swirling over the Atlantic

14:07 , Julia Musto

Social media posts show western North Carolina community getting together in Helene’s aftermath

14:17 , Julia Musto

‘Remnants of Helene pushing offshore’ today

14:20 , James Liddell

More than 1.6 million customers are still without power Tuesday morning

14:27 , Julia Musto

More than 1.6 million customers are still without power Tuesday morning in five Southeast states.

The majority of the outages were in South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina.

While Duke Energy said power had been restored to over 1.35 million customers in the Carolinas, the utility cautioned that many won’t have access until Friday or later.

Asheville’s historic and ‘charming’ Biltmore Village tourist attraction left in ruin

14:40 , James Liddell

The “historic and charming” Biltmore Village is still closed after being left in ruin after severe flooding.

The tourist attraction is situated in Asheville, one of the hardest-hit areas in the wake of Hurricane Helene as the number of people unaccounted for and the death toll continues to climb.

“Due to significant flooding, impassable roads, and widespread power outages in our region from Tropical Storm Helene, Biltmore is temporarily closed,” the website reads.

The Swannanoa River reached a record crest of more than 26ft and sent floodwaters into the village, trapping locals who didn't evacuate.

“It's a historic and charming area, usually known for most of their shops, but you'll notice that it's in ruins at this point,” FOX Weather Meteorologist Kiyana Lewis said as she reported on the ground on Monday.

Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer described Helene as the “biggest test we’ve ever faced”.

Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance reacts to heartbreaking story in Asheville: ‘Christ have mercy'

14:51 , Julia Musto

Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance reacted Tuesday to a post about a heartbreaking story shared from North Carolina.

Jessica Drye Turner said her parents and six-year-old nephew had drowned after the roof of their Asheville house collapsed on Friday.

They found the boy’s body on Monday.

I-40 East out of Buncombe County reopened

15:00 , Julia Musto

Buncombe County Government said an area of the I-40 highway was reopened Tuesday.

Biden approves emergency disaster declaration for 11 Georgia counties

15:04 , Julia Musto

President Biden has approved an emergency disaster declaration for 11 Georgia counties.

Those counties include Appling, Brooks, Coffee, Columbia, Jefferson, Liberty, Lowndes, Pierce, Richmond, Tattnall, and Toombs.

Officials reportedly say Governor Brian Kemp is asking for more, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

But, the White House notes damage assessments are continuing in other areas and counties.

It said that “additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.”

Asheville will distribute drinking water through this evening

15:10 , Julia Musto

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper thanks first responders

15:20 , Julia Musto

Tennessee plastics plant denies claims employees weren't told to evacuate

15:33 , Julia Musto

Tennessee’s Impact Plastics released a statement Monday denying reports that factory staff were told not to evacuate.

The company said when the plant lost power and water began to cover the parking lot last Friday, employees were dismissed by management “in time for them to escape the industrial park.”

“At no time were employees told that they would be fired if they left the facility. For employees who were non-English speaking, bi-lingual employees were among the group of managers who delivered the message,” the company said. “While most employees left immediately, some remained on or near the premises for unknown reasons.”

Senior management and assistants, Impact Plastics said, were the last to exit the building. Some employees left using a truck driven by a driver employed by a neighboring company. The truck tipped over and “five employees and a contractor aboard the truck went missing.” Five others also on the truck were later evacuated.

“Senior management sought emergency responders to attempt further rescue of employees. A National Guard helicopter was subsequently dispatched that rescued five employees who were airlifted to safety,” the company said.

This comes after reports that managers would not let employees leave, and weren’t communicative.

DeSantis dispatches thousands of feet of temporary bridges to North Carolina

15:41 , Julia Musto

Video shows North Carolina Transportation Department crews responding to Helene

15:55 , Julia Musto

North Carolina governor to provide update on Helene response

15:57 , Julia Musto

Heavy rainfall may cause flooding Tuesday in Virginia

16:10 , Julia Musto

North Carolina officials say they hope to open westbound I-40 later today

16:27 , Julia Musto

North Carolina officials said at a press conference Tuesday morning that they hoped to reopen westbound I-40 later in the day.

