At least 134 people have died as a result of the devastation Hurricane Helene has brought to Southeastern states, including dozens in flood-stricken North Carolina.

The storm-related death toll in North Carolina's hardest-hit county is now 57, Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller said during a news conference today.

Two more deaths were confirmed in Pinellas County, Florida, today, bringing the Helene death toll in the state to 14.

The Helene death toll in South Carolina has risen to 36, the state’s department of public safety said as of noon.

Power is slowly being restored to affected areas, but more than 1.5 million energy customers are still in the dark.

The Red Cross has received 3,000 new requests from people looking for loved ones in the past 24 hours, FEMA officials said in a briefing this afternoon.

There are 3,500 federal personnel on the ground supporting recovery efforts across impacted states, including 1,000 from FEMA. Thus far, over 1.9 million meals, over 1 million liters of water, over 95,000 tarps, over 30 generators and 150 ambulances have also been shipped, a FEMA spokesperson said.

There are also over 1,250 urban search and rescue personnel assisting local first responders in impacted states. Emergency response officials are also bringing in a mobile morgue to assure facilities are being properly managed, though it's not yet clear where that will be placed.

Public health emergency declared for South Carolina and Tennessee

A public health emergency was declared Tuesday for South Carolina and Tennessee, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra announced.

It follows similar declarations for Florida, Georgia and North Carolina to address the "health impacts" of Hurricane Helene.

“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,” Becerra said in a statement.

Public health emergency declarations give health care providers and suppliers “greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries,” the statement said.

The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, under HHS, has deployed 200 personnel, including health care situational assessment teams that will assess Helene’s impacts to hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities.

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden plans to visit North Carolina and Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Georgia to assess the damage. (Source: NBC News)

Story Date: October 2, 2024