The announcement comes after Buncombe County Government said an eastbound area of the I-40 highway had been reopened.

Trump-launched Helene GoFundMe surpasses $2.2M

16:31 , Julia Musto

A GoFundMe campaign launched by former President Donald Trump to support Americans impacted by Hurricane Helene has already received more than $2.2 million in donations.

North Carolina officials urge people to stay off roads as rescue, recovery efforts continue: What to know

17:09 , Julia Musto

North Carolina officials said Tuesday that more than 1,100 residents were housed in shelters as rescue and recovery efforts continued in the state.

Governor Roy Cooper said that will there were 38 state-confirmed fatatlities, there would likely be more in coming hours and days.

They were working to determine how many residents were still reported missing.

“While commodities continue to be a major focus, search and rescue does, as well,” Director of Emergency Management William Ray told reporters.

State leaders asked people to refrain from flying drones in the area and stay off roads, saying both could impede response to Helene’s impacts.

They were continuing to urge cell phone carriers to help get service back up in the region. Western North Carolina residents were asked to turn their phones on and off frequently to connect to networks.

Thus far, FEMA has delivered about a million liters of water and more than 600,000 meals in the state.

More than 57,000 North Carolinians have applied for federal assistance.

“This disaster is unlike anything our state has ever experienced,” Ray said.

North Carolina Attorney General hits at price gougers

17:15 , Julia Musto

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein said Tuesday that “bad actors” were trying to take advantage of the crisis posed by Hurricane Helene.

“Charging too much for any needed good or service during an emergency is against the law in North Carolina,” he said, asking people to file complaints with his office at ncdoj.gov/pricegouging.

The office hasd received more than 70 related complaints as of 9 a.m. EDT. A third were related to fuel, another related to groceries, and others related to hotel rooms.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster will hold briefing this afternoon

17:15 , Julia Musto

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin also warns against price gouging

17:16 , Julia Musto

Buncombe County announces water distribution sites

17:22 , Julia Musto

North Carolina city of Asheville adds more water distribution sites

17:30 , Julia Musto

Feeding Tampa Bay distributing food in multiple Florida counties

17:40 , Julia Musto

Florida Tesla catches fire in floodwaters from Hurricane Helene

17:50 , Julia Musto

Pinellas County shared a video of a Tesla catching on fire in saltwater from Hurricane Helene.

The fire caused the Sarasota home to burn down, according to ABC 7. All nine people made it out of the home safely.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says rescue mission in state was successful

17:51 , Julia Musto

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said rescue efforts in the state concluded rapidly after Hurricane Helene.

DeSantis says all roadways cleared in Florida after Helene

17:57 , Julia Musto

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that all roads in Florida had been cleared and all bridge inspections were completed following the impact of Hurricane Helene.

Mules help North Carolina’s Black Mountain community

18:00 , Julia Musto

Florida sends resources to North Carolina, including 20K pounds of food

18:03 , Julia Musto

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that his state had sent critical resources to nearby North Carolina.

Those resources include 10 trucks with water, more than 100 Starlink units, three airboats, an aircraft, search and rescue teams, and 7,500 feet of temporary bridge materials.

In addition, the governor announced the state sent 20,000 pounds of food into areas of need.

“We appreciate everyone [who has] been working hard,” DeSantis said.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas: More than 4,500 federal personnel supporting Helene response

18:10 , Julia Musto

Vehicle collides with fallen tree in South Carolina

18:20 , Julia Musto

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says he’ll brief Biden on federal support for Helene

18:21 , Julia Musto

North Carolina community is ‘catastrophically unsafe,’ business owner says

18:30 , Julia Musto

A deli owner in western North Carolina says his place in the community of Chimney Rock is “catastrophically unsafe” following Hurricane Helene.

Derek Hennessey told WSOCTV on Monday that he had spent 14 months renovating the Carter Lodge, which was attached to his business.

“We bought a place here to retire and relax,” Hennessey said. “Unfortunately, it’s just catastrophically unsafe.”

On Friday, Hennessey said he watched the deli sink into the river.

Operation BBQ Relief providing meals across Florida on Tuesday

18:40 , Julia Musto

Photos show impact of Helene on Tuesday, as people work to clear trees and debris

18:50 , Julia Musto

White House says it will continue to do ‘everything’ it can to deliver critical resources

18:51 , Julia Musto

Red Cross receives 3,000 new requests from people looking for loved ones

18:57 , Julia Musto

The Red Cross’s Denise Everhart said Tuesday that the nonprofit had received 3,000 new requests from people looking for loved ones during the past 24 hours.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor praises federal response to Helene

19:00 , Julia Musto

Operation Airdrop issues request for supplies

19:10 , Julia Musto

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp extends state of emergency through next Wednesday

19:20 , Julia Musto

Here’s how to help North Carolina recovery efforts

19:20 , Julia Musto

Red Cross shares heart-wrenching account of residents impacted by Hurricane Helene

19:29 , Julia Musto

Project HOPE sends emergency team to Carolinas

19:40 , Julia Musto

Project HOPE said Tuesday it would send an emergency response team to impacted regions of the Carolinas.

The team would help to provide medical and relief supplies to affected communities.

“Hurricane Helene has left a trail of devastation, leaving families homeless overnight. People have gone days without power or potable drinking water. Flooding has caused sewage overflow which contaminates the surrounding area and creates a breeding ground for water-borne illnesses. With roads impassable, many areas are cut off from basic services like pharmacies and grocery stores. We’re racing against time to provide relief to people who need it most, Arlan Fuller, Project HOPE’s director of emergency preparedness and response, said in a statement.

“As climate change causes conditions such as warmer waters that fuel more frequent and severe storms of this magnitude, communities facing the brunt of the impact must be both supported in their immediate recovery and prepared for future disasters. Our response today must include building resilience for the future.”

Duke Energy on South Carolina power restoration: It’s ‘not a simple repair'

19:50 , Julia Musto

Duke Energy spokesman Ryan Mosier told The Post and Courier on Tuesday that there is damage to more than 6,000 Duke Energy poles across the region.

More than a hundred of Duke’s pivotal high-voltage transmission lines were damaged by the storm.

“When you’re talking about rebuilding the system, you’re talking about multiple pieces of interconnecting infrastructure that you just have to replace,” Mosier said. “And it’s not a simple repair.”

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster says there are 36 deaths associated with Helene

19:56 , Julia Musto

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said in a press conference on Tuesday that the state has confirmed 36 deaths associated with Hurricane Helene.

“This has really hit our region hard,” he said.

North Carolina National Guard rescues more than 400 individuals via air

20:00 , Julia Musto

The North Carolina National Guard said Tuesday that it had moved roughly 200,000 pounds of food and water into areas affected by Hurricane Helene.

Members have also rescued more than 400 individuals via air alone.

South Carolina officials warn of additional river flooding

20:04 , Julia Musto

South Carolina’s Santee River is forecast to reach major flood stage by the end of the week, officials warned Tuesday.

South Carolina Emergency Management’s Andrew Phillips told reporters at a press briefing on Tuesday that eastern state rivers are continuing to rise.

Phillips said the Congaree River crested into the early hours of the morning and was still elevated, but now in a minor flood stage.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster says state ‘not out of the woods yet'

20:15 , Julia Musto

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster told reporters Tuesday afternoon that things were getting better in his state.

“But, we’re not out of the woods yet,” he said.

The governor said they were making progress on power outages that had plagued South Carolinians since the weekend.

However, he noted emergency crews couldn’t remove debris, trees off power lines until the power lines were turned off.

“We’re working hard to work through that,” he said.

McMaster said 973 National Guard members were on the ground helping in relief efforts, as well as 18 chainsaw teams. More are expected from Florida, Michigan, and Virginia.

White House says Biden will head to Raleigh on Wednesday

20:22 , Julia Musto

President Joe Biden was briefed on continuing response to impacts from Hurricane Helene on Tuesday.

He will discuss relief efforts at an interagency briefing this afternoon.

Press Secretary Karine-Jean-Pierre said the president would travel to Raleigh on Wednesday, visiting North Carolina’s emergency operations center.

Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Augusta, Georgia, before heading to the Tar Heel State, as well.

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website